"Then I understand you to confirm what you told me on board ship?"
"On the contrary; you understand me to take it back. Why shouldn't that be enough for you—- without asking further questions?"
"Because I'm not here to go through formalities, but to seek for facts."
"Precisely; and yet, wouldn't it be wise, under the circumstances, not to be too exacting? If I do my best for you—"
"It isn't a question of doing your best, but of telling me the truth."
"I can quite see that it might strike you in that way; but you'll pardon me, I know, if I see it from another point of view. No man in my situation would consider it a matter of telling you the truth, so much as of coming to the aid of a lady whose good name he had unwittingly imperilled. My supreme duty is there; and I'm willing to do it to the utmost of my power. I am willing to withdraw everything I have ever uttered that could tell against her. Can you ask me to do more?"
"Yes; I can ask you to deny it."
"Isn't that already a form of denial?"
"No; it's a form of affirmation."
"That's because you choose to take it so. It's because you prefer to go behind my words, and ascribe to me motives which, for all you know, I do not possess."