Please, Lady Maggie, do not stoop to be hopelessly obvious in these efforts of yours.

If I drop a pocketbook, believe me there will be nothing in it to interest you.

If I speak with Immelan or any other, save in the secrecy of my chamber, there will be nothing which it will be worth your while to overhear.

If Lord Dorminster should decide to adopt buccaneering expedients and kidnap me, the attempt would probably fail; and if it succeeded, it would in the end profit you nothing.

As you say over here, for your sake, Lady Maggie, I will lay the cards upon the table.