"Yes, sir."
"Well, of course, in the poorer parts of big towns like Portsmouth, one has rather a rough crowd to deal with; good manners may not be required; a dictatorial method is not so much resented. But in a country village, in a residential neighborhood, where high and low are accustomed to live in amity--well, I must say candidly, a postmaster who adopts bullying tactics, and is always losing his temper--"
"Sir," said Dale earnestly, "I do assure you I am not a bully, nor one who is always losing his temper."
"Yet you gave me the impression of irascibility just now, when I drew you."
Dale inwardly cursed his stupidity in having allowed himself to be drawn. He had made a mistake that might prove fatal. He felt that the whole point of the affair was being lost sight of; they seemed to have drifted away into a discussion of good and bad manners, while he wanted to get back to the great issue of right and wrong, justice or injustice. And he understood the ever-increasing danger of being condemned on the minor count, with the cause itself, the great fundamental principle, remaining unweighed.
"No one," he said, humbly but firmly, "regrets it more than I do, gentlemen, if I spoke up too hot. But, sir," and he bowed to Sir John, "you were wishing to nettle me, and there's no question that for the moment I was nettled."
All three judges smiled; and Dale, accepting the smiles as a happy augury, went on with greater confidence.
"I'm sure I apologize. And I ask you not to turn it to more than its proper consequence--or to make the conclusion that I'm that way as a rule. With all respect, I'd ask you to think that this means a great deal to me--a very great deal; and that it has dragged on until--naturally--it begins to prey on one's mind. I am like to that extent shaken and off my balance; but I beg, as no more than is due, gentlemen, that you won't take me for quite the man up here, where all's strange, to what I am down there, where I'm in my element and on my own ground. And I would further submit, under the head of all parties at Rodhaven, that there may be a bit of malice behind their report."
"What malice could there possibly be? They appear to have shown an inclination to pass over the whole matter."
"Only if I took a black mark, sir. That's where the shoe pinched with me, sir--and perhaps with them too. They mayn't have been best pleased when I asked to have your decision over theirs."