Arrived at Baccani's lodgings, he was informed that the language-master had gone to his dinner at a neighbouring restaurant.

Mr.
Mool waited at the lodgings, and sent a note to Baccani.

In ten minutes more he found himself in the presence of an elderly man, of ascetic appearance; whose looks and tones showed him to be apt to take offence on small provocation, and more than half ready to suspect an eminent solicitor of being a spy.
But Mr.Mool's experience was equal to the call on it.

Having fully explained the object that he had in view, he left the apology for his intrusion to be inferred, and concluded by appealing, in his own modest way, to the sympathy of an honourable man.
Silently forming his opinion of the lawyer, while he listened, Baccani expressed the conclusion at which he had arrived, in these terms: "My experience of mankind, sir, has been a bitterly bad one.

You have improved my opinion of human nature since you entered this room.