Do you understand me now, Mr.Frank ?" "Not a whit; you are more and more oracular." "Then, on my word, you either mistrust me most unjustly, and are a better dissembler than Rashleigh Osbaldistone himself, or you know nothing of what is imputed to you; and then no wonder you stare at me in that grave manner, which I can scarce see without laughing." "Upon my word of honour, Miss Vernon," said I, with an impatient feeling of her childish disposition to mirth, "I have not the most distant conception of what you mean.

I am happy to afford you any subject of amusement, but I am quite ignorant in what it consists." "Nay, there's no sound jest after all," said the young lady, composing herself; "only one looks so very ridiculous when he is fairly perplexed.
But the matter is serious enough.

Do you know one Moray, or Morris, or some such name ?" "Not that I can at present recollect." "Think a moment.

Did you not lately travel with somebody of such a name ?" "The only man with whom I travelled for any length of time was a fellow whose soul seemed to lie in his portmanteau." "Then it was like the soul of the licentiate Pedro Garcias, which lay among the ducats in his leathern purse.

That man has been robbed, and he has lodged an information against you, as connected with the violence done to him." "You jest, Miss Vernon!" "I do not, I assure you--the thing is an absolute fact." "And do you," said I, with strong indignation, which I did not attempt to suppress, "do you suppose me capable of meriting such a charge ?" "You would call me out for it, I suppose, had I the advantage of being a man--You may do so as it is, if you like it--I can shoot flying, as well as leap a five-barred gate." "And are colonel of a regiment of horse besides," replied I, reflecting how idle it was to be angry with her--"But do explain the present jest to me." "There's no jest whatever," said Diana; "you are accused of robbing this man, and my uncle believes it as well as I did." "Upon my honour, I am greatly obliged to my friends for their good opinion!" "Now do not, if you can help it, snort, and stare, and snuff the wind, and look so exceedingly like a startled horse--There's no such offence as you suppose--you are not charged with any petty larceny or vulgar felony--by no means.