"You should know—if you are a man and not an animal."
"You are mistaken, young lady—you think me a libertine, no doubt——"
"Oh, nothing of the kind—you are too hard even for that. If I had any doubt about it, I should not be here with you now."
"Well, well, let us hope that after a little longer acquaintance your opinion of me will improve. For the present I wish to befriend you all I can—that at least should be a point in my favour."
"But why—why, I ask, should you wish to befriend me? What is your object?"
"That you shall know when the times comes. Let us resume your very interesting story."
"You have heard it. I told you I met Jabez, and that he loves me. I suspected when he went out to-night that he was desperate—that he might steal, murder even, if by so doing he could obtain food for me—that is why I followed him, to save him, and, as it happened, I did save him, and you too."
"And the boy who acted a jackal to your lion—who is he?"
"Shorty—oh, he is a wicked little creature, who ought by rights to be in a reformatory."
"Indeed. Now please attend to me, Miss Crane. I am no philanthropist, nor am I a fool, and you yourself seem willing to acquit me of any amatory intentions. You will easily believe then that it is from no feeling of sentiment that I have brought you here to-night. One strong dose of that kind of thing has lasted me through life. I suffered badly at the hands of your sex once, but once only. I am never likely to suffer again. Nevertheless, I confess that if it had not been for your beauty, I should have left you there on the bridge."