Why the poacher was so grateful for a pitiless sentence Hogg never knew, for the worthy magistrate, believing the wine to have by now produced its effect, attacked the principal subject of his thoughts.
“There is certainly a God,” said he. “There can be no doubt of the existence of a Deity; none whatever.”
Nobody present expressed any doubt.
“You, sir,” said he, addressing himself to Hogg, “you have no doubt on the subject, have you?”
“None whatever.”
“If you have, I can prove it to you in a moment.”
“But I have no doubt.”
“Ah . . . still you might perhaps like to hear my argument?”
“Very much.”
“I will read it to you then.”