"She is a nice old lady." "Old lady! What on earth do you mean ?" I was indeed startled.

"She is a young woman." "Pouf!" cried Carlotta.

"She is forty." "She is no such thing," I cried.

"She is years younger than I." "She would not tell me." "You asked her age ?" "Oh, ye-es," said Carlotta.

"I was very polite.