If you will only say the word, Miss Gayerson, I will quarrel with Howard myself." And Isabella, as Alphonse subsequently told me, received this offer with an ill-concealed smile.
"Dick is not afraid of the responsibility," she said, and did not appear so resentful as her champion.
"But why did he do it ?" Isabella did not answer at once, and Alphonse, whose good heart invariably tricked his temper, made a suggestion.
"Is it because he thought Mr.Devar no fit friend for yourself, Miss Gayerson ?" Isabella laughed derisively before she did me another wrong.
"He does not trouble about me or my affairs," she answered.

"No, it is because Mr.Devar is too clever a person to be a welcome observer of Dick's actions.

Dick probably knows that Mr.Devar is an expert in money matters, and less easy to deceive than yourself and a few ignorant and trusting women." "You mean in the matter of my fortune ?" "Yes," replied the friend of my childhood.

"It is probable that Mr.
Devar suspects what others suspect.

But you are so simple, Monsieur Giraud!" Alphonse shrugged his shoulders.
"It is not that--Mademoiselle," he said with his light laugh.