"As to that," said T. B., shrugging his shoulders, "I have no means of foretelling, because I cannot look into the future any more than you, and if it is the will of Providence that I should die in the execution of my duty, I am as content to do so as any soldier upon the battle-field, for it seems to me," he continued half to himself, "that the arrayed enemies of society are more terrible, more formidable, and more dangerous than the massed enemies that a soldier is called upon to confront. They are only enemies for a period; for a time of madness which is called 'war'; but you in your lives are enemies to society for all time."
Fall exchanged glances with his superior, and Farrington nodded.
The doctor leant down and picked up the leather helmet, and placed it with the same tender care that he had displayed before over the head of his previous victim.
"I give you three minutes to decide," said Farrington.
"You are wasting three minutes," said the muffled voice of T. B. from under the helmet.
Nevertheless Farrington took out his watch and held it in his unshaking palm; for the space of a hundred and eighty seconds there was no sound in the room save the loud ticking of the watch.
At the end of that time he replaced it in his pocket.
"Will you agree to do as I ask?" he said.
"No," was the reply with undiminished vigour.
"Let him have it," said Farrington savagely.