Again the rosary, again silence, and at last a soft ripple of speech:
"A half truth is not a lie, but the less said about it the better."
Svinin was encouraged and said:
"That is certainly true. What troubles me most is that I had to inflict a punishment upon the soldier, who, although he had neglected his duty . . . ."
The rosary and a soft rippling interruption:
"The duties of service must never be neglected."
"Yes, but it was done by him through magnanimity, through sympathy after such a struggle, and with danger. He understood that in saving the life of another man he was destroying himself. This is a high, a holy feeling . . . ."
"Holiness is known to God; corporal punishment is not destruction for a common man, nor is it contrary to the customs of the nations, nor to the spirit of the Scriptures. The rod is easier borne by the coarse body than delicate suffering by the soul. In this case your justice has not suffered in the slightest degree."
"But he was deprived of the reward for saving one who was perishing."
"To save those who are perishing is not a merit, but rather a duty. He who could save but did
