“What a topsy-turvy rendering,” said Genius, and he laughed. “No, I am working in the concrete—with a child. The child has a mind so pliant that it bends to my slightest whim most unconsciously.” “That child also, besides having a mind, has what, in this world, they honour with the name of soul.” “Oh, yes, but that’s the unknown quantity over which one half the world stumbles blindly and the other half develops itself into a superstitious bigot.” “You make sweeping statements.” “Contempt for the world has taught me it.” “I should advise you to restrain that contempt. But let us return. In the same way that you exercise a strong power over the mind, so do I exercise a strong power over what is called the soul.” “Yours is the harder work,” said Genius, and he laughed. “Yes, the task is always difficult and delicate. But this child is not particularly addicted to any particular sin. That is in a measure owing to you. You have a knack of absorbing vices to a certain degree within yourself—in the same way that you absorb passions, thoughts, and even actions.” “Well, let us proceed. What does this lead to?” “Simply this. I wish to warn you. Plucritus dislikes you because you have thwarted him; he dislikes the child because its natural tendency is more toward good than evil; and he dislikes me because I am his natural and his greatest enemy.” “Well, a triple alliance should certainly overcome him.” “There is no alliance,” replied Virginius, earnestly. “I am unable to make alliances except those which spring from unstinting self-denial and self-sacrifice. Our alliance now would be simply one of self-defence, and that to me is impossible.” “Then,” cried Genius, seriously, “I suppose it means we have each to fight the devil separately.” “That is what it means. I wish to impress this on you as it is the last time we shall meet for many years and be able to converse as friends.” “Then you are able to foretell the future.” “No. I simply watched Plucritus when he spoke, and by long experience I have learnt somewhat of his tactics.” CHAPTER V The farmer and his family left the old north-country farm and went to live in a large town some sixty miles away.