“Well, a law is general in its terms, of course. And you’ve some special instance in mind, haven’t you?”
Sam hesitated. “I—I—well, I’m thinking of a case in which a fellow acted on what he thought was full justification, and found, afterward, that—well, that there had been a lot of mistakes.”
“Honest mistakes?”
“Yes, sir. Only——”
“Pardon me!” the Major interrupted. “Let me cite a case. Once a friend of mine, who had to carry a great deal of money, was set upon by masked and armed men. In what he fully believed was self-defense he shot and killed one of them. It proved that the attack was the work of rash practical jokers. My friend was acquitted, justly. Now, was his case like that which you are considering?”
Again Sam hesitated. “Yes—and no, sir. My case isn’t quite so clear.”
“Little prejudice to begin with—biased judgment?” queried the Major keenly.
“That’s the trouble, sir,” said Sam frankly. “The evidence looked all right, but how can I be certain that it ought to have seemed so?”
“Difficult!” said the Major tersely.
“Well, sir, what would you do if you were in my—if you were in the fix?”