' He thought of that possibility!--we seldom care how
many faint by the way, or die in the effort to live! Monseigneur, I
must--I will speak for the dumb mouths of the nations! And every
unit that can so speak, or can so write, should hasten to turn
itself into a Pentecostal flame of fire to blaze and burn a warning
upon the verge of this new century,--causing men to prophesy with
divers tongues, of the Truth of God,--not of the lies that have been
made to represent Him!"
Felix Bonpre raised one hand with a slight gesture enjoining
silence, and seemed wrapped for a moment in painful meditation.
Angela looking anxiously up at him caught, not his glance, but that
of Manuel, who smiled at her encouragingly. Presently the Cardinal
spoke,--gently and with a kind of austere patience.
"Am I to understand from your speech, my son, and the work of your
life, that you consider the Church a lie? I put the question
plainly; but I do not ask it either to reproach or intimidate you. I
am well aware I can do neither. Thought is free to the individual as
well as to the nations; and whereas, in past time we had one man who
could think and speak, we have now a thousand! We are unfortunately
apt to forget the spread of education;--but a man who thinks as you
do, and dares all things for the right to act upon his thought,
should surely be able to clearly explain his reasons for arming
himself against any outwardly expressed form of faith, which has
received the acceptance and submission of the world?"
"Monseigneur, I do not attack any faith! Faith is necessary,--faith
is superb! I honour this uplifting virtue,--whether I find it in the
followers of the Talmud or the Koran, or the New Testament, and,
personally speaking, I would die for my belief in the great name and
ethical teaching of Christ.
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