Bemis;" and then you hand it over to
him and say, "Sorry I had to break the chain in getting it from
him," and then everybody laughs again, and--and that ends it.'
ROBERTS, with a profound sigh: 'Do you think that would end it?'
WILLIS: 'Why, certainly. It'll put old Bemis in the wrong, don't
you see? It'll show that instead of letting the fellow escape to go
and rob HIM, you attacked him and took Bemis's property back from
him yourself. Bemis wouldn't have a word to say. All you've got to
do is to keep up a light, confident manner.'
ROBERTS: 'But what if it shouldn't put Bemis in the wrong? What if
he shouldn't say or do anything that we've counted upon, but
something altogether different?'
WILLIS: 'Well, then, you must trust to inspiration, and adapt
yourself to circumstances.'
ROBERTS: 'Wouldn't it be rather more of a joke to come out with the
facts at once?'
WILLIS: 'On you it would; and a year from now--say next Christmas--
you could get the laugh on Bemis that way. But if you were to risk
it now, there's no telling how he'd take it. He's so indignant he
might insist upon leaving the house. But with this plan of mine--'
ROBERTS, in despair: 'I couldn't, Willis. I don't feel light, and
I don't feel confident, and I couldn't act it. If it were a simple
lie--'
WILLIS: 'Oh, lies are never simple; they require the exercise of
all your ingenuity.
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