"That's why I laughed at you.

You were _very_ curious." "Am I so bad as all that ?" he lamented.
She ignored the question.

"Why should you be interested in me, sir ?" Mr.King was inspired to fabricate in the interest of psychical research.

"Because I have heard that you are not the niece of old man Spantz." He watched intently to catch the effect of the declaration.
She merely stared at him; there was not so much as the flutter of an eyelid.

"You have heard nothing of the kind," she said coldly.
"Well, I'll confess I haven't," he admitted cheerfully.