Page:Karel Čapek - The Absolute at Large (1927).djvu/77

 now and again he raised his feet as if he wanted to step out firmly or something, and he was visibly concerned for his cups.

"I say, come and take this coffee," he said hastily. Brych, the stoker, held both hands up to him and took charge of the tray and the cups. Then Kuzenda let his feet hang down, crossed his arms on his breast, and hung there motionless, with his head a little on one side, and said, "Welcome, brothers. Don't be afraid because I'm flying. It is only a sign. Will you take the cup with the flowers on, young lady."

The stoker passed the cups and tins round. No one dared to speak. Those who had never been there before gazed in wonder on the levitation of Kuzenda. The guests of longer standing sipped their coffee slowly, and seemed, between the sips, to be praying.

"Have you finished?" asked Kuzenda after a while, opening wide his colourless, rapt eyes. "Then I'll begin." So saying, he cleared his throat, meditated for a while, and began: "In the name of the Father! Brethren and sisters, on this dredge, where signs of grace are shown to us, we are gathered together for worship. We need not send away the unbelievers and mockers as the spiritualists do. Mr. Hudec came as an unbeliever, and the gamekeeper has been looking forward to a little bit of fun. You