Ay, there's no man too sour and no woman too old that he'll not blandish, if he gets the chance." As he spoke Faith shut her eyes, and her fingers clasped tightly together--beautiful long, tapering fingers, like those in Romney's pictures.

When he stopped, her eyes opened slowly, and she gazed before her down towards that garden by the Red Mansion where her lifetime had been spent.
"Thee says hard words, Soolsby," she rejoined gently.

"But maybe thee is right." Then a flash of humour passed over her face.

"Suppose we ask Martha Higham if the Earl has 'blandished' her.

If the Earl has blandished Martha, he is the very captain of deceit.