She laughed nervously. “Oh, I am all right.”
“Let’s sit down a moment, if you were not discussing anything very important——”
“Indeed, we were, my dear Fortescue,” said Professor Theobald, drawing his colleague on to the seat, “and your clear head would throw much light on the philosophy of the question.”
“Oh, a question of abstract philosophy,” said Professor Fortescue. “Are you disagreeing?”
“Not exactly. The question that turned up, in the course of discussion, was this: If a man stands in a position which is itself the result of an aggression upon his liberty and his human rights, is he in honour bound to abide by the laws which are laid down to coerce him?”
“Obviously not,” replied Professor Fortescue.
“Is he morally justified in using every means he can lay hold of to overcome the peculiar difficulties under which he has been tyrannously placed?”
“Not merely justified, but I should say he was a poor fool if he refrained from doing so.”
“That is exactly what I say.”
“Surely Mrs. Temperley does not demur?”