“I prefer the right thing to the wrong thing,” was the prompt and calm rejoinder.
“The complaint shall be made.”
Mr. Eden bowed and his eyes twinkled. He pictured to himself this pompous personage writing to the Bishop of —— to tell him that he objected to Mr. Eden's preaching; not that he had ever heard it; but that in attacking a great human vice it had hit a jailer.
“The next I think we can deal with. Mr. Hawes complains that you constantly interfere between him and the prisoners, and undermine his authority.”
“I support him in all his legal acts, but I do oppose his illegal ones.”
“Your whole aim is to subvert the discipline of the jail.”
“On the contrary, I assure you I am the only officer of the jail who maintains the discipline as by law established.”
“Am I to understand that you give Mr. Hawes the lie?”
“You shall phrase my contradiction according to your own taste, sir.”
“And which do you think is likeliest to be believed?”