The visit had been made almost at the instigation
of the editor himself. The paper from beginning to end was full of
falsehood and malice, and had been written with the express intention
of creating prejudice against the man who had offended the writer.
But Mr. Slide did not know that he was lying, and did not know that
he was malicious. The weapon which he used was one to which his hand
was accustomed, and he had been led by practice to believe that the
use of such weapons by one in his position was not only fair, but
also beneficial to the public. Had anybody suggested to him that he
was stabbing his enemy in the dark, he would have averred that he
was doing nothing of the kind, because the anonymous accusation of
sinners in high rank was, on behalf of the public, the special duty
of writers and editors attached to the public press. Mr. Slide's
blood was running high with virtuous indignation against our hero as
he inserted those last cruel words as to the choice of an obscure but
honest profession.
Phineas Finn read the article before he sat down to breakfast on the
following morning, and the dagger went right into his bosom.
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