"No," he repeated; "to be quite fair, there's no reason why you--who don't know Bonaday--should assume him to be any better than the rest of us." "-- While you, on your part, will naturally be eager to clear your friend." "If I thought the accusation serious." "Do you mean to say that you have simply ignored it ?" Now this happened to be an awkward question; and Brother Copas, seeking to evade it, jumped (as they say) from the frying-pan into the fire.
"Tut, sir! The invention of some poisonous woman!" "You are sure the letter was written by a woman ?" Brother Copas was sure, but had to admit that he lacked evidence.
He did not confess to having laid a small plot which had failed him.
He had received no less than eleven tenders for his weekly laundry, but not one of the applicants had written the 'W' in 'Washing List' with that characteristic initial curl of which he was in search.
"Then you _have_ made some investigations?
.

.

.

Nay, I don't wish more of your confidence than you choose to give me.

So long as I know that you are not treating the business as negligible--" "I don't promise to inquire one inch farther." "But you will, nevertheless," concluded Mr.Colt with the patronising laugh of one who knows his man.
"Damn the fellow!" thought Copas.