They stood together looking out on to the garden. Presently their talk returned to the German disquisition, which was directed against the class of quasi-scientific authors attacked by Peak himself in his _Critical_ article. In the end Godwin sat down and began to read the translation he had made, Mr. Warricombe listening with a thoughtful smile. From time to time the reader paused and offered a comment, endeavouring to show that the arguments were merely plausible; his air was that of placid security, and he seemed to enjoy the irony which often fell from his lips. Martin frequently scrutinised him, and always with a look of interest which betokened grave reflection. 'Here,' said Godwin at one point, 'he has a note citing a passage from Reusch's book on _The Bible and Nature_. If I am not mistaken, he misrepresents his author, though perhaps not intentionally.' 'You know the book?' 'I have studied it carefully, but I don't possess it. I thought I remembered this particular passage very well.' 'Is it a work of authority?' 'Yes; it is very important. Unfortunately, it hasn't yet been translated. Rather bulky, but I shouldn't mind doing it myself if I were sure of finding a publisher.' '_The Bible and Nature_,' said Martin, musingly. 'What is his scheme? How does he go to work?' Godwin gave a brief but lucid description of the book, and Mr Warricombe listened gravely. When there had been silence for some moments, the latter spoke in a tone he had never yet used when conversing with Peak. He allowed himself, for the first time, to betray a troubled doubt on the subject under discussion. 'So he makes a stand at Darwinism as it affects man?'