"What else? Oh, nothing. Of course he asked you," said Rawlings meaningly.
"Eh? Why?"
"Well, he couldn't do anything else, could he? Sturton can't compel. This is a free country. Supposing you kicked? Why, we then come back to the very question you asked when this tomfoolery was first started. Supposing you kick? What can Sturton do?"
"Yes, I see; so we have. It's the same question over again," admitted Norman.
"Well, and what can he do?"
Norman was floored. Rawlings had the peculiar power of always making him feel as if he were a weakling and a fool, and as if others were getting the best of him. He only wished that Bagshaw had had that discussion with Rawlings, or when he was present. He felt angry with himself, and, of a sudden, angry with Rawlings for his asserted superiority.
"Look here! You always know best what to do. Or think you do," he stated bluntly. "What'd you do if you were in my place?"
"Not be led by the nose, that's one thing. Not allow the wind to blow me both ways. Not give in as soon as I found out that a fellow was afraid of me."
"Afraid of me! Sturton? Not he."
"Sturton, yes," said Rawlings, with another of those satirical smiles. "Else why did he send Bagshaw to interview you? He knows you're kicking. What can he do? He's floored. He's bound to send round and ask you to be a good boy and help him."