"Being a woman," said I, suddenly, "you really have a greater sense of honor than I have as a man."
She glanced at me oddly with that one suspecting eye.
"You don't think that," she said.
"I'm going to prove it," said I. "I'm going to betray a confidence which was betrayed to me, if you will promise not to turn round and betray my confidence in you."
"Say that all again," she asked.
I repeated it, slowly and simply, word for word.
"And you expect me to keep my promise of secrecy when you and somebody else have broken yours?"
"If you make the promise," said I, "yes. I've said that, being a woman, you have a greater sense of honor than I. I'm going to prove that I believe it, by putting myself in your hands."
She gazed steadily in front of her. The charm was working well. I could see it in her eyes. After accepting that, there is not a woman in the world who would have given me away.
"Go on," she said, at length.