he said, “but no.” He knew that it was a mistake as soon as he had said it. He realized immediately that he should have said “Yes please!” as eagerly as possible. That way, she could have asserted herself by refusing. As things stood now, he’d issued a tacit challenge, which she might just feel compelled to meet. “Liar,” she said. “Honesty doesn’t come into it,” he lied, clumsily. “I don’t think it would be a good idea for me to look at your recent work, given that this isn’t working out the way that Mr. Jarndyke hoped it would. There’s nothing I can do for him here. I don’t say that it wouldn’t be interesting to see your work, for myself...but I will confess that I’m a little afraid of the effect it might have.” “Coward, then,” she amended. “Very much so,” Adrian admitted. “May I please go back to Mr. Jarndyke now?”
