“I––” he returned, pausing, “don’t.”
“You are not willing to be fair.”
“I want to be fair––I don’t want to promise more than human nature will stand for––and then break my word.”
“I am not asking a whole lot.”
“Not a whole lot to you, I know. But do you really mean that you don’t want me ever to speak to you again?”
“If you must put it that way––yes.”
“Well,” he took a long breath, “there is one way to make sure of that. I’ll tell you honestly I don’t want to stand in the way of such a wish, if it’s really yours. As you have said, it isn’t fair, perhaps, for me to go against it. Got your pistol with you, Nan?”
“No.”
“That is the way you take care of yourself, is it?”
“I’m not afraid of you.”