Lord Halifax’s Train Ride

Lord Halifax, a former foreign secretary of Great Britain, once shared a railway compartment with two prim-looking spinsters. A few moments before reaching his destination, the train passed through a tunnel. In the utter darkness Halifax kissed the back of his hand noisily several times. When the train drew into the station, he rose, lifted his hat, and in a gentlemanly way said; “May I thank whichever one of you two ladies I am indebted to for the charming incident in the tunnel?” He then beat a hasty retreat, leaving the two ladies glaring at each other. (Bits & Pieces, May 27, 1993, p. 22).