It seemed to Caius that his confidential tone lapsed into one of suspicious reserve.
"Not very old"-- dryly.
Caius perceived that he was being suspected of taking an undue interest in the benefactress of the island.

The idea, when it came from another, surprised him.
"Look here! I don't take much interest in Madame Le Maitre, except that she seems a saint and I'd like to please her; but what I want to know is this--there is a girl who is a sister, or niece, or daughter, or some other relation of hers, who is on these islands.

Who is she, and where is she ?" "Do you mean any of the girls she has in her house?
She took them from families upon the island only for the sake of training them." "I don't mean any of those girls!"-- this with emphasis.
"I don't know who you mean." Caius turned and faced him.

Do what he would, he could not hide his excited interest.
"You surely must know.

It is impossible that there should be a girl, young, beautiful and refined, living somewhere about here, and you not know." "I should say so--quite impossible." "Then, be kind enough to tell me who she is.