The look of doubt deepened in Dr. Joliffe’s red face. “I’m very sorry”--there was obvious hesitation in the tone--“but you are really asking a general practitioner to take a great deal on himself.” “But why?” There was a perceptible stiffening of the vicar’s voice. “I thought I had fully explained to you on Saturday what the alternative is. You see if we can’t get the man into an asylum quietly and humanely, he must be made amenable to the Defense of the Realm Regulations. If you would prefer that course to be taken I will go over to the Depot and see General Clarke. We are bound in honor to move in the matter. But Dr. Parker agrees with me that an asylum will be kinder to the man himself, less disturbing to the public mind, and therefore in the national interest.” “I do, indeed,” said Dr. Parker. But the frown was deepening upon Dr. Joliffe’s face. “I see the force of your argument,” he said. “But knowing the man as I do, and feeling him to be a harmless chap, although just a little cracked, no doubt, I’m not sure that you don’t take an exaggerated view of what he said the other day.” “Exaggerated view!” The vicar caught up the phrase. “My friend,” he said imperiously, “don’t you realize the danger of having such things said in this parish at a time like the present?” “Yes, I do.” There was a stiffening of attitude at the vicar’s tone. “But even in a time like the present, I shouldn’t like to overstate its importance.” The vicar looked at Dr. Joliffe almost with an air of pity. “Don’t you realize the effect it might have on some of our young villagers?” “Well, that is the point, and I’m not sure that you don’t overstate it, vicar.” “That’s an Irishman all over,” said Mr. Perry-Hennington to Dr. Parker in an impatient aside. “One can never get him to agree to anything.” “Even if I was born in Limerick,” said Dr. Joliffe, with an arch smile, “it gives me no particular pleasure to be unreasonable. I’ll own that when the best has been said for the man he’s not so wise as he might be.” “And don’t forget that he claims to be a Messiah.” “So I understand. But there’s historical precedent even for that, if we are to believe the Bible.” The vicar drew his lips into a straight line, and Dr. Parker followed his example. They did not venture to look at each other, but it was clear they held the opinion in common that Dr. Joliffe had been guilty of a grave breach of taste. “The trouble with you Saxons,” said Dr. Joliffe, who had been getting his back gradually to the wall, “is that you have too little imagination; the trouble with us Celts that we have too much.”