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The
Gadfly obeyed meekly.
For half an hour, neither spoke. Then the Gadfly
said in a very low voice:
"Signora Bolla!"
She looked up. He was tearing the fringe of
the couch-rug, and kept his eyes lowered.
"You didn't believe I was speaking the truth
just now," he began.
"I had not the smallest doubt that you were
telling falsehoods," she answered quietly.
"You were quite right. I was telling falsehoods
all the time."
"Do you mean about the war?"
"About everything. I was not in that war at
all; and as for the expedition, I had a few adventures,
of course, and most of those stories are true,
but it was not that way I got smashed. You have
detected me in one lie, so I may as well confess the
lot, I suppose."
"Does it not seem to you rather a waste of
energy to invent so many falsehoods?" she asked.
"I should have thought it was hardly worth the
trouble."
"What would you have? You know your own
English proverb: 'Ask no questions and you'll be
told no lies.


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