'For your need I would have come gladly; yes—I think so—in spite of incurring worse; but for your pleasure——'
'Not, for instance, had I wished to see the colour of your eyes?'
It was but poor sport to put him out of countenance. Quite kindly she asked, 'What now have you incurred that worse should be to dread?'
He began of the name 'Sinister,' and of all it implied. She laughed, asking him why he should expound that. He went on to the definite ills that had beset him, because the injury to his boat betrayed him to inquisition.
'But how?' she asked; 'you admitted nothing, else you failed in your promise to me.'
'No, but challenged, I could not deny I had dared here.'
'Why not?'
'It would not have been true,' he said, puzzled.
Diadyomene opened her eyes wide and laughed.
'And do you use your powers of speech only to say what is true?'