Stein bowed and went on:
"He is dead, and whatever his faults—we all have our faults, Mr. Huber—they died with him. I am here only to ask you to show a decent respect for the memory of a dead enemy. I am here to ask you to be magnanimous, Mr. Huber."
"Magnanimous? You talk as if I had won!"
"The living are always the winners," said the Judge.
Luke began to doubt that theory.
"And so you want me to surrender these letters?"
"Exactly. What use can they be to you now?"
"There were other people involved. Are they willing to accept my terms? I know they can't hurt me, because I know they haven't the courage or the power of the man you've been talking about. But that's neither here nor there: will they accept my terms?"
"They did not write either of the letters, Mr. Huber."
"They're inculpated by them."