is always treasure.

FOOL [_holding out his hat_]. Give me pennies! Give me pennies!

[_They throw pennies into his hat. He is standing close to
the door, that he may hold out his hat to each newcomer._]

A YOUNG M. Master, will you have Teigue the Fool for a scholar?

ANOTHER YOUNG M. Teigue, will you give us your pennies if we teach you
lessons? No, he goes to school for nothing on the mountains. Tell us
what you learn on the mountains, Teigue.

WISE M. Be silent all! [_He has been standing silent, looking away._]
Stand still in your places, for there is something I would have you
tell me.

[_A moment's pause. They all stand round in their places._
TEIGUE _still stands at the door._]

WISE M. Is there anyone amongst you who believes in God? In Heaven? Or
in Purgatory? Or in Hell?

ALL THE YOUNG MEN. No one, Master! No one!

WISE M. I knew you would all say that; but do not be afraid. I will not
be angry. Tell me the truth. Do you not believe?

A YOUNG M. We once did, but you have taught us to know better.

WISE M. Oh, teaching! teaching does not go very deep! The heart remains
unchanged under it all. You have the faith that you have always had,
and you are afraid to tell me.

A YOUNG M. No, no, Master!

WISE M. If you tell me that you have not changed, I shall be glad and
not angry.

A YOUNG M. [_to his_ NEIGHBOUR]. He wants somebody to dispute with.

HIS NEIGHBOUR. I knew that from the beginning.

A YOUNG M. That is not the subject for to-day; you were going to talk
about the words the beggar wrote upon the walls of Babylon.

WISE M. If there is one amongst you that believes, he will be my best
friend. Surely there is one amongst you. [_They are all silent._]
Surely what you learned at your mother's knees has not been so soon
forgotten.

A YOUNG M. Master, till you came, no teacher in this land was able to
get rid of foolishness and ignorance. But every one has listened to
you, every one has learned the truth. You have had your last
disputation.

ANOTHER. What a fool you made of that monk in the market-place! He had
not a word to say.

WISE M. [_comes from his desk and stands among them in the middle of
the room_]. Pupils, dear friends, I have deceived you all this time. It
was I myself who was ignorant. There is a God. There is a Heaven. There
is fire that passes and there is fire that lasts for ever.

[TEIGUE, _through all this, is sittin