‘What particular form does his—ahem—complaint take?’
I am beginning to hope he is not violent.
‘Generosity.’
‘Generosity?’
‘Yes, sir. You see he gets all sorts of schemes into his head for the relief of suffering of all kinds; and his friends, fearing he might make ducks and drakes of his money, have put him under the care of our governor.’
‘Is he wealthy?’
‘Very.’
‘Are his friends quite disinterested?’
‘Well, I don’t know. But at anyrate they are quite right. He might fall into the hands of unprincipled people, who would help out his schemes to further their own.’
‘What is his latest plan?’