"I don't know," responded Father Algarcife. "It is a good deal in the way you look at it, I suppose."
"Not at all. I am not prejudiced—not in the least—never knew anybody less so. But he isn't your equal in controversy, by a long shot."
A sudden boyish laugh broke from Father Algarcife—a laugh wrung from him by the pressure of an overwhelming sense of humor. "I don't think it is a question of equality," he replied, "but of points of view."
CHAPTER V
The next afternoon Ardly burst into Nevins's studio without knocking, and paused in the centre of the floor to give dignity to his announcement.
"I have seen her," he said.
Nevins, who was stretched upon the divan, with his feet in the air and a cigarette in his mouth, rolled his eyes indolently in Ardly's direction.
"My dear fellow," he returned, "am I to presume that the pronoun 'her' refers to an individual or to a sex?"
"Don't be an ass," retorted Ardly. "I tell you I've seen Mariana."
Nevins turned upon his side and removed the cigarette from his lips.