"How long since Regina left the house?"
"Only a few moments before you arrived. It seems to me singularly imprudent to allow her to wander about the city as she does."
"Explain yourself."
"I offered to accompany her as escort, but she rather curtly declined my attendance."
"And in your estimation, that constitutes 'imprudence'?"
"I certainly consider it imprudent for any young girl to stroll around alone in New York on Sunday afternoon; especially one so very attractive, so conspicuously beautiful as Regina."
"During my absence has any one been kidnapped or garrotted in broad daylight?"
"I do not study the police records."
"Do you imagine that she perambulates about the sacred precincts of
'Five Points,' or the purlieus of Chatham Street?"
"I imagine nothing, sir; but I know that she frequents a distant portion of this city, where I should think young ladies of her social status would find no attraction."