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?"