Part 10 (1/2)

_Paul Ruttledge._ Is it not the doctrine of your Christian Church, of your Catholic Church, that he who fights in an unjust war, knowing it to be unjust, loses his own soul?

_Colonel Lawley._ I should like to know what would happen to the country if there weren't soldiers to protect it.

_Paul Ruttledge._ We are not discussing the country, we are discussing the Christian life. Has this gentleman lived the Christian life?

_All the Tinkers._ He has not!

_Paddy c.o.c.kfight._ His sergeant tried to enlist me, giving me a s.h.i.+lling, and I drunk.

_Tommy the Song._ [_Singing._]

She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree, But I, being young and foolish, with her would not agree.

_Charlie Ward._ Stop your mouth, Tommy. This is not your show. [_To_ PAUL RUTTLEDGE.] Are you going to put a fine on the Colonel? If so I'd like his cloak.

_Paul Ruttledge._ Now we'll try Mr. Dowler, the rich man. [_Holds up his fingers in a ring._] Mr. Dowler, could you go through this?

_Mr. Algie._ Don't answer him, Dowler; he's going beyond all bounds.

_Paul Ruttledge._ I was a rich man and I could not, and yet I am something smaller than a camel, and this is something larger than a needle's eye.

_Mr. Joyce._ Don't answer this profanity.

_Charlie Ward._ But what about the cloak?

_Paul Ruttledge._ Oh! go and take it.

[CHARLIE WARD _goes and takes cloak off the_ COLONEL.

_Colonel Lawley._ You drunken rascal, I'll see you in the dock for this.

_Mr. Joyce._ You're encouraging robbery now.

_Paul Ruttledge._ Remember the commandment, ”Give to him that asketh thee”; and the hard commandment goes even farther, ”Him that taketh thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.” [_Holding out his rags._]

Have I not shown you what Mr. Green would call a s.h.i.+ning example.

Charlie, ask them all for their coats.

_Charlie Ward._ I will, and their boots, too.

_All the Tinkers._ [_Uproariously._] Give me your coat; I'll have your boots, etc.

_Mr. Green._ Wait till the police come. I'll turn the tables on you; you may all expect hard labour for this.

_Paul Ruttledge._ [_To the_ Tinkers.] Stand back, the trial is not over.

Mr. Green, these friends of yours have been convicted of breaking the doctrine they boast of. They do not love their enemies; they do not give to every man that asks of them. Some of them, Mr. Dowler, for instance, lay up treasures upon earth; they ask their goods again of those who have taken them away. But you, Mr. Green, are the worst of all. They break the Law of Christ for their own pleasure, but you take pay for breaking it. When their goods are taken away you condemn the taker; when they are smitten on one cheek you punish the smiter. You encourage them in their breaking of the Law of Christ.

_Tommy the Song._ He does, indeed. He gave me two months for snaring rabbits.