Mrs. Pendyce, who did not understand, murmured:
“I see. But what have they given away?”
Paramor put his elbows on the desk, and lightly pressed his finger-tips together.
“Well,” he said, “properly speaking, in a matter like this, the other side and I are cat and dog.
“We are supposed to know nothing about each other and to want to know less, so that when we do each other a courtesy we are obliged to save our faces by saying, 'We don't really do you one.' D'you understand?”
Again Mrs. Pendyce murmured:
“I see.”
“It sounds a little provincial, but we lawyers exist by reason of provincialism. If people were once to begin making allowances for each other, I don't know where we should be.”
Mrs. Pendyce's eyes fell again on those words, “Bellew v. Bellew and Pendyce,” and again, as though fascinated by their beauty, rested there.
“But you wanted to see me about something else too, perhaps?” said Mr. Paramor.