"I think I've read in your Bible that the commandment, 'Thou shalt not steal,' was given to a people among whom it was a principle that everyone should be provided for. If it happened that anyone was not provided for, there was another commandment given as to him, 'Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn.' He was to be free to take what he needed."
Flynn shook his head.
"That may be in the Bible, ma'am; but it wouldn't stand in a court o' law."
"Of course it wouldn't; only, the court of law is nothing to me."
"It can make itself something to you, ma'am, if you don't mind my sayin' so."
"Oh no, it can't! It can try me and sentence me and lock me up; but that's no worse than law and order are doing to me and mine every hour of the day."
"Oh, momma," Jennie pleaded, clinging to her mother's arm, "please stop—please!"
"I'm only warning him, darling. Law and order will bring him to grief as it does everyone else. How many did it kill in the war? Something like twelve millions, wasn't it, and could anyone ever reckon up the number of aching hearts it's left alive?"
"Yes, momma; but that kind of talk doesn't do Teddy any good."
"It does if we make it plain that he was only acting within his rights. These people think that by passing a law they impose a moral duty. What nonsense! I want my son to be brave enough to strike at such a theory as that. It's true that they'll strike back at him, and that they have the power to crush him—only, in the long run he'll be the victor."