May I try ?" "Certainly." "Shall we then touch at the root of this delicate matter?
Your ladyship, so I understand, is at this moment under the impression that I desire to encompass--shall I say ?--the death of an English gentleman for whom, believe me, I have the greatest respect.

That is so, is it not ?" "What is so, M.Chauvelin ?" she asked almost stupidly, for truly she had not even begun to grasp his meaning.

"I do not understand." "You think that I am at this moment taking measures for sending the Scarlet Pimpernel to the guillotine?
Eh ?" "I do." "Never was so great an error committed by a clever woman.

Your ladyship must believe me when I say that the guillotine is the very last place in the world where I would wish to see that enigmatic and elusive personage." "Are you trying to fool me, M.Chauvelin?
If so, for what purpose?
And why do you lie to me like that ?" "On my honour, 'tis the truth.

The death of Sir Percy Blakeney--I may call him that, may I not ?--would ill suit the purpose which I have in view." "What purpose?
You must pardon me, Monsieur Chauvelin," she added with a quick, impatient sigh, "but of a truth I am getting confused, and my wits must have become dull in the past few days.