Page:The Siege of London, The Pension Beaurepas, and The Point of View (Boston, James R. Osgood & Co., 1883).djvu/80

70 "Well, I suppose you would have said that his question was n't fair?"

"That would have been tantamount to admitting the worst."

"Yes," said Waterville, thoughtfully, "you could n't do that. On the other hand, if he had put it to you on your honor whether she were a woman to marry, it would have been very awkward."

"Awkward enough. Fortunately, he has no business to put things to me on my honor. Moreover, nothing has passed between us to give him the right to ask me questions about Mrs. Headway. As she is a great friend of mine, he can't pretend to expect me to give confidential information about her."

"You don't think she 's a woman to marry, all the same," Waterville declared. "And if a man were to ask you that, you might knock him down, but it would n't be an answer."

"It would have to serve," said Littlemore. He added in a moment, "There are certain cases where it's a man's duty to commit perjury."

Waterville looked grave. "Certain cases?"

"Where a woman's honor is at stake."

"I see what you mean. That 's of course if he has been himself concerned—"

"Himself or another. It does n't matter."

"I think it does matter. I don't like perjury," said Waterville. "It 's a delicate question."

They were interrupted by the arrival of the servant with a second course, and Littlemore gave a