"
"That," said O'Moy, who would never have kept his temper in control
but for the pleasant consciousness that he held a hand of trumps
with which he would' presently overwhelm this representative of the
Portuguese Government, "that is an opinion for which the Council
may presently like to apologise, admitting its entire falsehood."
Senhor Forjas started as if he had been stung. He uncrossed his
black silk legs and made as if to rise.
"Falsehood, sir?" he cried in a scandalised voice.
"It is as well that we should be plain, so as to be avoiding all
misconceptions," said O'Moy. "You must know, sir, and your Council
must know, that wherever armies move there must be reason for
complaint. The British army does not claim in this respect to be
superior to others - although I don't say, mark me, that it might
not claim it with perfect justice. But we do claim for ourselves
that our laws against plunder and outrage are as strict as they well
can be, and that where these things take place punishment inevitably
follows. Out of your own knowledge, sir, you must admit that what
I say is true."
"True, certainly, where the offenders are men from the ranks. But
in this case, where the offender is an officer, it does not transpire
that justice has been administered with the same impartial hand.
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