"Little man," I said, "you know this is a lie."
"I wish it were. I have nothing whatever against you; on the contrary, I rather like you."
He spoke this kindly, and I detected, as I thought, a friendly look in his face, so acting on the impulse of the moment I said to him, "Will you listen to what I have to tell you?"
"Yes," he said, "I will listen."
Then I told him briefly all I thought necessary to tell, and yet I felt that I had not the power to tell the truth well.
"Your history seems very plausible, young man," he said, "but I have been warned against you."
"But Miss Naomi Penryn knows that I am not a madman, neither have I annoyed her in any way."
"You lie. I myself received a letter from her before you were brought here."
"Let me see that letter."
"No. Enough that I have told the truth. She fears you; she pleaded that you might be guarded until such time as it should be safe for you to be at liberty."