"I do not understand you. How can you possibly say at this moment whether, during the next six months, the amount of crime shall be greater or less?" His lordship was puzzled.
"How? Why just in the same way that the directors of a joint-stock bank determine in their parlour what shall be the amount of dividend payable to shareholders. My assistant wanted to make a reduction of fifty per centum on the last returns; but I think thirty-three and a-half will be a very fair figure."
"You intend, perhaps, to be more severe?" said the young legislator.
"Nothing of the kind. On the contrary, we intend to be less energetic by thirty-three and a-half per cent.—to take matters more easily, in short."
"I wish I knew what you meant."
"I will explain it to you."
"As briefly as possible, please." His lordship did not want to be bored, evidently.
"By all means."
"I only want facts, you see."