Did you think you had educated the
superstition out of those people?"
"I certainly did think it."
"Well, then, you may unthink it. They stood every strain easily
--until the Interdict. Since then, they merely put on a bold
outside--at heart they are quaking. Make up your mind to it
--when the armies come, the mask will fall."
"It's hard news. We are lost. They will turn our own science
against us."
"No they won't."
"Why?"
"Because I and a handful of the faithful have blocked that game.
I'll tell you what I've done, and what moved me to it. Smart as
you are, the Church was smarter. It was the Church that sent
you cruising--through her servants, the doctors."
"Clarence!"
"It is the truth. I know it. Every officer of your ship was
the Church's picked servant, and so was every man of the crew."
"Oh, come!"
"It is just as I tell you. I did not find out these things at once,
but I found them out finally. Did you send me verbal information,
by the commander of the ship, to the effect that upon his return
to you, with supplies, you were going to leave Cadiz--"
"Cadiz! I haven't been at Cadiz at all!"
"--going to leave Cadiz and cruise in distant seas indefinitely,
for the health of your family? Did you send me that word?"
"Of course not. I would have written, wouldn't I?"
"Naturally.
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