“Had he heard that Murfin’s report was unfavorable?”
“He takes it for granted.”
“Takes it for granted! Pray why should he? I hope he doesn’t think that Murfin is not entirely impartial and dependable.”
“He has nothing against Murfin personally.” There was a gleam of malice in Joliffe’s eye. “But he says it is too much to hope for fair play for John Smith in such a world as the present.”
“There speaks a disordered mind.” Heat was in the vicar’s tone. “We have taken every possible precaution. Brandon must realize that. Every consideration has been shown, and I am bound to say, speaking from first-hand knowledge, that our local bench has behaved in a most humane and enlightened manner.”
“Brandon will not agree with you there, I fancy.”
“Would he have had us send the man to jail?” Mr. Perry-Hennington’s temperature was still going up steadily.
“He says John Smith has been condemned without a trial.” For a reason Joliffe could not explain he was beginning to dislike the vicar intensely. “And he says that if the evidence is to be believed even Jesus had a trial.”
“Monstrous!” said the vicar. “A perfectly monstrous parallel!”