“Ah! See now! That’s exactly what I am incapable of doing. How very acute you are, Mortimer, in finding my weak place! When we were at school together, I got up my lessons at the last moment, day by day and bit by bit; now we are out in life together, I get up my lessons in the same way. In the present task I have not got beyond this:⁠—I am bent on finding Lizzie, and I mean to find her, and I will take any means of finding her that offer themselves. Fair means or foul means, are all alike to me. I ask you⁠—for information⁠—what does that mean? When I have found her I may ask you⁠—also for information⁠—what do I mean now? But it would be premature in this stage, and it’s not the character of my mind.”