doubt it," said Durtal, smiling, "but his theory of the
Paraclete is, if I am not mistaken, the very ancient heresy of Montanus
which the Church has formally condemned."

"All depends on the manner in which the coming of the Paraclete is
conceived," interjected the bell-ringer, returning at that moment. "It
is also the orthodox doctrine of Saint Irenaeus, Saint Justin, Scotus
Erigena, Amaury of Chartres, Saint Doucine, and that admirable mystic,
Joachim of Floris. This was the belief throughout the Middle Ages, and I
admit that it obsesses me and fills me with joy, that it responds to the
most ardent of my yearnings. Indeed," he said, sitting down and crossing
his legs, "if the third kingdom is an illusion, what consolation is left
for Christians in face of the general disintegration of a world which
charity requires us not to hate?"

"I am furthermore obliged to admit," said Des Hermies, "that in spite of
the blood shed on Golgotha, I personally feel as if my ransom had not
been quite effected."

"There are three kingdoms," the astrologer resumed, pressing down the
ashes of his pipe with his finger. "Of the Old Testament, that of the
Father, the kingdom of fear. Of the New Testament, that of the Son, the
kingdom of expiation. Of the Johannite Gospel, that of the Holy Ghost,
the kingdom of redemption and love. They are the past, present and
future; winter, spring and summer. The first, says Joachim of Floris,
gives us the blade, the second, the leaf, and the third, the ear. Two of
the Persons of the Trinity have shown themselves. Logically the Third
must appear."

"Yes, and the Biblical texts abound, conclusive, explicit, irrefutable,"
said Carhaix. "All the prophets, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zachariah,
Malachi, speak of it.' The Acts of the Apostles is very precise on this
point. In the first chapter you will read these lines, 'This same Jesus,
which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as
ye have seen him go into heaven.' Saint John also announces the tidings
in the Apocalypse, which is the gospel of the second coming of Christ,
'Christ shall come and reign a thousand years.' Saint Paul is
inexhaustible in revelations of this nature. In the epistle to Timothy
he invokes the Lord 'who shall judge the quick and the dead at his
appearance and his kingdom.' In the second epistle to the Thessalonians
he writes, 'And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall
consume with the Spirit