“I begin to understand. Your position is well taken, it seems to me, but I do not very clearly understand athletics. The athlete has always seemed to me to be a—ah—privileged character, with a set of ethics quite his own. But you, I understand, apply the ethics governing ordinary affairs to him.” The doctor’s voice seemed slightly tinged with irony. “Am I right?”
“It seems to me,” answered Hansel boldly, “that what would be dishonest in the schoolroom or in business would be equally dishonest in sport.”
“Possibly, possibly,” answered his host with a wave of his hand which seemed to thrust argument aside. “And this boy, Cameron, whom you mention as a specific case? You are certain that his tuition is paid by the—by his fellows?”
“Paid from the football expense fund contributed by the fellows; yes, sir.”
“And that fact, in your estimation, should prohibit him from playing the game of football?”
“With other schools, sir.”
“But if the—ah—other schools do not offer objections?”
“I don’t suppose they know what the facts are, sir.”
“I see. Then you think that if the other schools knew they would object?”
“I think so, sir; I think they would protest him.”