Mad Dogs and Englishmen

I knew. When I read the books first, I really tried working out the question. And I really repeatedly said 42 in a math lesson. We had an awful math teacher at that time. It was a sort of class sport to give nonsensical answers to her questions if you didn't know the right ones, just so you didn't have to admit you didn't know and she would still pick someone else. (I once answered "green" (in a Tas-worthy tone of utter sincerity), when she tore me out of my under-table reading and I didn't have the barest idea what the question was. She called my parents for that. Some people just don't have a sense of humour.)