"A likeness to anybody whom I know?" Iris asked.
"To the person in all the world, my lady, whom you know most nearly—a likeness to my master."
"What!"
"Oh, it's no fancy; I am sure of what I say. To my mind, that Danish man's likeness to my lord is (if you will excuse my language) a nasty circumstance. I don't know why or wherefore—all I can say is, I don't like it; and I shan't rest until I have found out what it means. Besides this, my lady, I must know the reason why they want to get you out of their way. Please to keep up your heart; I shall warn you in time, when I am sure of the danger."
Iris refused to sanction the risk involved in this desperate design. "It's you who will be in danger!" she exclaimed.
In her coolest state of obstinacy, Fanny answered: "That's in your ladyship's service—and that doesn't reckon."
Feeling gratefully this simple and sincere expression of attachment, Iris held to her own opinion, nevertheless.
"You are in my service," she said; "I won't let you go to Mr. Vimpany. Give it up, Fanny! Give it up!"
"I'll give it up, my lady, when I know what the doctor means to do—not before."
The assertion of authority having failed, Iris tried persuasion next.