"I've had great trials," he said, after a pause—"great trials!"
"I'VE HAD GREAT TRIALS . . . I'VE ALWAYS BEEN MISJUDGED. . . . THEY'VE PUT ME DOWN AS HARD AND PROUD"
"I know," I agreed, softly.
He walked toward the fish and seemed to be studying it.
"They've—they've—broken me down."
"Oh, don't say that, sir!"
"It's true." His finger outlined the fish's skeleton from head to tail. "The things I said to-night—" He seemed hung up there. He traced the fish's skeleton back from tail to head. "Have we been unkind to you?" he demanded, suddenly, wheeling round in my direction.
I thought it best to speak quite truthfully.