I regarded any other opinion of Miss Rachel, than my lady's opinion or mine, with a lofty contempt.

The only thing I could not do, was to keep off the subject of the Moonstone! My own good sense ought to have warned me, I know, to let the matter rest--but, there! the virtues which distinguish the present generation were not invented in my time.

Sergeant Cuff had hit me on the raw, and, though I did look down upon him with contempt, the tender place still tingled for all that.

The end of it was that I perversely led him back to the subject of her ladyship's letter.

"I am quite satisfied myself," I said.