Stillford waxed a trifle sarcastic. "You'll conduct your case in person?" he asked.
"If you hale me to court, I shall. Otherwise there's no question of a case."
This time Stillford's eyes brightened; yet still he doubted Lynborough's meaning.
"We shouldn't hesitate to take our case into court."
"Since you're wrong, you'd probably win," said Lynborough, with a smile. "But I'd make it cost you the devil of a lot of money. That, at least, the law can do—I'm not aware that it can do much else. But as far as I'm concerned, I should as soon appeal to the Pope of Rome in this matter as to a law-court—sooner in fact."
Stillford grew more confidently happy—and more amazed at Lynborough.
"But you've no right to—er—assert rights if you don't intend to support them."
"I do intend to support them, Mr. Stillford. That you'll very soon find out."
"By force?" Stillford himself was gratified by the shocked solemnity which he achieved in this question.
"If so, your side has no prejudice against legal proceedings. Prisons are not strange to me——"