Saruman appearing to the Three Walkers

[akhtene]

Gandalf when asked says (I think) "It certainly was not me", and if he lied it's the only time in LotR that I know of that Gandalf told a direct lie.

Let's assume that Gandalf didn't lie, but could it be that he wasn't teling the exact truth? Wizards are skilled with words.

Gandalf's exact words were: " You certainly didn't see me, therefor I must guess you saw Saruman" Mind that he doesn't declare he wasn't there. Perhaps he was. But as the Companions couldn't expect ever to meet him again (believing he was dead) they just saw an old man, presumably Saruman. They didn't see Gandalf in that old man at the time. Perhaps that's what Gandalf was saying.

So what I was trying to sayis that it was definitely Gandalf who had appeared before the companions, but for some reason he didn't want to admit that he had been around.