Page:The Incredulity of Father Brown.pdf/290

The Incredulity of Father Brown organization, and cease to be a Socialist in that sense. I have every reason to believe he will probably end as a Catholic."

"Halket!" exploded the other incredulously. "Why he curses priests from morning till night!"

"I don't think you quite understand that kind of man," said Father Brown mildly. "He curses priests for failing (in his opinion) to defy the whole world for justice. Why should he expect them to defy the whole world for justice, unless he had already begun to assume they were-what they are? But we haven't met here to discuss the psychology of conversion. I only mention this because it may simplify your task-perhaps narrow your search."

"If it is true, it would jolly well narrow it to that narrow-faced rascal Elias-and I shouldn't wonder, for a more creepy, cold-blooded, sneering devil I never saw."

Father Brown sighed. "He always reminded me of poor Stein," he said, "in fact I think he was some relation."

"Oh, I say," began Nares, when his protest was cut short by the door being flung open, revealing once more the long loose figure and pale face of young Horne; but it seemed as if he had not merely his natural, but a new and unnatural pallor.

"Hullo," cried Nares, putting up his single eyeglass, "why have you come back again?"

Horne crossed the room rather shakily without