"
"Yes," murmured Mr. Lavender, "yes. It is in the last degree undesirable
that any man of German origin should remain free to work possible harm
to our country. There is no question in this of hatred or of mere rabid
patriotism," he went on, in a voice growing more and more far-away; "it
is largely the A. B. C. of common prudence."
"I ought to say," interrupted his visitor, "that we all thought him, of
course, an honourable man until this war, or we should not have been his
friends. He is a dentist," she added, "and, I suppose, may be said to
be doing useful work, which makes it difficult. I suggest that you go to
him to have a tooth out."
Mr. Lavender quivered, and insensibly felt his teeth.
"Thank you," he said, "I will see if I can find one. It is certainly a
matter which cannot be left to chance. We public men, madam, often have
to do very hard and even inhumane things for no apparent reason. Our
consciences alone support us. An impression, I am told, sometimes gets
abroad that we yield to clamour. Those alone who know us realize how
unfounded that aspersion is."
"This is his address," said the lady, rising, and handing him an
envelope. "I shall not feel at rest until he is safely interned.
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