In Ralph Ellison's "The Black Ball," why does the narrator of the story lie to Mr. Berry when he asks why the man was there?

(1 point)
O to protect the man
and himself
O to cause trouble for
Mr. Berry
O to be able to get back
to his work
O to explain why had hadn't finished yet

The narrator of the story lies to Mr. Berry when he asks why the man was there in order to protect the man and himself.