“I have a duty as a magistrate to perform, ladies, and I must be just. Your man has been barbarously attacked; and living as we do with these convict servants about, more in number in places than we are ourselves, any hesitation would be stamped by them as weakness, and our very existence would be at stake.”
“But he has always been a good, hard-working man, Mr Dillon,” pleaded Janet.
“And so long as he behaved, my dear Miss Braydon, the government said, ‘You can have almost your freedom.’ He and other assigned servants know the bargain with the government. Good behaviour—liberty; bad behaviour—punishment.”
“But till my husband returns,” faltered Mrs Braydon, “you will wait?”
“These things cannot wait, madam. The law here must be administered firmly and sharply.”
“But you will investigate the case?”
“It has been investigated, Mrs Braydon,” said Mr Dillon stiffly. “Your man came to me, with witnesses who cannot lie, branded upon his face. Ladies, I respect your gentle, merciful feelings; but if you had the governance here, in a short time the Crown Colony would be a pandemonium, ruled over by a president too vile to live.”
“Hear him!” growled Brookes.
“D’yer want me to kick yer?” whispered old Samson savagely.
“But you will wait? Keep him a prisoner for a time, Mr Dillon,” pleaded Mrs Braydon, as she saw her elder daughter’s agonised look.