UptothistimeTheobald’smannerhadbeenstudiouslycalm，andhiswordshadbeenutteredslowly，butherehesuddenlyquickenedandflungoffthemaskasheaddedthewords，“orsomesuchcockandbullstory，whichyourmotherandIweretootruthfultodisbelieve。
Youcanguesswhatmustbeourfeelingsnow。”
Ernestfeltthatthislasthome-thrustwasjust。Inhislessanxiousmomentshehadthoughthispapaandmamma“green“forthereadinesswithwhichtheybelievedhim，buthecouldnotdenythattheircredulitywasaproofoftheirhabitualtruthfulnessofmind。
Incommonjusticehemustownthatitwasverydreadfulfortwosuchtruthfulpeopletohaveasonasuntruthfulasheknewhimselftobe。
“BelievingthatasonofyourmotherandmyselfwouldbeincapableoffalsehoodIatonceassumedthatsometramphadpickedthewatchupandwasnowtryingtodisposeofit。”