“An everyday occurrence—if—one—looks—at—it—in—the right way!”
“Undoubtedly. Cases of this kind are always arising. Whatever view one may take of the man, he is certainly on the border line; therefore, whether he’s certified or not is merely a question of expediency. And what I have to point out to you is that in the last resort, as the world is just now, with all these public safeguards in operation the final decision will be taken by the authorities.”
“How cruel!” said Brandon, with growing excitement.
“Not necessarily cruel,” said Dr. Joliffe in a mellifluous tone.
“To think of our local Shallows sitting in judgment on the first spirit of the age!”
“The irony of circumstances.”
“No.” Brandon’s eyes were hectic. “It takes more than two thousand years to change the world. An old story is being retold with a few modern improvements. I see that. But, Joliffe, I believe you to be a just man, and I count on your help. For the love we both bear the Republic, I want you to put up a fight for John Smith.”
“There, my dear fellow, calm yourself,” said the doctor soothingly. “I will undertake to see that no injustice is done in the matter.”
“In other words, that he is not molested.”
“That is beyond my power, because, as I say, the Bench will move if we don’t.”