To these latter Jean Jacques was a gift of heaven, for he knew so much, and seemed to know so much more, and could give them the information they desired.

His importance lured him to pose as a seigneur, though he had no claim to the title.

He did not call himself Seigneur in so many words, but when others referred to him as the Seigneur, and it came to his ears, he did not correct it; and when he was addressed as such he did not reprove.
Thus, when he brought the two refugees from the forecastle and assured his fellow-passengers that they were Spanish folk of good family exiled by persecution, his generosity was acclaimed, even while all saw he was enamoured of Carmen.

Once among the first-class passengers, father and daughter maintained reserve, and though there were a few who saw that they were not very far removed above peasants, still the dress of the girl, which was good--she had been a maid in a great nobleman's family--was evidence in favour of the father's story.

Sebastian Dolores explained his own workman's dress as having been necessary for his escape.
Only one person gave Jean Jacques any warning.