Heyst's escapade was the general topic of conversation.

Never before had that unaccountable individual been the cause of so much gossip, he judged.
No! Not even in the beginnings of the Tropical Belt Coal Company when becoming for a moment a public character was he the object of a silly criticism and unintelligent envy for every vagabond and adventurer in the islands.

Davidson concluded that people liked to discuss that sort of scandal better than any other.
I asked him if he believed that this was such a great scandal after all.
"Heavens, no!" said that excellent man who, himself, was incapable of any impropriety of conduct.

"But it isn't a thing I would have done myself; I mean even if I had not been married." There was no implied condemnation in the statement; rather something like regret.

Davidson shared my suspicion that this was in its essence the rescue of a distressed human being.