Explore "The Mystery Queen" by Fergus Hume on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The secretary of the late Sir Charles Moon smiled irresolutely when he recognised Dan. That young gentleman, who thought Penn a weak-kneed idiot, had never taken much notice of him, and but for the fact that he was perfumed with the unusual scent would not have spoken to him now. But as he looked at the lank creature with his yellow face, and scanty moustache, he guessed that he was exactly the effeminate sort of person who would use perfume. What he wished to know was why he affected this particular kind of fragrance, and whence he obtained it. To gain the information he pretended a friendliness for the man he was far from feeling. Dan, strong, virile, and self-confident, was not altogether just to Penn, who was not responsible for his pallid looks and weak character. But Halliday was not a perfect individual by any means, and had yet to learn that the weak are meant to be protected and helped instead of being despised.
-"You here, Mr. Penn?" said Dan, thus formal to mark the difference between them.