having missed the beginning , roger had no idea how the conflict had begun , but so far into it as they were , the exchange was focused on cowardice and arrogance , jamie 's remarks aimed at forbes 's leading the attack on fogarty simms as a low-minded and cowardly attempt to make himself look the big man at the price of a defenseless man 's life , forbes-shifting into english here , as he realized that they had become the cynosure of the room-taking the view that jamie 's presence here was an unwarrantable affront to those who truly held the ideals of liberty and justice , as everyone knew he was in truth the king 's man , but he , the puffed-up c*ck o ' the walk , thought that he could pull the wool over everyone 's eyes long enough to betray the whole boiling , but if he , fraser , thought he , forbes , was fool enough to be gulled by antic tricks in the public street and a lot of talk with nay more substance than the shrieking of gulls , he , fraser , had best think again !