“But, you know, I have made some unscrupulous enemies by defending Reisen’s interests.”
“Um-hmm; what did you defend them for?”
Richling was about to make a reply; but the Doctor wanted none. “Richling,” he said, “the most of men have burrows. They never let anything decoy them so far from those burrows but they can pop into them at a moment’s notice. Do you take my meaning?”
“Oh, yes!” said Richling, pleasantly; “no trouble to understand you this time. I’ll not run into any burrow just now. I’ll face my duty and think of Mary.”
He laughed.
“Excellent pastime,” responded Dr. Sevier.
They rode on in silence.
“As to”—began Richling again,—“as to such matters as these, once a man confronts the question candidly, there is really no room, that I can see, for a man to choose: a man, at least, who is always guided by conscience.”
“If there were such a man,” responded the Doctor.
“True,” said John.