I realise your predicament. But don't you see that in
establishing and regulating a place like that the city of Boston has
instinctively sanctioned my idea? You may say that it is aiding and
abetting the tramp-nuisance by giving vagrants food and shelter, but
other philosophers will contend that it is--blindly perhaps--
fulfilling the destiny of the future State, which will at once
employ and support all its citizens; that it is prophetically
recognising my new principle of Complicity?"
"Your new principle!" cried Sewell. "You have merely given a new
name to one of the oldest principles in the moral world."
"And that is a good deal to do, I can tell you," said Evans. "All
the principles are pretty old now. But don't give way to an ignoble
resentment of my interruption. Go on about Barker."
After some feints that there was nothing more important to tell,
Sewell went on to the end; and when he had come to it, Evans shook
his head. "It looks pretty black for you, but it's a beautifully
perfect case of Complicity. What do you propose to do, now you've
rediscovered him?"
"Oh, I don't know! I hope no more mischief. If I could only get him
back on his farm!"
"Yes, I suppose that would be the best thing. But I dare say he
wouldn't go back!"
"That's been my experience with him."
They talked this aspect of the case over more fully, and Evans said:
"Well, I wouldn't go back to such a place myself after I'd once had
a glimpse of Boston, but I suppose it's right to wish that Barker
would.
Pages:
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247