"Call it what you like. Nothing I could say would convince you to the contrary. Does it matter?"
"Then your suggestion doesn't deserve my notice."
"In that event"—Bel smiled in a knowing fashion difficult to tolerate—"I've got my answer, plain enough: you're bent on going on."
"Have you any objection?"
"If I thought my views had any weight with you I might be tempted to tell you."
"You'd waste your time—if you think I don't know what you'd say."
His brows circumflexed a mocking: "So?"
"You want me to give it up."
"Well"—he stressed a shrug—"one would think you'd seen enough of this sort of thing to satisfy even your curiosity."
"You think I had no other motive?"