"I said nothing of the kind. I merely said I lay no claims to being an
American."

"Yes, that was it."

"Well, you will be pleased to know that this lady in the siege of London
was an American. You seem so anxious to establish a person's nationality
that I am glad to be able to tell you at the very first that she was an
American, and, what is more, seemed to be a Western American."

"Seemed? Oh, there we get into uncertainties again. If I like to know
whether persons are Americans or not, it naturally follows that I am
anxious to know whether they were Western or Eastern Americans. Aren't
you sure she was a Westerner?"

"The story, unfortunately, leaves that a little vague, so if it
displeases you I shall be glad to stop the telling of it."

"Oh no, don't do that. I am quite satisfied to take her as an American
citizen; whether she is East or West, or North or South, does not make
the slightest difference to me. Please go on with the story."

"Well, the other characters, I am happy to be able to say, are not at
all indefinite in the matter of nationality. One is an Englishman; he
is even more than that, he is an English nobleman. The other is an
American. Then there is the English nobleman's mother, who, of
course, is an English woman; and the American's sister, married to an
Englishman, and she, of course, is English-American. Does that satisfy
you?"