Roberts: “Oh, I’d only been reading a minute when you came in.”
Campbell: “I don’t believe you know how long you’d been reading. Very likely your cook’s come and gone.”
Roberts, with some alarm: “She couldn’t. I’d only just opened the book.”
Campbell: “I dare say you think so. But you’d better cast your eagle eye over this assemblage now, and see if she isn’t here; though probably she’s gone. What sort of looking woman is she?”
Roberts, staring at him in consternation: “Bless my soul! I don’t know! I never saw her!”
Campbell: “Never saw her?”
Roberts: “No; Agnes engaged her at the intelligence-office, and told her we should meet her here, and she had to go back for her purse, and left me to explain.”
Campbell: “Ha, ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha! How did she expect you to recognize her?”
Roberts: “I—I don’t know, I’m sure. She—she was very anxious I shouldn’t let her get away.”
Campbell, laughing: “You poor old fellow! What are you going to do?”