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Mrs. Michelson
Mr. Kyrle is the Fairlie’s family lawyer, who takes over the job when Mr. Gilmore becomes ill. Marian contacts Mr. Kyrle for help while she and Laura are at Blackwater, but her letters are intercepted by Count Fosco and his wife, Madame Fosco. Thus, Mr. Kyrle is unable to intervene in Sir Percival Glyde and the Count’s plot against Laura, in which they plan to switch her identity with that of Anne Catherick and lock her in an asylum in order to steal her fortune. After Laura has escaped the asylum, with Marian’s help, Walter Hartright—the young man who is in love with Laura and who compiles the evidence about the plot—approaches Mr. Kyrle with the information he has gathered for his case against Count Fosco and Sir Percival. Mr. Kyrle is a pragmatic man who frankly tells Walter that Walter cannot possibly afford to furnish a trial of this length and complexity. He does help Walter at the end of the novel, however, when Walter provides fresh evidence about the case, which is enough to legally restore Laura’s identity.
Mr. Kyrle Quotes in The Woman in White
The The Woman in White quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Kyrle or refer to Mr. Kyrle. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
The Third Epoch: Part 1, Chapter 4
Quotes
‘There can be no doubt,’ I said, ‘that the facts, as you have stated them, appear to tell against us; but— ’ ‘But you think those facts can be explained away,’ interposed Mr. Kyrle. ‘Let me tell you the result of my experience on that point. When an English jury has to choose between a plain fact, on the surface, and a long explanation under the surface, it always takes the fact, in preference to the explanation.’
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The Third Epoch: Part 5, Chapter 1
Quotes
It was strange to look back and to see, now, that the poverty which had denied us all hope of assistance, had been the indirect means of our success, by forcing me to act for myself. If we had been rich enough to find legal help, what would have been the result? The gain (on Mr. Kyrle’s own showing) would have been more than doubtful; the loss – judging by the plain test of events as they had really happened – certain. The Law would never have obtained me my interview with Mrs. Catherick. The Law would never have made Pesca the means of forcing a confession from the Count.
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Mr. Kyrle Quotes in The Woman in White
The The Woman in White quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Kyrle or refer to Mr. Kyrle. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
The Third Epoch: Part 1, Chapter 4
Quotes
‘There can be no doubt,’ I said, ‘that the facts, as you have stated them, appear to tell against us; but— ’ ‘But you think those facts can be explained away,’ interposed Mr. Kyrle. ‘Let me tell you the result of my experience on that point. When an English jury has to choose between a plain fact, on the surface, and a long explanation under the surface, it always takes the fact, in preference to the explanation.’
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The Third Epoch: Part 5, Chapter 1
Quotes
It was strange to look back and to see, now, that the poverty which had denied us all hope of assistance, had been the indirect means of our success, by forcing me to act for myself. If we had been rich enough to find legal help, what would have been the result? The gain (on Mr. Kyrle’s own showing) would have been more than doubtful; the loss – judging by the plain test of events as they had really happened – certain. The Law would never have obtained me my interview with Mrs. Catherick. The Law would never have made Pesca the means of forcing a confession from the Count.
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