“I was quite a lad when I went to the Congo, and it is not fair to hold me responsible for what went on in the country. On my honor, I have never been guilty of the torturing of a native,” he said earnestly.
“But still, the torturing was going on all around you, and you made no effort to prevent it.”
“My efforts would have been useless. In those days I had no power,” he protested.
“Then as a decent man, you should have left the country, and sought a cleaner way of making money. You admit that you remained there for years. Did you never feel ashamed?”
“You did not hear all I said last night,” he said quietly.
“No. If I had stayed much longer I should have broken down. I had no wish to make a public exhibition of myself.”
Now she had recovered herself and spoke in her usual manner.
“I stated that I would use my money to help the natives, and I intend to do so.”
“Then you admit that my accusations are just?” she said quickly.
“Yes. I have always known that my conduct was infamous. But I intended to make money.”