"
"Beatrice, this is absurd!" he exclaimed.
She shook her head.
"No, it isn't that," she declared. "Do you know, my dear
Leonard, what there was about you from the very first which
attracted me?"
"No," he answered.
"It was your honesty," she continued. "You remember that night
upon the roof at Blenheim House? You were going to tell a lie
for me, and I know how you hated it. You love the truth, you are
truthful naturally; I would rely upon you wherever I was. I know
that you would keep your word, I know that you would be honest.
A woman loves to feel that about a man--she loves it--and I don't
want you to be brought near the people who sneer at honesty and
all good things. I don't want you to hear their point of view.
You may be simple and commonplace in some respects; I want you to
stay just as you are. Do you understand?"
"I understand," Tavernake replied gravely.
A call boy shouted her name down the stone passage. She patted
him on the shoulder and turned away.
"Run along now and get the money," she said. "Come and see me
when it's all over."
Tavernake left her with a long breath of relief and made his way
towards the Strand. At the corner of Wellington Street he came
face to face with Pritchard. They stopped at once. There seemed
to be something embarrassing about this meeting. lPritchard
patted him familiarly on the shoulder.
"How goes it, old man?" he asked.
"I am all right," Tavernake answered, somewhat awkwardly.
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