What did it amount to in any case?
Other men lied every day saying they had never loved.

He had lied only once in saying that he had....

At the same time it might be very embarrassing to....
yes, certainly, the matter must be dropped! They would, he supposed, find it necessary to elope....

No sense in looking for trouble! The old gentleman had been odder than ever the last day or so.

He had ceased even to pretend that his guest's presence was anything but an annoyance.