"I don't shock you--do I ?" Weary and heart-sick as she was--suspicious of others, doubtful of herself--the extravagant impudence of Captain Wragge's defense of swindling touched Magdalen's natural sense of humor, and forced a smile to her lips.

"Is the Yorkshire crop a particularly rich one just at present ?" she inquired, meeting him, in her neatly feminine way, with his own weapons.
"A hit--a palpable hit," said the captain, jocosely exhibiting the tails of his threadbare shooting jacket, as a practical commentary on Magdalen's remark.

"My dear girl, here or elsewhere, the crop never fails--but one man can't always gather it in.

The assistance of intelligent co-operation is, I regret to say, denied me.

I have nothing in common with the clumsy rank and file of my profession, who convict themselves, before recorders and magistrates, of the worst of all offenses--incurable stupidity in the exercise of their own vocation.
Such as you see me, I stand entirely alone.