In the double surprise of discovering this, and of finding myself charged so abruptly with the offense of looking at a gentleman, I suffered the most exceptional of all losses (where a woman is concerned)--the loss of my tongue.
He gave me no time to recover myself.

He proceeded with what he had to say--speaking, mind, in the tone of a perfectly well-bred man; with nothing wild in his look, and nothing odd in his manner.
"Excuse me, if I venture on asking you a very strange question," he went on.

"Did you happen to be at Exeter, on the third of last month ?" (I must have been more or less than woman, if I had not recovered the use of my tongue now!) "I never was at Exeter in my life, sir," I answered.

"May I ask, on my side, why you put the question to me ?" Instead of replying, he looked at Lucilla.
"Pardon me, once more.

Perhaps this young lady---- ?" He was plainly on the point of inquiring next, whether Lucilla had been at Exeter--when he checked himself.