Certainly the master-carpenter was not unpopular, and people could not easily resist the grip of his physical influence, while mentally he was far indeed from being deficient.

He looked as little like a villain as a man could, and yet--and yet--a nature like that of George Masson (even the little Clerk could see that) was not capable of being true beyond the minute in which he took his oath of fidelity.

While the fit of willingness was on him he would be true; yet in reality there was no truth at all--only self-indulgence unmarked by duty or honour.
"Give me a judgment for defamation of character.

Give me a thousand dollars or so for that, m'sieu', and you'll do a good turn to a deserving fellow-citizen and admirer--one little thousand, that's all, m'sieu'.

Then I'll dance at your wedding and weep at your tomb--so there!" How easy he made the way for the little Clerk of the Court! "Defamation of character"-- could there possibly be a better opening for what he had promised Judge Carcasson he would say! "Ah, Monsieur Masson," very officially and decorously replied M.Fille, "but is it defamation of character?
If the thing is true, then what is the judgment?
It goes against you--so there!" There was irony in the last words.
"If what thing is true ?" sharply asked the mastercarpenter, catching at the fringe of the idea in M.Fille's mind.