Sophy drew a long breath. She felt herself shivering, then, "Yes," she said almost inaudibly. He continued to look at her—a strange, musing look.
"Thank you," he said blandly. "So I have a disciple at last."
Then that passion of horror and pity broke down all conventional restraint in Sophy.
"But why?" she said, in a passionate whisper. "Why? Why?"
He was silent just for an instant's pressure, then he answered by the most extraordinary and appalling piece of blasphemy.
"Because," he said, "'before Abraham was I am.'"
XI
Sophy sat white and still, her profile towards Amaldi, playing with the spray of orchids at her plate. Then, all at once, she realised that Cecil was speaking louder than he had been. His words reached her distinctly. She glanced towards him in terror. What a horrible evening! What, what was going to happen?
What Chesney said was this: