the wrong side of the law, let the law punish him. You agree with me, I’m sure.”
“You forget,” I said. “My calling obliges me to respect one quality above all others—the quality of mercy.”
“Well, I’m a just man. No one can deny that.”
I did not speak, and he said sharply:
“Why don’t you answer? A penny for your thoughts, man.”
I hesitated, then I decided to speak.
“I was thinking,” I said, “that when my time comes, I should be sorry if the only plea I had to offer was that of justice. Because it might mean that only justice would be meted out to me. …”
“Pah! What we need is a little militant Christianity. I’ve always done my duty, I hope. Well, no more of that. I’ll be along this evening, as I said. We’ll make it a quarter-past six instead of six, if you don’t mind. I’ve got to see a man in the village.”