“Somebody wants to speak to you, Charlie,” said Helen. Then sister-like she stood by to see who it was and what he could possibly want with her unimportant younger brother. She was surprised to hear this half of a very earnest conversation:

“Who said so?”

“Certainly not!”

“Well, somebody has been giving you misinformation.”

“An absolute denial.”

“Well, if you want to quote me exactly you may say that I said the rumour is false; wholly without foundation.”

“All right. Goodbye.”