“Meaning Katherine Massarene?”
“Certainly, meaning Miss Massarene.”
She laughed, much diverted.
“Are you changing your mind about her?”
“In no way. But she is a person who conducts herself admirably in a most difficult and odious position, and I do not choose to allow you to circulate inventions which may ultimately injure her extremely. You will remember that some time ago I made you retract a calumny; I shall act in the same way now unless you, of your accord, can completely withdraw this tale you have set about.”
She was silent.
She remembered how unpleasant he had been when she had fabricated a pretty web of falsehoods concerning one of her acquaintances, actually forcing her to apologize to all the people concerned.
“I can’t imagine why you should care,” she said sullenly.
“To care for abstract justice is quite unintelligible to you,” he answered. “It is to most people. Will you retract this lie or will you not?”
“You make a storm in a teacup. What will you do if I don’t?”