"The only one you thought of at the time."
I was amazed at the certainty of his tone.
"My dear fellow," I said. "I am a more or less rational creature, a reason comes along and compels me to do a thing. If I were a woman, no doubt I should do a thing and find reasons for it afterwards."
"Don't you ever do a thing on impulse, instinctively? And analyse your motives afterwards to see what prompted you?"
"Oh, possibly. But not on this occasion."
"You're sure?"
"What are you driving at?" I asked.
"You'll find out in time."
"I should like to know now."
Aintree inhaled the smoke of his cigarette and answered with eyes half-closed.