Under these circumstances, was there any intelligible reason for shrinking from direct reference to Michael Vanstone?
No intelligible reason--and yet she shrank.
"For instance," pursued Captain Wragge, "are they inquiries about a man or a woman; inquiries about an enemy or a friend-- ?" "An enemy," she answered, quickly.
Her reply might still have kept the captain in the dark--but her eyes enlightened him.

"Michael Vanstone!" thought the wary Wragge.

"She looks dangerous; I'll feel my way a little further." "With regard, now, to the person who is the object of these inquiries," he resumed.

"Are you thoroughly clear in your own mind about what you want to know ?" "Perfectly clear," replied Magdalen.

"I want to know where he lives, to begin with." "Yes.