I can but try." Iris sighed.

"I almost hope you may not succeed," she said.
Mountjoy was puzzled, and made no attempt to conceal it.

"I thought you only wanted to get at the truth," he answered.
"My mind might be easier, perhaps, if I was left in doubt," she suggested.

"A perverse way of thinking has set up my poor opinion against yours.

But I am getting back to my better sense.