The Maltese Falcon Lies and Deceit Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #10

Brigid O'Shaughnessy blinked her tears away. She took a step towards him and stood looking him in the eyes, straight and proud. "You called me a liar," she said. "Now you are lying. You're lying if you say you don't know down in your heart that, in spite of anything I've done, I love you."

Spade made a short abrupt bow. His eyes were becoming bloodshot, but there was no other change in his damp and yellowish fixedly smiling face. "Maybe I do," he said. "What of it? I should trust you? You who arranged that nice little trick for--for my predecessor, Thursby? You who knocked off Miles, a man you had nothing against, in cold blood, just like swatting a fly, for the sake of double-crossing Thursby? You who double-crossed Gutman, Cairo, Thursby—one, two, three? You who've never played square with me for half an hour at a stretch since I've known you? I should trust you? No, no, darling. I wouldn't do it even if I could. Why should I?" (20.68)

In this electrifying scene, Brigid confesses her love for Spade, who also admits that he has feelings for her. But Spade still can't let go of his mistrust of Brigid because she has lied to him from day one. Spade probably wants to believe that she loves him, but he can't let herself because she has double-crossed him one too many times. Do you think Brigid is telling the truth when she says she's in love with Spade, or is this just another lie to save her neck?