[But the following man could get even more out of an unpromising
situation.]
"Now, I want to know," said a man whose veracity had been questioned by
an angry acquaintance, "just why you call me a liar. Be frank, sir; for
frankness is a golden-trimmed virtue. Just as a friend, now, tell me why
you called me a liar."
"Called you a liar because you are a liar," the acquaintance replied.
"That's what I call frankness. Why, sir, if this rule were adopted over
half of the difficulties would be settled without trouble, and in our case
there would have been trouble but for our willingness to meet each other
half-way."