He had thought as much, inwardly; but he pushed the question.

"Why should you be afraid?
We are gentlemen." She smiled that little smile again, and asked: "Are 'gentlemen' always safe ?" "You surely do not think that any of us," he said it with a good deal of emphasis on the "us," "would hurt your young girls ?" "Oh no," she said quickly, in real surprise.

"The danger is quite the other way.

They might hurt you.

If, by any accident, you did harm any one of us, you would have to face a million mothers." He looked so amazed and outraged that Jeff and I laughed outright, but she went on gently.
"I do not think you quite understand yet.