He waited for no preliminaries this time, but plunged immediately into the matter that was on his mind.
"Arnold, for heaven's sake, stop my father from getting a detective down here.

I don't dare say anything, for my opposition will only make him do it the more.

But you have some influence with him; tell him you're a lawyer, and will take charge of it yourself." "Why don't you want a detective ?" I asked.
"Good Lord, hasn't our family had notoriety enough?
Here's Nan eloping with the overseer, and Jeff the scandal of the county for five years.

I can't turn around but some malicious interpretation is put on it, and now that the family ghost has taken to cracking safes gossip will never stop.

Get a detective down here who goes nosing about the neighborhood in search of information and there's no telling where the thing will end.