"How can they see all that in my face?"
"That though you are lying persistently, you cannot hide from them that you are lying. They are not only good girls, but they have very sharp wits. A cleverer girl than Edith, or one better able to read the truth of a boy's head, or even a man's, I have never known. I hardly dare to put my own judgment against hers."
"In this case she knows nothing about it."
"But to me it is of such vital importance! It is not simply that your evidence is needed to punish the man; I would let the man go and all the evil that he has done me. But not for any money that I could name would I entertain such an opinion of my son. Were I convinced at this moment that you are innocent, I should be a happy man."
"Then you may, father."
"But your manner is against you. You do not answer me with that appearance of frankness which I should have expected."
"Of course it all makes me very miserable. How can a fellow be frank when he's suspected like this?"
"Florian, do you give me your most solemn assurance that you saw nothing of this evil work while it was being perpetrated?"
"Yes, father."
"You saw nothing, and you knew nothing?"