Page:Karel Čapek - The Absolute at Large (1927).djvu/52

 sorry. I have no wish to hurt the feelings of Mr. er  the proprietor "

"Please go on," Marek conceded gruffly.

"Well, then, in a word, the whole scandal. His Eminence declares that from the standpoint of both reason and faith there can be nothing more offensive than this godless and blasphemous perversion of the laws of Nature"

"I beg your pardon!" Marek broke out disgustedly. "Would you mind leaving the laws of Nature to us? After all, we don't interfere with your dogmas!"

"You are mistaken," cried the Bishop gaily. "Quite mistaken. Science without dogma is only a heap of doubts. What is worse, your Absolute opposes the laws of the Church. It contradicts the doctrine of the holy sacraments. It does not regard the traditions of the Church. It seriously violates the doctrine of the Trinity. It pays no attention to the apostolic succession. It does not even submit to the rites of exorcism. And so on. In short, it behaves itself in a manner which we must severely discountenance."

"Come, come," suggested Bondy propitiatingly. "Up to the present its behaviour has been very dignified."

The Bishop raised his finger warningly.