“That she is,” said Smead enthusiastically, “and thoroughly straight, too!”
“Oh,” said Foxmore, “there's no lane but has a turning. And trust Bulling,” he added coarsely, “for finding it out.”
“Well,” said Bulling, with a knowing smile, “this little Lane is straight. Of course there may be a slight deflection. Nature's lines run in curves, you know.” And again his wit provoked applauding laughter. But before the laughter had quite faded out a voice was heard, clear and cutting.
“Dr. Bulling, you are a base liar!” The words were plainly audible to every man in the room. A dead silence fell upon the company.
“What?” said the doctor, sitting up straight, as if he had not heard aright.
“I say you are a cowardly liar!”
“What the deuce do you mean?”
“You have just made an insinuation against the honour of a young lady. I say again you are a mean and cowardly liar. I want you to say so.”
For a moment or two Bulling's surprise kept him silent.
“Quite right,” said Trent. “Beastly cad!”