But the person you have in your house all the time is different." "But he is a gentleman," I put in more firmly.
"I hope he is.

He had letters to some friends of ours.

But what are letters?
People give them when they're asked for them, and half the time know nothing of the person for whom they do the favor, besides his name and general standing.

Hardly that, sometimes." Then, as if to put away a tiresome and unwelcome subject, he began again to talk about the place.
But I had lost my interest in the subject, and thought only of returning to the house.
"Don't," I said, playfully putting out my hand as he took out another cigar to light.

"You have smoked enough to-night.