Page:Confidence (London, Macmillan & Co., 1921).djvu/88

 question, in spite of the ironical light which it projected upon his sentimental perplexity.

"I propose to do what I choose!" he said.

"That's a relief to me," Bernard rejoined. "This idea of yours is, after all, only the play of the scientific mind."

"I shall contradict you flat if I choose," Gordon went on.

"Ah, it's well to warn me of that," said Bernard, laughing. "Even the most sincere judgement in the world likes to be notified a little of the danger of being contradicted."

"Is yours the most sincere judgement in the world?" Gordon inquired.

"That's a very pertinent question. Doesn't it occur to you that you may have reason to be jealous—leaving me alone, with an open field, with the woman of your choice?"

"I wish to heaven I could be jealous!" Gordon exclaimed. "That would simplify the thing—that would give me a lift."

And the next day, after some more talk, it seemed really with a hope of this contingency—though indeed he laughed about it—that he started for England. 80