"If the matter had been under my control I shd. have commenced suits and had attachments long before.
"They would have been without the perfect basis which the results of Mr. O'Conor's long labor will disclose.
"It may be that such perfect basis, when disclosed, will be well worth all the delay.
"Whether so or not was and is for you and the Atty. Genl. to determine; not for me.
"After Mr. O'Conor assumed the labor of preparing the case vs. Sweeney, etc., it certainly would have been highly improper and indecorous for me to do otherwise than acquiesce. As to my personal action, all I can say is that I have been at his service always. That I have urged haste as strongly as common courtesy to him would allow. You speak of what might have been done 'if I had been really anxious to produce results.'
"I am at a loss to understand your meaning.
"You certainly cannot mean what the words apparently mean.
"I do not believe that there ever was a doubt in your mind, or the mind of any man, as to whether I was 'really anxious to produce results.'
"If there was you should not have employed me or suffered me to be employed. I have waited for Mr. O'Conor. Could I or should I have done otherwise? You say that Mr. O'Conor is above criticism. Agreed. But so far as anxiety to produce results—so far as devoting all time or labor to the cause, so far as making this business the very first, to the exclusion of everything else are concerned—I insist that I am as far above criticism as is Mr. O'Conor or any living man.
"If there is or has been any delay caused by want of zeal or attention on my part I shd. like to know it.