"Yes," he said, "only once."
She reflected a little. The next question involved the simultaneous
expression of two ideas, and the next question cost her an effort.
"He only saw me once," she said, "and he only saw me some time ago. How
came he to remember me when he found me here?"
"Aha!" said the captain. "Now you have hit the right nail on the head at
last. You can't possibly be more surprised at his remembering you than
I am. A word of advice, my dear. When you are well enough to get up
and see Mr. Kirke, try how that sharp question of yours sounds in _his_
ears, and insist on his answering it himself." Slipping out of the
dilemma in that characteristically adroit manner, Captain Wragge got
briskly on his legs again and took up his hat.
"Wait!" she pleaded. "I want to ask you--"
"Not another word," said the captain. "I have given you quite enough to
think of for one day. My time is up, and my gig is waiting for me. I am
off, to scour the country as usual. I am off, to cultivate the field
of public indigestion with the triple plowshare of aloes, scammony and
gamboge." He stopped and turned round at the door. "By-the-by, a message
from my unfortunate wife.
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