"I believe the Government intends to do so. I am, of course, only the agent of the Government in this or any other matter."
"In other words, you have received orders to proceed?"
"I would hardly be acting without them, would I?"
"Of course; I see. Mr. Baker is sometimes hasty. Assuming that you cared to do so, is there no way you could avoid this necessity?"
"None that I can discover. I must obey orders as long as I'm a government officer."
"Exactly," said Oldham. "Now we reach the main issue. What if you were not a government officer?"
"But I am."
"Assume that you were not."
"Naturally my successor would carry out the same orders."
"But," suggested Oldham, "it might very well be that another man would not be—well, quite so qualified to carry out the case—"