"Why not?"
"He isn't worth it—even as company in hell."
"Do you think I'm going to let him live on?"
"Do you care to sink to his level?"
"Sink! Can I sink any lower than I am?"
Quarren shrugged:
"Easily, if you commit murder."
"That isn't murder——"
But Quarren cut him short continuing:
"Sink lower, you ask? What have you done, anyway—except to commit this crime against yourself?"—touching him on the wrist. "I'm not aware of any other crime committed by you, Ledwith. You're clean as you stand—except for this damnable insult and injury you offer yourself! Can't you reason? A bullet-stung animal sometimes turns and bites itself. Is that why you are doing it?—to arouse the amusement and contempt of your hunter?"