"_You_ are his friend, at any rate," she said. "You defend him in his absence."
"I am both his friend and his relative," was the prompt reply. "Robert Moore is my cousin."
"Oh, then, you can tell me all about him. Just give me a sketch of his character."

"You are his friend, at any rate," she said.
"I am both his friend and his relative," was the prompt reply. "Robert Moore is my cousin."
"Oh, then you can tell me all about him. Give me a sketch of his character."
