Mr. Williams put in warmly, “He went out to a vessel in distress in a hurricane at Jamaica.”
“It was off the Mauritius,” observed Mr. Eden with a gleam of satisfaction.
“Well,” said Mr. Lacy, “he saved other lives at the risk of his own, no matter where. Pray, Mr. Eden, does your reading and experience lead you to believe that a brave man is ever a cruel one?”
“Yes.”
“There is a proverb that the cruel are always cowards.”
“Cant! seven out of twelve are cowards and five brave.”
“I don't agree with you. The presumption is all on Mr. Hawes's side.”
“And only the facts on mine.”
Mr. Lacy smiled superciliously. “To the facts let us go, then. You received a note from the Home Office this morning. In compliance with that note have you prepared your case?”
“Yes.”