Years ago, gentlemen, I was a judge; I did my best in that capacity to do justice and to administer the law.

But it gradually dawned on me that in my work, as it was, I was not touching even the fringe of justice.

I was seated in the seat of the mighty, I was robed in scarlet and ermine; nevertheless, I held a small and lowly and futile post.

I had to go by a mean rule as much as a postman, and my red and gold was worth no more than his.

Daily there passed before me taut and passionate problems, the stringency of which I had to pretend to relieve by silly imprisonments or silly damages, while I knew all the time, by the light of my living common sense, that they would have been far better relieved by a kiss or a thrashing, or a few words of explanation, or a duel, or a tour in the West Highlands.