Доводы рассудка

           Youwillsoonbeabletojudgeofthegeneralcreditdue,bylisteningtosomeparticularswhichyoucanyourselfimmediatelycontradictorconfirm.Nobodysupposesthatyouwerehisfirstinducement.Hehadseenyouindeed,beforehecametoBath,andadmiredyou,butwithoutknowingittobeyou.Sosaysmyhistorian,atleast.Isthistrue?Didheseeyoulastsummerorautumn,‘somewheredowninthewest,’touseherownwords,withoutknowingittobeyou?”

           “Hecertainlydid.Sofaritisverytrue.AtLyme.IhappenedtobeatLyme.”

           “Well,”continuedMrsSmith,triumphantly,“grantmyfriendthecreditduetotheestablishmentofthefirstpointasserted.HesawyouthenatLyme,andlikedyousowellastobeexceedinglypleasedtomeetwithyouagaininCamdenPlace,asMissAnneElliot,andfromthatmoment,Ihavenodoubt,hadadoublemotiveinhisvisitsthere.Buttherewasanother,andanearlier,whichIwillnowexplain.Ifthereisanythinginmystorywhichyouknowtobeeitherfalseorimprobable,stopme.