Everett followed his father into a dingy back parlour, which was
fitted up with book shelves and was generally called the study,
but which was gloomy and comfortless because it was seldom used.
'I have had your friend Lopez with me at my chambers to-day. I
don't like your friend Lopez.'

'I am sorry for that, sir.'

'He is a man to whom I should wish to have a good deal of
evidence before I would trust him to be what he seems to be. I
dare say he's clever.'

'I think he's more than clever.'

'I dare say;--and well instructed in some respects.'

'I believe him to be a thorough linguist, sir.'

'I dare say. I remember a waiter in a hotel in Holborn who could
speak seven languages. It's an accomplishment very necessary for
a Courier or Queen's Messenger.'

'You don't mean to say, sir, that you disregard foreign
languages?'

'I have said nothing of the kind. But in my estimation they
don't stand in the place of principles, or a profession, or
birth, or country. I fancy there has been some conversation
between you about your sister.'