"
"I don't quite see why I'm bound to believe in your infallibility
because I happen to be a Conservative. All I suggested was that you
might possibly be mistaken."
"In putting your suggestion in the way you did," said Meldon, "you
proclaimed yourself a disciple and admirer of Oliver Cromwell. I've no
particular objection to that. I'm not a prejudiced man in political
matters, and Cromwell is a long time dead. If you choose to proclaim
yourself a regicide, I shan't quarrel with you. All I want you to
understand is that you can't have it both ways. No man can quote
Oliver Cromwell with approval and still go on calling himself a
loyalist."
"All the same, you may be mistaken about Miss King."
"I may," said Meldon; "any man may be mistaken, unless he happens to be
a Pope, who of course never is, _ex officio_; but as a matter of fact I
very seldom am, and in this particular case I'm demonstrably right."
"Well, don't air your theory to the judge; that's all I care about."
"Not being a perfect fool, I won't. I have a considerable natural
talent for diplomacy, as I daresay you've observed, and I'm not the
least likely to start off by putting up that judge's back.
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