John Mulholland met a friend outside The Sphinx building — a friend he had not seen for twenty years. After the usual greetings, John said “I suppose you’re married ?”

“Oh, yes,” replied his friend, “I’ve been married eight years. Here comes my daughter now.” The child crossed Forty-second Street towards them.

As she came up, John shifted his cane and extended a hand saying “Hello, my name’s John. What’s yours ?” The little girl appeared shy but finally said, timidly, “My name is the same as my mother’s.”

John smiled, knowingly. “Then your name is Margaret”, he said. “That’s right”, replied the little girl.

The question is — how did John know the girl’s name was Margaret ? No — he didn’t know whom his friend had married.

The solution, fines, and jail sentences will be meted out next month.