"No, I must say that the tone of your letters does not appear to be quite what it should be."
"Indeed, sir. I thought I followed the usual forms."
"That may be. It is not the form, but the spirit. There is an arrogance—a determination not to brook censure."
"No censure was offered, sir."
"No, but your tone implied that you would not in any circumstances accept it."
"Only because I knew I hadn't merited it, sir."
"But don't you see that subordination becomes impossible when each officer—"
Sir John interrupted his colleague.
"Mr. Dale, perhaps short words will be more comprehensible to you than long ones."