“There, my dear fellow, calm yourself,” said the doctor soothingly. “I will undertake to see that no injustice is done in the matter.” “In other words, that he is not molested.” “That is beyond my power, because, as I say, the Bench will move if we don’t.” “Then leave it to them to take the first step. And in the meantime we’ll get legal advice.” “Murfin comes down on Friday.” “Easy to stop him.” “The vicar won’t consent to that, I’m afraid.” “No, I suppose not. But if you love this country you will do your best to restrain a profoundly stupid man.” Plain, common-sensible Dr. Joliffe thought the line of argument a little high-flown, and said so in a tone of scrupulous kindness. “I don’t overstate,” said Brandon. “Let me explain my meaning. The Republic is rising to a height of moral grandeur that few would have dared to prophesy for her. But as always, there is a flaw in her armor. The enemies of the light are seeking it, and if they should find it there is absolutely nothing between this world and barbarism.” “I’m afraid I don’t follow.” Dr. Joliffe shook a grave head. “I can tell you that she is about to treat her most august citizen as Rome, her great prototype, treated Another.” Dr. Joliffe continued to shake his head. Not only was he puzzled, he was rather distressed by such an extravagant statement. “How I wish I could get your mind off this subject!” he said. “You must not hope to do that,” said Brandon. “It is decreed that I should lie supine, a helpless log, while night and day my brain is turned into a weaver’s shuttle. I can do nothing, yet I somehow feel that the high gods have called me to do everything. This man has no other friend, and it is for that reason, Joliffe, that I ask you to stand my proxy in his defense.” “But I assure you no defense is possible,” said Joliffe, with a feeling of growing distress. “Let us brief counsel.” “No purpose will be served. As you know, the vicar is a most stubborn man. And if he doesn’t succeed one way he will another. If we doctors are obdurate he will turn to the Bench, and if the Bench won’t oblige he’ll have recourse to the military.” “It hardly seems credible.” “I agree. But that’s the man. And the worst of it is that from his own point of view in a time like the present he may be perfectly right.” “I refuse to believe that he can be right at any time.” “But surely, a man who sides openly with the enemy ought not to be at large.” “Has he gone beyond what Jesus would have done in such circumstances?” “Hardly a practical analogy, I’m afraid. In any case, John Smith is not Jesus, even if his half-witted old mother may think so. The law is bound to regard him as a crack-brained rustic, and in my humble opinion anyone who tries to persuade it that the poor fellow is anything else, will be very unwise.” “In other words you decline your help?”