side of the spinney. It's a universal right of which no country
and no law can possibly deprive us."

Sir Lionel was livid with rage. Strange as it may appear to any
reasoning mind, the man really believed he had a natural right to
prevent people from crossing that strip of wood where his pheasants
were sitting. His ancestors had assumed it from time immemorial,
and by dint of never being questioned had come to regard the absurd
usurpation as quite fair and proper. He placed himself straight
across the narrow path, blocking it up with his short and stumpy
figure. "Now look here, young man," he said, with all the insolence
of his caste: "if you try to go on, I'll stand here in your way;
and if you dare to touch me, it's a common assault, and, by George,
you'll have to answer at law for the consequences."

Bertram Ingledew for his part was all sweet reasonableness. He
raised one deprecating hand. "Now, before we come to open
hostilities," he said in a gentle voice, with that unfailing smile
of his, "let's talk the matter over like rational beings. Let's try
to be logical. This copse is considered yours by the actual law of
the country you live in: your tribe permits it to you: you're
allowed to taboo it. Very well, then; I make all possible
allowances for your strange hallucination. You've been brought up
to think you had some mystic and intangible claim to this corner of
earth more than other people, your even Christians. That claim, of
course, you can't logically defend; but failing arguments, you want
to fight for it. Wouldn't it be more reasonable, now, to show you
had some RIGHT or JUSTICE in the matter? I'm always reasonable: if
you can convince me of the propriety and equity of your claim, I'll
go back as you wish by the way I entered. If not--well, there's a