“Then if by taking one life you can save twenty, it is a good action to put that one out of the way?”
“That does not follow.”
“Oh! doesn't it? I thought it did. There's a man in this prison that murders men wholesale. I thought if I could any way put it out of his power to kill any more what a good action it would be!”
“A good action! so then this brick—”
“Was for Hawes's skull, your reverence.”
“This, then, is the fruit of all my teaching. You will break my heart among you.
“Don't say so, sir! pray don't say so! I won't touch a hair of his head now you are alive; but I thought you were dead or dying, so what did it matter then what I did? Besides, I was driven into a corner; I could only kill that scoundrel or let him kill me. But you are alive, and you will find some way of saving my life as well as his.”
“I will try. But first abandon all thoughts of lawless revenge. 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.' Come, promise me.”
“Now, sir, is it likely I would offend you for the pleasure of dirtying my fingers with that rascal's blood? Don't let such a lump of dirt as him make mischief between you and me, sir.”
“I understand! with you any unchristian sentiment is easily driven out—by another. Hatred is to give way to contempt.”