“And that being so, Mrs. Vincent, if you will allow me”⁠— Mr. Dimple at last cast off his judicial detachment; he spoke with his usual deprecating and kindly air, with a kind of halting fluency that made it seem as if his sentences would never end⁠—“if you will allow me⁠—er, as a lawyer⁠—to ah, venture a little advice⁠—that being so, I think one ought to be careful⁠—not to say anything⁠—which might be⁠—ah, repeated⁠—by perhaps thoughtless people⁠—of course I know we are all friends here⁠—and possibly misinterpreted⁠—as a suggestion⁠—that Mr. Egerton’s part in this affair⁠—though I know, of course, that there were⁠—er⁠—puzzling circumstances⁠—about the evidence⁠—I thought so myself⁠—that Mr. Egerton’s part⁠—was⁠—er⁠—more serious⁠—than one is entitled strictly to deduce⁠—from the verdict⁠—which as you say⁠— Mrs.