Cornélie was startled:
"A joke, you think, Mr. Van der Staal?"
"Yes, they're humbugging."
"I don't believe it."
"I do."
"Have you any knowledge of human nature?"
"Oh, no, none at all!"
"I'm getting it, gradually. I believe that Rome can be dangerous and that an hotel-keeping marchesa, a prince and a Jesuit...."
"What about them?"
"Can be dangerous, if not to your sisters, because they have no money, but at any rate to Urania Hope."