"It's what I always do, my dear sir," he said to Harry Lambert; "for how could a man pick up any information unless he made himself intimate with all classes? Why should I keep myself separate from good fellows, merely because I happen to have written the Frozen Island, or the Fire King of the Caucasus? I will see you the day after to-morrow. I give you my honour. Your daughters have perhaps read my works?"
"I'm afraid they're too young, sir."
"What age are they? But if they are well taught, they have studied the drama, of course. They have a governess, I suppose?
"Yes."
"Has she red hair? I have an idea that red-haired people are all good teachers."
"I don't recollect the colour of her hair, I'm sure."
"I'll come over and judge for myself. I will not disappoint you on any account. So you may be quite easy."
And the same thing he said to Mr Williams, with the slight variation of an enquiry whether his governess squinted; for he had another theory that squinting people had a peculiar faculty for speaking French.
"I'll tell you what, Frank Edwards," I said to my young guest when we were about to separate, "I was an old friend of your father's, and I wish to show my regard to his memory by kindness to you; and as I don't think you have formed the best acquaintance in the world in the person of your companion, Mr Marvale, I wish you would give me an hour to-morrow at Bandvale, and I will offer you a little advice."
He shook my hand very warmly, and thanked me; and I agreed to be with him at one o'clock.