that if he was bent upon knowing I would satisfy him, but that it seemed
a pity, just now, to indulge in painful imagery.

"But I thought you wanted so much to put me out of conceit of our
friend."

"I admit I am inconsistent, but there are various reasons for it. In the
first place--it's obvious--I am open to the charge of playing a double
game. I profess an admiration for the Countess Scarabelli, for I accept
her hospitality, and at the same time I attempt to poison your mind;
isn't that the proper expression? I can't exactly make up my mind to
that, though my admiration for the Countess and my desire to prevent you
from taking a foolish step are equally sincere. And then, in the second
place, you seem to me, on the whole, so happy! One hesitates to destroy
an illusion, no matter how pernicious, that is so delightful while it
lasts. These are the rare moments of life. To be young and ardent, in
the midst of an Italian spring, and to believe in the moral perfection of
a beautiful woman--what an admirable situation! Float with the current;
I'll stand on the brink and watch you."

"Your real reason is that you feel you have no case against the poor
lady," said Stanmer. "You admire her as much as I do."

"I just admitted that I admired her. I never said she was a vulgar
flirt; her mother was an absolutely scientific one. Heaven knows I
admired that! It's a nice point, however, how much one is hound in
honour not to warn a young friend against a dangerous woman because one
also has relations of civility with the lady."

"In such a case," said Stanmer, "I would break off my relations."