"
"Yes, sir." Dale found himself obliged to clear his throat before
uttering the two words. His voice had grown husky since he last spoke.
"You have caused us a lot of trouble--really an immense amount of
trouble."
Dale looked at the Colonel unflinchingly, and his voice was all right
this time. "Trouble, sir, is a thing we can't none of us get away
from--not even in private affairs, much less in public affairs."
"No; but there is what is called taking trouble, and there is what is
called making trouble."
"And the best public servants, Mr. Dale"--this was Sir John, who had
unexpectedly raised his eyes--"are those who take most and make
least;" and he lowered his eyes and went on reading the documents.
"First," said the Colonel, "there is your correspondence with the
staff at Rodhaven. Here it is. We have gone through it carefully--and
there's plenty of it. Well, the plain fact is, it has not impressed us
favorably--that is, so far as you are concerned."
"Sorry to hear it, sir."
"No, I must say that the tone of your letters does not appear to be
quite what it should be."
"Indeed, sir. I thought I followed the usual forms."
"That may be. It is not the form, but the spirit. There is an
arrogance--a determination not to brook censure.
Pages:
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70