"

"The religion of the Oxford don," said Chard magnificently from his
corner, "is the sickly bastard of nervousness and inertia."

"I'll give you a quid to say that at the Union," said Martin. But
Chard valued his career at more than a sovereign.

"Aren't you men a little out of date?" interrupted Davenant.
"Chivvying priests and kings was about 1870, wasn't it?"

"Exactly," Rendell cried in triumph. "You've done for priests and
kings. Nobody believes in them any more. They've collapsed, and by
collapsing become infinitely stronger. Bradlaugh's brigade never
foresaw that, when you take away nominal power, you begin to create
real power. The weakest side always wins in the end."

"Don't talk Chestertonian drivel," growled Lawrence. "Nobody believes
it."

"It's quite true. Religion is stronger than ever just because it's
weaker."

"The last flicker," said Martin.

Then the conversation, having reached an impasse, turned of necessity
and they were off once more upon matters episcopal.

"I don't see why a bishop should get thousands a year while the curates
are half starved," said Lawrence.

"They don't spend it on themselves," retorted Rendell.

"Only on palaces and motors and flummery. No, my boy, it's all bunkum.
Look at the fortunes they leave." Lawrence had collected a list of
episcopal fortunes which he read with glee upon every possible
occasion. It was an excellent array of figures, starting well up in
the hundred thousands.

"Oh, chuck it," said Rendell. "We've heard all this before."

But Lawrence read irrepressibly on.

"What about your needle's eye now?" he roared.

"Oh, don't be a child," said Rendell.

"That's all you ever say. Childish! You with your Athanasian Creed
and incense and swindling priests. Ever been to Notre Dame and seen
the advertisements? Forty days' purgatory remitted in return for so
many prayers! And you call me childish!" Lawrence had a fine flow of
metaphors and expletives. He had been known to continue one sentence
for ten minutes, his oratorical method being to substitute copulas for
full stops. He began jerkily, it is true. But once the lumbering
coach was set moving nothing could withstand its impetus.

Rendell yielded and began to discuss with Davenant the personality of
Christ. Lawrence continued roaring at no one in particular. At last
he sat heavily down in his arm-chair, so heavily that one of its legs
gave way. He tore off the broken