Askertons are not Askertons at all, but ought to be called something
else. Now we know that he served as Captain and Major Askerton for
seven years in India and in fact it all means nothing. If I know
anything, I know that he is Colonel Askerton.'

'But do you know that she is his wife? That is what Mr Wright asks. I
don't say anything. I think it's very indelicate talking about such
things.'

'If I am asked whether I have seen her marriage certificate, certainly
I have not; nor probably did you ever do so as to any lady that you
ever knew. But I know that she is her husband's wife, as we all of us
know things of that sort. I know she was in India with him. I've seen
things of hers marked with her name that she has had at least ten
years.'

'I don't know anything about it, my dear,' said Mr Amedroz, angrily.

'But Mr Wright ought to know something about it before he says such
things. And then this that he's saying now isn't the same that he said
before.'

'I don't know what he said before.'

'He said they were both of them using a feigned name.'

'It's nothing to me what name they use. I know I wish they hadn't come
here, if I'm to be troubled about them in this way first by Wright and
then by you.'