“Mean!—He had just spoken them fair—they could go where they liked, only would they not go down the one road, because of the heap of stones. And they let him finish. And then shot him dead.”
“Was he dead?” said Aaron.
“Yes—killed outright, the Nazione says.”
There was a silence. The drinkers in the cafe all continued to talk vehemently, casting uneasy glances.
“Well,” said Argyle, “if you let loose the dogs of war, you mustn't expect them to come to heel again in five minutes.”
“But there's no fair play about it, not a bit,” said Levison.
“Ah, my dear fellow, are you still so young and callow that you cherish the illusion of fair play?” said Argyle.
“Yes, I am,” said Levison.
“Live longer and grow wiser,” said Argyle, rather contemptuously.
“Are you a socialist?” asked Levison.