He spoke with a tone of respect.
"Monsieur, I know something of you.

Our friend, Mr.Ricardo, told me your history; I asked him for it when I saw you at his dinner.

You are of those about whom one does ask questions, and I know that you are not a romantic boy, but who shall say that he is safe from the appeal of beauty?
I have seen women, monsieur, for whose purity of soul I would myself have stood security, condemned for complicity in brutal crimes on evidence that could not be gainsaid; and I have known them turn foul-mouthed, and hideous to look upon, the moment after their just sentence has been pronounced." "No doubt, monsieur," said Wethermill, with perfect quietude.

"But Celia Harland is not one of those women." "I do not now say that she is," said Hanaud.

"But the Juge d'lnstruction here has already sent to me to ask for my assistance, and I refused.