Accordingly he felt bound to put the facts simply and briefly before his audience, although the indifference of the Colonial Office to what, if true, was a crime committed by an Englishman on English soil, and against practically English subjects, in effect acquitted him of the charge.
Drake thereupon proceeded to describe his march to Boruwimi.

The story, modestly recited in simple nervous English, did more to forward his candidature than all the political speeches he could have made during a twelvemonth.

It came pat at the right time, when arguments were growing stale.

His listeners hung upon the words; in the intense silence Fielding could feel the sympathy between speaker and audience flowing to and fro between them like a current.

Drake instinctively lowered his voice; it thrilled through the hall the more convincingly.