text:  To those who asked him any questions on the matter and very few ventured to do so--for his manner though civil had reserve and sullenness and there was in his deportment a decent propriety that repulsed or rather prevented enquiry--he usually answered that he 'knew nothing of the woman who followed him;' 'that he dared to say it was from some whim;' 'that she was welcome to do so if she pleased;' 'she had the same right of highway as any other person ' and suchlike evasive replies