When they entered the library, the table of which was covered with religious magazines, missionary papers, and reports of religious societies, both at home and abroad, Mr. Lucre, after throwing himself into a rich cushioned arm-chair, motioned to his curate to take a seat.

“I have sent for you, Clement,” said he, “to have your advice and assistance on a subject, in which, I feel confident, that as a sincere and zealous Protestant, you will take a warm interest.  You have heard of the establishment of our New Reformation Society, of course.”

“I believe it is pretty generally known,” replied Clement.

“It is now,” replied Lucre; “but our objects are admirable.  We propose to carry controversy into all the strongholds of Popery—­to enlighten both priest and people, and, if possible, to transfer the whole Popish population—­per satiram—­by the lump, as it were—­”

“Per saturum, I believe,” observed Clement, bowing, “if I may take the liberty.”

“Sati, satu—­well, you may be right; my memory, Clement, retains large passages best, and ever did—­to transfer the whole Popish population to the Established Church.  It is a noble, a glorious speculation, if it only can be accomplished.  Think of the advantages it would confer upon us!  What stability would it not give the Church.”

“I cannot exactly see what peculiar stability it would give the Church,” replied Clement, “with the exception of mere numbers alone.”

“How so—­what do you mean?”

“Why, sir,” replied Clement, “if we had the numbers you speak of to-morrow, we would be certainly worse off than we are today.  They could only pay us our tithes, and that they do as it is; if they formed a portion, and the largest portion they would form, of our church, think of the immense number of clergy they would require to look to their religious wants—­the number of churches and chapels of ease that must be built—­the number of livings that must be divided—­nay, my dear sir, in addition to this, you may easily see, that for every one bishop now, we should have at least four, then, and that the incomes would diminish in proportion.  As it is now, sir, we have the tithes without the trouble of laboring for them, but it would be a different case in your new position of affairs.”

Mr. Lucre, who, in the heat of his zeal, had neither permitted himself to see matters in this light, nor to perceive that Clement’s arguments concealed, under a grave aspect, something of irony and satire, looked upon his curate with dismay—­the smooth and rosy cheek got pale, as did the whole purple face down to the third chin, each of which reminded one of the diminished rainbows in the sky, if we may be allowed to except that they were not so heavenly.