Believing himself to be completely cured of his desire for Anne, he took the stand that there was no longer a necessity for the old gentleman to sacrifice himself to the greed of the Tresslyns.

But Mr.Thorpe refused to listen to this new and apparently unprejudiced argument.

He was firm in his determination to clip Anne's claws; he would take no chances with youth, ultimate propinquity, and the wiles of a repentant sinner.
"You can guard against anything," said he in his wisdom, "except the beautiful woman who repents.

You never can tell what she'll do to make her repentance satisfactory to everybody concerned.

So we'll take no chances with Anne.