Had all these old men left that place yet, and was that bone lying there stark upon that table in that vacant hushed room? Or was some old man, the wood destined to form whose coffin was now seasoned in the timber-yard and ready for making-up, holding an inquest on that relic of the past, and founding on that piece of God's work an indictment against the faith He had revealed to man? It was monstrous. Monstrous! Letters! He could write no letters to-day. He could not keep his mind fixed on any idea for five minutes. He could not sit still at the table. It was impossible for him to concentrate his mind on anything but the matter uppermost in his thoughts. He would allow to no man that his affection for his old Stratford friends had cooled in the smallest degree; but then he was now consumed by a great passion, and he had no leisure for ordinary correspondence. Time wore wearily on, and at last half-past five came, and Osborne descended to the drawing-room. Here he found Nevill alone. He said, 'You must look sharp, Osborne, if you want to catch this post; it's just half-past five.' 'Unfortunately I have nothing for it. I did not write a line.' 'By Jove! Must be something in the atmosphere. Yours is exactly my case. I went to look up Indian geography, and never opened a book.' 'What did you do?' 'Went to sleep.' 'To sleep! I wish I could have gone.' 'Your conscience isn't good enough to allow you, Osborne. You know very well you are afraid to face facts, and that daunts you.' 'I am not afraid to face facts. But I do not care for things which are called facts and which are fictions.' 'All right, my dear fellow; don't get excited over the matter.' 'But I assure you, you do me wrong. I have not only the courage of my opinions, but the courage to hear any other man's opinions.' 'I am not a reading man. But I always carry a few books with me. If you care to go more deeply into the thing, you are welcome to a loan of the few I have. I warn you they are not consolatory.' 'I don't want consolation or the obstinacy of the blind. I am much interested in all you say, and should be very glad to read the books you offer.' 'Mind, I warn you before you start. You must be prepared for anything.' 'No fact can affect what is true, and I am prepared to face truth.' 'Very well, you shall have the books when we come back to-night. Here's Miss Gordon, looking more charming than ever.'