“He would be very pliable, I don’t doubt.”
“Yes. But if he seemed unconvinced I should continue thus: ‘Brother, the beam which filled my eye was composed chiefly of ignorance and selfishness, though, being blind, I could not see it, and the mote in yours is composed chiefly of vanity and conceit, though, being blind, you cannot see it either.’”
I opened my eyes.
“Did you say I was to call him ‘Brother’?” I asked.
“Undoubtedly.”
“The result of that speech would be anything but brotherly.”
“Why not? Is he then so irreproachable that he is above criticism?”
“I know nothing about him,” I replied. “I can only apologise for coming in his way and promise the offence shall never be repeated.”
“But how do you know you ever did come in his way?”
“I do not know. I imagined it for the most part. That needs another apology.”