But any Home Secretary who could decide a murder case on any other grounds whatever than those of law and his own conscience would not deserve his place a day--an hour! Believe me, you mistake the whole situation." He spoke slowly, with the sharp emphasis natural to his age and authority.

Marcella did not believe him.

Every nerve was beginning to throb anew with that passionate recoil against tyranny and prejudice, which was in itself an agony.
"And you say the same ?" she said, turning to Aldous.
"I cannot sign that petition," he said sadly.

"Won't you try and believe what it costs me to refuse ?" It was a heavy blow to her.

Amply as she had been prepared for it, there had always been at the bottom of her mind a persuasion that in the end she would get her way.