That afternoon Elihu Rufus Fox Came home to dress for a dinner to be given For English notables in town--to rest After a bath, and found himself alone, His wife at Red Cross work. And there alone, Collarless, lounging, in a comfort chair, Poring on Wordsworth's poems--all at once Before he hears the door turned, rather feels A foot-fall and a presence, hears too soon A pistol shot, looks up and sees Sosnowski, Who fires again, but misses; grabs the man, Disarms him, flings him down, and finding blood Upon his shirt sleeve, sees his hand is hit, No other damage--then the pistol takes, And covering Sosnowski, looks at him. And after several seconds gets the face Which gradually comes forth from memories Of many cases, knows the man at last. And studying Sosnowski, Rufus Fox Divines what drove the fellow to this deed. And in these moments Rufus Fox beholds His life and work, and how he made the law A thing to use, how he had builded friendships In clubs and churches, courted politicians, And played with secret powers, and compromised Causes and truths for power and capital To draw on as a lawyer, so to win Favorable judgments when his skill was hired By those who wished to win, who had to win To keep the social order undisturbed And wealth where it was wrenched to. And Rufus Fox Knew that this trembling wreck before him knew About this course of life at making law And using law, and using those who sit To administer the law. And then he said: "Why did you do this?" And Sosnowski spoke: "I meant to kill you--where's your right to live When millions have been killed to make the world A safer place for liberty? Where's your right To live and have more honors, be the man To guide the city, now that telephones, Gas, railways have been taken by the city? I meant to kill you just to help the poor Who go to court. For had I killed you here My story would be known, no matter if They buried me in lime, and made my name A word no man could speak. Now I have failed. And since you have the pistol, point it at me And kill me now--for if you tell the world You killed me in defense of self, the world Will never doubt you, for the world believes you And will not doubt your word, whatever it is." And Rufus Fox replied: "Your mind is turned For thinking of your case, when you should know This country is a place of laws, and law Must have its way, no matter who is hurt. Now I must turn you over to the courts, And let you feel the hard hand of the law." Just then the wife of Rufus Fox came in, And saw her husband with his granite jaws, And lowering countenance, blood on his shirt, The pistol in his hand, the scarred Sosnowski, Facing the lawyer.