“Tell me nothing, I know all,” I replied.
“Well then, we will say no more about it.”
“Oh, yes, indeed, tell me; what is it?” I asked.
“It is this. You remember me telling you that story about A. and B.?”
“As if I could help remembering that foolish story! How lucky that it has ended so....”
“A little more, and I would have destroyed my happiness with my own hand; you saved me; but the thing is, that I was not truthful with you, then; it has been on my conscience, and now I wish to tell you all.”
“Ah, please do not!”
“Do not be afraid,” he said, smiling, “it is only that I must justify myself. When I began to talk to you, I wished to debate the question.”
“Why debate?” said I, “that is never necessary.”
He looked at me in silence, then went on.