“We’ll go now,” said Plucritus.
When we were outside he laughed.
“That is one of my favourite—patients,” he said.
“And cruelty is your favourite medicine,” I sneered.
“I have known the day when you yourself were cruel,” he broke in.
“Never, except under extreme provocation—and in a just cause.”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“Each excuses his own actions,” he remarked, and by this we were back again in the theatre.
There was a great deal of noise going on, and someone called as we entered, in an exquisitely clear and modulated voice,—
“Statesman number three from the left-hand corridor wanted.”