Page:Karel Čapek - The Absolute at Large (1927).djvu/162

 Free Thought Society, a notice sent in by the Salvation Army, a communiqué from the Theosophical Centre 'Adyar,' an open letter addressed to the Absolute and signed by the Benevolent Association of Landlords, an announcement by the Federation of Merry-Go-Round Proprietors, signed by the President, J. Binder, besides The Voice of the Union of Constance, special numbers of the Voice from the Beyond, the Anabaptist Reader and the Abstainer—did you read all that, my friend?"

"Yes."

"Well, then, my dear son, you see this: that in every case they make the most solemn claim that the Absolute is their own private property, they do Him honour, and make Him splendid offers, appoint Him honorary member, patron, protector, and Heaven knows what else—and meanwhile on our side some crazy lunatic of a Father Jost—Jost, if you please, an insignificant object called Jost—shouts out to the universe that it's all a knavish imposture and a swindle already scientifically exposed. Saints and martyrs, you've got us into a pretty fix!"

"But, my lord, I had orders to write against those phenomena "

"So you had," the Bishop interrupted him sternly. "But didn't you see that the situation had entirely changed? Jost," cried the Bishop, rising to his feet,