"And to think that this man took me down to dinner not two months ago!" she murmured in her veil.
"You're as hard as nails. In whose house? Or—stay. Prompt me a little. Tell me the first syllable of your name. Then the rest will come with a rush."
"My name is Matilda Muggins."
"I've a great mind to punish your untruthfulness by pretending to believe you," said he. "Have you really got a husband?"
"Why do you doubt it?" said she.
"I don't doubt it. Have you?"
"I don't know what to answer."
"Don't you know whether you've got a husband?" he protested.
"I don't know what I'd better let you believe. Yes, on the whole, I think you may as well assume that I've got a husband," she concluded.
"And a lover, too?" he asked.