nd smashes him, as I can't help myself from doing, it'll be
all u-p with that young chap's glorious career. But if I warns him in
time, then he can retire--find an honourable retreat--that's what he
wants yer to have--an honourable retreat. Isn't that it, Silas?"

"Those are the feelings by which I am actuated," said Mr. Finn.

Paul stretched himself out in his chair, his ankles crossed, and
surveyed his guests. "What do you think of it, Jane?" said he, not
without a touch of irony.

She had been looking into the fire, her face in profile. Addressed, she
turned. "Mr. Finn has your interests very deep at heart," she answered
tonelessly.

Paul jumped to his feet and laughed his fresh laugh. It was all so
comic, so incredible, so mad. Yet none of them appeared to see any
humour in the situation. There sat Jane and Barney Bill cowering under
the influence of their crazy fishmongering apostle; and there,
regarding him with a world of appeal in his sorrowful eyes, sat the
apostle himself, bolt upright in his chair, an odd figure with his
streaked black and white hair, ascetic face and Methodistico-Tattersall
raiment. And they all seemed to expect him to obey this quaint person's
fanatical whimsy.

"It's very kind indeed of you, Mr. Finn, to consult my interests in
this manner," said he. "And I'm most indebted to you for your
consideration. But, as I said before, I've as much reason for believing
God to be on my side as you have. And I honestly believe I'm going to
win this election. So I certainly won't withdraw."

"I implore you to do so. I will go on my knees and beseech you," said
Mr. Finn, with hands clasped in front of him.

Paul looked round. "I'm afraid, Bill," said he, "that this is getting
rather painful."

"It is painful. It's more than painful. It's horrible! It's ghastly!"
cried Mr. Finn, in sudden shrill crescendo, leaping to his feet. In an
instant the man's demeanour had changed. The mournful apostle had
become a wild, vibrating creature with flashing eyes and fingers.

"Easy, now, Silas. Whoa! Steady!" said Barney Bill.

Silas Finn advanced on Paul and clapped his hands on his shoulders and
shouted hoarsely: "For the love of God--don't thwart me in this. You
can't thwart me. You daren't thwart me. You daren't thwart God."

Paul disengaged himself impatiently. The humour had passed from the
situation. The man was a lunatic, a religious maniac. Again he
addressed Barney Bill. "As I can't convince Mr