That is my method, and it is the only way to preserve life in a foreign country.

Even my earl, who did not thirst for information (fortunately), asked me the population of the Yellowstone Park, and I simply told him three hundred thousand, at a venture." "That would never have satisfied my neighbour," said Francesca.

"Finding me in such a lamentable state of ignorance, he explained the principle of his own stupid Forth Bridge to me.

When I said I understood perfectly, just to get into shallower water, where we wouldn't need any bridge, the Reverend Ronald joined in the conversation, and asked me to repeat the explanation to him.

Naturally I couldn't, and he knew that I couldn't when he asked me, so the bridge man (I don't know his name, and don't care to know it) drew a diagram of the national idol on his dinner-card and gave a dull and elaborate lecture upon it.