But it's simply this: he wants you to know--and he seemed to want me to know--that he doesn't hold you accountable in the way he did.

He's thought it all over, and he's decided that he had no right to expect you to save him from his own ignorance where he was making a show of knowledge.

As he said, he doesn't choose to plead the baby act.

He says that you're all right, and your place on the paper is open to you." Burnamy had not been very prompt before, but now he seemed braced for instant response.

"I think he's wrong," he said, so harshly that the people at the next table looked round.