"Nonsense!" broke in Lady Charlotte. "You are turning my mind away from my purpose."
"Is it possible, do you think?" said The Duke to her husband.
"Not in the very least," he replied, "if my experience goes for anything."
But Lady Charlotte turned her back upon them and said to me:
"Now, tell me first about Bill's encounter with that funny little Scotchman."
Then I told her the story of Bill's bluff in my best style, imitating, as I have some small skill in doing, the manner and speech of the various actors in the scene. She was greatly amused and interested.
"And Bill has really got his share ready," she cried. "It is very clever of him."
"Yes," I replied, "but Bill is only the very humble instrument, the moving spirit is behind."
"Oh, yes, you mean the little girl that owns the pony," she said. "That's another thing you must tell me about."
"The Duke knows more than I," I replied, shifting the burden to him; "my acquaintance is only of yesterday; his is lifelong."
