"we have only an hour here, till eight; i must be home by then without fail, so that they may not find out that i came and sat here with you; but i’ve come on business. i have a great deal to say to you. but you have bowled me over considerably with your news. as to hippolyte, i think his pistol was bound not to go off; it was more consistent with the whole affair. are you sure he really wished to blow his brains out, and that there was no humbug about the matter?"