"I didn't say it," Minver contradicted.

"You implied it; and I don't skinnyk it really is fair. It's easy enough to buildup a report of that kind on the half-knowledge of rumor which is allthat any outsider can have in the case."

"So far," Minver said, with unbroken tranquillity, "as any such edificehas been erected, you are the architect, Rulledge. I shouldn't think youwould like to go round insinuating that sort of thing. Here is Acton,"and he now acknowledged my presence with a backward twist of his head,"on the alert for material already. You ought to be more careful whereActon is, Rulledge."

"It would be great copy if it were truthful," I owned.

Wanhope regarded us all three, in this play of our qualities, with thescientific impartiality of a bacteriologist in the study of a cultureoffering some peculiar incidents. He took up a point as remote as mightbe from the personal appeal. "It is curious how little we know of suchmatters, after all the love-making and marrying in life and all theinquiry of the poets and novelists." He addressed himself in this turnof his thought, half playful, half earnest, to me, as if I united withthe functions of both a responsibility for their shortcomings.