I had felt I could risk such directness only by making it extravagant--by suggesting it as barely imaginable that she could so have played our game;and during the instant for which I had now pulled her up I could judge I had been right.It was an instant that settled everything, for I saw her, with intensity, with gallantry too, surprised but not really embarrassed, recognise that of course she must simply lie.I had been justified by making it so possible for her to lie."It would have been a short cut," I said, "and even more strikingly perhaps--to do it justice--a bold deed.But it would have been, in strictness, a departure--wouldn't it?--from our so distinguished little compact.Yet while I look at you," I went on, "I wonder.
Bold deeds are, after all, quite in your line; and I'm not sure I don't rather want not to have missed so much possible comedy.'I have it for you from Mr.Long himself that, every appearance to the contrary notwithstanding, his stupidity is unimpaired'--isn't that, for the beauty of it, after all, what you've veraciously to give me?" We stood face to face a moment, and I laughed out."The beauty of it would be great!"I had given her time; I had seen her safely to shore.It was quite what I had meant to do, but she now took still better advantage than I had expected of her opportunity.She not only scrambled up the bank, she recovered breath and turned round."Do you imagine he would have told me?"It was magnificent, but I felt she was still to better it should I give her a new chance."Who the lady really is? Well, hardly; and that's why, as you so acutely see, the question of your having risked such a step has occurred to me only as a jest.Fancy indeed"--I piled it up--"your saying to him: 'We're all noticing that you're so much less of an idiot than you used to be, and we've different views of the miracle'!"I had been going on, but I was checked without a word from her.Her look alone did it for, though it was a look that partly spoiled her lie, it--by that very fact--sufficed to my confidence."I've not spoken to a creature."It was beautifully said, but I felt again the abysses that the mere saying of it covered, and the sense of these wonderful things was not a little, no doubt, in my immediate cheer."Ah, then, we're all right!" Icould have rubbed my hands over it."I mean, however," I quickly added, "only as far as that.I don't at all feel comfortable about your new theory itself, which puts me so wretchedly in the wrong.""Rather!" said Mrs.Briss almost gaily."Wretchedly indeed in the wrong!""Yet only--equally of course," I returned after a brief brooding, "if I come within a conceivability of accepting it.Are you conscious that, in default of Long's own word equivocal as that word would be--you press it upon me without the least other guarantee?""And pray," she asked, "what guarantee had YOU?""For the theory with which we started? Why, our recognised fact.The change in the man.You may say," I pursued, "that I was the first to speak for him; but being the first didn't, in your view, constitute a weakness when it came to your speaking yourself for Mrs.Server.By which I mean,"I added, "speaking against her."
She remembered, but not for my benefit."Well, you then asked me my warrant.And as regards Mr.Long and your speaking against HIM--""Do you describe what I say as 'against' him?" I immediately broke in.
It took her but an instant."Surely--to have made him out horrid."I could only want to fix it."'Horrid'--?""Why, having such secrets." She was roundly ready now."Sacrificing poor May.""But YOU, dear lady, sacrificed poor May! It didn't strike you as horrid THEN.""Well, that was only," she maintained, "because you talked me over."I let her see the full process of my taking--or not taking--this in.
"And who is it then that--if, as you say, you've spoken to no one--has, as I may call it, talked you under?"She completed, on the spot, her statement of a moment before."Not a creature has spoken to me."I felt somehow the wish to make her say it in as many ways as possible--Iseemed so to enjoy her saying it.This helped me to make my tone approve and encourage."You've communicated so little with anyone!" I didn't even make it a question.
It was scarce yet, however, quite good enough."So little? I've not communicated the least mite.""Precisely.But don't think me impertinent for having for a moment wondered.
1
"Accused you?"
"Of talking too much."
