The Gordian knot of a difficulty cut is agreeable in the contemplation of an official chief hesitating to use the sword and benefiting by having it done for him.

Lord Ormont certainly cut the knot.
Mr.Shalders was cornered by the boys, coming at him one after another without a stop, vowing it was the exercise of a military judgement upon a military question at a period of urgency, which had brought about the quarrel with the Commissioner and the reproof of the Governor.

He betrayed the man completely cornered by generalizing.

He said-- "We are a civilian people; we pride ourselves on having civilian methods." "How can that be if we have won India with guns and swords ?" "But that splendid jewel for England's tiara won," said he (and he might as well have said crown), "we are bound to sheathe the sword and govern by the Book of the Law." "But if they won't have the Book of the Law!" "They knew the power behind it." "Not if we knock nothing harder than the Book of the Law upon their skulls." "Happily for the country, England's councils are not directed by boys!" "Ah, but we're speaking of India, Mr.Shalders." "You are presuming to speak of an act of insubordination committed by a military officer under civilian command." "What if we find an influential prince engaged in conspiracy ?" "We look for proof." "Suppose we have good proof ?" "We summon him to exonerate himself." "No; we mount and ride straight away into his territory, spot the treason, deport him, and rule in his place!" It was all very well for Mr.Shalders to say he talked to boys; he was cornered again, as his shrug confessed.
The boys asked among themselves whether he would have taken the same view if his Murat had done it! These illogical boys fought for Matey Weyburn in their defence of Lord Ormont.

Somewhere, they wee sure, old Matey was hammering to the same end--they could hear him.