He had dropped back into his slightly listless air of thinly veiled persiflage, and he appeared to address the lady, to explain the situation to her, rather than to justify the charge he had made.
"A blind man could have perceived, from the rustling of his prayer book when he fumbled at it, that the contents were strange to him.

And observe the volume," he continued, picking it up and flaunting it aloft.
"Fire-new; not a thumbmark anywhere; purchased expressly for this foul venture.

Is there aught else so clean and fresh about the scurvy thief ?" "You shall moderate your tones, sir--" began his lordship in a snarl.
"He sets you each on the wrong side of him," continued Mr.Caryll, all imperturbable, "lacking even the sense to read the directions which the book contains, and he has no thought for the circumstance that the time of day is uncanonical.

Is more needed, madame ?" "So much was not needed," said she, "though I am your debtor, sir." Her voice was marvelously steady, ice-cold with scorn, a royal anger increasing the glory of her eyes.
Rotherby's hand fell away from his sword.

He realized that bluster was not the most convenient weapon here.