demur

殺されたArlenaとつきあっていたPatrick Redfern （Christineの夫）が尋問されています。
Redfern was silent a minute or two. Then he shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, well," he said. "I suppose it's bound to come out now. It's no good my fencing with you. I was crazy about the woman--mad--infatuated--anything you like. She wanted me to come down here. I demurred a bit and then I agreed. I--I--well, I would have agreed to do any mortal thing she liked. She had that kind of effect on people."
上の文に出てきた "demurred" もこれまでに何度か見覚えのある単語ですが、意味が直ぐに出てきません。いいかげんに覚えたいと思います。
・Collins Dictionary: to raise objections or show reluctance; object: "Blair, Sir Christopher writes," said nothing to demur " at the prospect.
・Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary:
a) to disagree politely with another person's statement or suggestion
b) to politely refuse to accept a request or suggestion: don't hesitate to demur to the idea if you have any qualms