On this occasion Roger was saved from the annoyance of any personal intercourse with his cousin Felix.  The unfortunate one was made as comfortable as circumstances would permit in the parlour, and Lady Carbury then went up to her cousin in the drawing-room.  She had learned the truth with some fair approach to accuracy, though Sir Felix himself had of course lied as to every detail.  There are some circumstances so distressing in themselves as to make lying almost a necessity.  When a young man has behaved badly about a woman, when a young man has been beaten without returning a blow, when a young man’s pleasant vices are brought directly under a mother’s eyes, what can he do but lie?  How could Sir Felix tell the truth about that rash encounter?  But the policeman who had brought...