At the note of enthusiasm in the voice of the head attendant, Dr. Thorp directed a glance, half pride, half amusement at his visitor. “We had Abraham on his legs again, sir. He gave us a regular rasper.” “For your information,” said the doctor to Brandon dryly, “Abraham is none other than Abraham Lincoln.” “He didn’t half let Germany have it, sir.” The tone of the head attendant was curiously grim. “How did Goethe take it?” asked the doctor with a chuckle. “Like a lamb, sir. He just sat in the corner crying like a child.” Dr. Thorp rose and took a pipe from the chimneypiece. “The proceedings opened this afternoon, sir,” Boswell continued, “with a speech from Tolstoi. And very nice, too, sir; perhaps a little sloppy in places, but very good in its way. I should like you to have heard it, sir.” “I should like to have done so.” The doctor’s tone was half pride, half amused indulgence. “Universal brotherhood was his ticket, sir. Rights of man. Nonresistance to evil and so on. Of course it doesn’t quite work out, but it was a very creditable effort, very creditable indeed--especially for an old man who can’t button his own collar.” “Quite so,” said the doctor. “And I think you’ll like to know, sir”--a note of pride entered the head attendant’s voice--“that we also had a speech from the brother who came here the other day from Broad Hill. It was his first attempt, and to my mind one of the best yet.” “That’s interesting,” said the doctor, smiling at Brandon. “What’s his name, by the way?” “The Master introduced him as Spinoza.” “I hope he was well received.” “He was, sir, and yet not altogether as you might say. Both Plato and Aristotle seemed inclined to criticize him, and they were dead set against his proposal that Germany should be more fully represented. Spinoza seemed to think that she was entitled to more friends than Goethe and himself and Beethoven.” “I wonder, I wonder,” Brandon interposed in a soft, far-away voice. “Spinoza thought that Luther, Kant and Leibnitz ought also to be allowed to speak for her.” “But those names are not on the register.” “Several of the brethren pointed that out, sir, but the Master said if the Court decided that Germany was entitled to call them, there would be no difficulty in causing them to appear.” “Then I hope the Court decided in Spinoza’s favor,” said Dr. Thorp. “It will be interesting to see how the Master contrives to make good his promise.” “When I left them, sir, they were arguing the question. But it will not surprise me if they decide against the proposal.” “What reason have you for thinking so?” asked Brandon. “It’s Plato’s opinion, sir,” said Boswell, very impressively, “that Germany, having betrayed her religion, and having perverted her science, neither Luther nor Leibnitz has any _locus standi_, and as far as Kant is concerned he agrees with Aristotle that the Court has too many philosophers already.” “And he carries great weight, I presume?” said Brandon.