“Marcus dear, I have been so lonely this week. When are you coming to see me?”

“We’ll have a whole day out on Sunday,” said I.

As I walked down the stairs with Carlotta, I reflected that Judith had not accounted for the red spots.

“I like her,” said Carlotta. “She is a nice old lady.”

“Old lady! What on earth do you mean?” I was indeed startled. “She is a young woman.”

“Pouf!” cried Carlotta. “She is forty.”

“She is no such thing,” I cried. “She is years younger than I.”

“She would not tell me.”

“You asked her age?”

“Oh, ye-es,” said Carlotta. “I was very polite. I first asked if she was married. She said yes. Then I asked how her husband was. She said she didn’t know. That was funny. Why does she not know, Seer Marcous?”