Brierly went on: "This is a disgrace.

We've got all kinds amongst us--some anointed scoundrels in the lot; but, hang it, we must preserve professional decency or we become no better than so many tinkers going about loose.

We are trusted.

Do you understand ?--trusted! Frankly, I don't care a snap for all the pilgrims that ever came out of Asia, but a decent man would not have behaved like this to a full cargo of old rags in bales.

We aren't an organised body of men, and the only thing that holds us together is just the name for that kind of decency.
Such an affair destroys one's confidence.