“Yes, but, Mr. Jones, all that is mere dogmatism on your part, and no argument,” said Mr. Manly, calmly and firmly.
“You accuse me of dogmatism, do you?” roared Mr. Jones, “dogmatism indeed! Who are you, to be so bold? No argument, either! If I do not argue, who does? It is impudence on your part to say such a thing in my presence.”
Mr. Manly thought it wise to say no more about Dr. Sharpe’s book. After a brief pause Mr. Jones told a most marvellous account of two men in South Africa, to which Mr. Manly observed,—
“That is a strange story, and hard to believe, Mr. Jones.”
“It is so, whether you believe it or no: I know it is true, and it is so,” replied Mr. Jones, positively.
“But your ipse dixit does not make it true.”
“My ipse dixit, indeed! Have not I read it? Do not I know it? Be it true or false, I believe it; and I wonder at your impudence to call in question anything that I say,” said Jones, somewhat furiously.
“Do not excite yourself, Mr. Jones.”
“Excite myself! isn’t there enough to excite me? I said so, and that ought to have been enough without your contradiction.”
Mr. Manly said no more on that point, but after a while observed,—