I'm going to proceed in the most circumspect and cautious manner.

Not that I'm the least afraid of making an ass of myself.

I should never do that under any circumstances.

But because I have a conscience and I am afraid of doing a grave injustice, I am going to convince myself first of all that this fellow Simpkins really deserves to be killed.

I admit the force of all you said about him last night, especially that part about the heating of the church; but it's a serious thing to condemn a man to death.