"I'm not such a beastly cad as that; I wouldn't have spoken of my affairs at all, but you asked, you know.

I only thought, if she was going to get herself into trouble on account of that Frenchman, you might talk to her--she'd listen to you, because she'd know you only did it out of business reasons.

And they're really business reasons, you know.

I suppose you don't think much of my business capacity, colonel, and you wouldn't go much on my judgment--especially now; but I've been here longer than you and"-- he lowered his voice slightly and dragged his chair nearer Courtland--"I don't like the looks of things here.

There's some devilment plotting among those rascals.