“I—n-no—I——”
Aliosha blushed deeply at being caught telling a fib and began to scratch the locket furiously with his nail. Belayeff looked searchingly into his face and repeated:
“Do you ever see your papa?”
“N-no!”
“Come, tell me honestly! I can see by your face that you are not telling the truth. It’s no use quibbling now that the cat is out of the bag. Tell me, do you see him? Now then, as between friends!”
Aliosha reflected.
“You won’t tell mamma?” he asked.
“What an idea!”
“Honour bright?”
“Honour bright!”