I tell you that
so that you may be careful when you don't want
me to know a thing."
"I don't mind your knowing anything so long as it
goes no further. I suppose this has not----"
She lifted her head with a gesture of half-offended
surprise. "Surely that is an unnecessary question!" she said.
"Of course I know you would not speak of anything
to outsiders; but I thought that perhaps, to
the members of your party----"
"The party's business is with facts, not with
my personal conjectures and fancies. Of course
I have never mentioned the subject to anyone."
"Thank you. Do you happen to have guessed
which sect I belong to?"
"I hope--you must not take offence at my
frankness; it was you who started this talk, you
know---- I do hope it is not the 'Knifers.'"
"Why do you hope that?"
"Because you are fit for better things."
"We are all fit for better things than we ever
do. There is your own answer back again. However,
it is not the 'Knifers' that I belong to, but
the 'Red Girdles.
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