He was insolent.

You need have no anxiety about it--it is all over.

I only mention it because I want you to feel that our creeds of conduct in life are not always our masters, and sometimes ought not to be.

Let that comfort you a little.

You know that to have been a silent looker-on at the return to slavery of a man to whom we owed so much was impossible.
My wonder is that for a moment you could have hesitated.