"
"It's that damned Simpkins," said the Major.
"Simpkins may or may not be damned hereafter," said Meldon. "I offer
no opinion on that point until I hear who he is and what he's done. He
can't be damned yet, assuming him to be still alive. That's an
elementary theological truth which you ought to know; and, in fact,
must know. It will be a great deal more satisfactory to me if you use
language accurately. Say that 'damnable Simpkins' if you're quite sure
he deserves it; but don't call him damned until he is."
"He does deserve it."
"If he does," said Meldon--"I'm not, of course, certain yet that he
does--but if he does, I'll do my best to see that he gets it; but I
won't act in the dark. I have a sense of justice and a conscience, and
I absolutely decline to persecute and harry a man simply because you
don't like him. Who is this Simpkins? Is he any kind of government
inspector?"
"He's an agent that they've sent down here to manage the Buckley
estates."
"Well, I don't see anything wrong about that. I suppose there must be
an agent. I could understand Doyle objecting to him on the ground of
his profession. Doyle is the President of the League, and, of course,
he's _ex officio_ obliged to dislike land agents passionately; but I
didn't expect you to take that line, Major.
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