"You have, no doubt, already formed your conclusions from the newspapers," he said.

"The case is as plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer it becomes.

Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a very positive one, too.

She has heard of you, and would have your opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing which you could do which I had not already done.

Why, bless my soul! here is her carriage at the door." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life.