’Do by all means.  Nothing would benefit you more than to get your soul into print.’

Peak delayed a little, then: 

‘Well, I am doing something at last.’

And he gave an account of his projected essay.  By this time his hands trembled with nervous agitation, and occasionally a dryness of the palate half choked his voice.

‘This may do very well,’ opined Earwaker.  ’I suppose you will try The Critical?’

’Yes.  But have I any chance?  Can a perfectly unknown man hope to get in?’

They debated this aspect of the matter.  Seeing Peak had laid down his pipe, the journalist offered him tobacco.

’Thanks; I can’t smoke just yet.  It’s my misfortune that I can’t talk earnestly without throwing my body into disorder.’

‘How stolid I am in comparison!’ said Earwaker.

‘That book of M’Naughten’s,’ resumed the other, going back to his subject.  ‘I suppose the clergy accept it?’

‘Largely, I believe.’

Peak mused.

’Now, if I were a clergyman’—­

But his eye met Earwaker’s, and they broke into laughter.

‘Why not?’ pursued Godwin.  ’Did I ever tell you that my people originally wished to make a parson of me?  Of course I resisted tooth and nail, but it seems to me now that I was rather foolish in doing so.  I wish I had been a parson.  In many ways the position would have suited me very well.’

‘M—­m—­m!’

’I am quite serious.  Well, if I were so placed, I should preach Church dogma, pure and simple.  I would have nothing to do with these reconciliations.  I would stand firm as Jeremy Taylor; and in consequence should have an immense and enthusiastic congregation.’

‘I daresay.’

’Depend upon it, let the dogmas do what they still can.  There’s a vast police force in them, at all events.  A man may very strongly defend himself for preaching them.’

The pursuit of this argument led Earwaker to ask: 

’What proportion of the clergy can still take that standing in stolid conscientiousness?’

‘What proportion are convinced that it is untenable?’ returned Peak.

‘Many wilfully shut their eyes to the truth.’

‘No, they don’t shut their eyes!’ cried Godwin.  ’They merely lower a nictitating membrane which permits them to gaze at light without feeling its full impact.’

‘I recommend you to bring that into your paper,’ said the journalist, with his deep chuckle.

An hour later they were conversing with no less animation, but the talk was not so critical.  Christian Moxey had come up as a topic, and Earwaker was saying that he found it difficult to divine the man’s personality.

‘You won’t easily do that,’ replied Peak, ’until you know more of his story.  I can’t see that I am bound to secrecy—­at all events with you.  Poor Moxey imagines that he is in love, and the fancy has lasted about ten years.