"Oh, you can't know that," interrupted Leo.
"I know it for a certainty," said Heinrich. "That's why I'll admit, into the bargain, that in spite of my complete indifference to every single form of religion I would positively never allow myself to be baptised, even if it were possible—though that is less the case to-day than ever it was—of escaping once and for all Anti-Semitic bigotry and villainy by a dodge like that."
"Hum," said Leo, "but supposing the mediæval stake were to be lighted again."
"In that case," retorted Heinrich, "I hereby solemnly bind myself to take your advice implicitly."
"Oh," objected George, "those times will certainly not come again."
Both the others were unable to help laughing at George being kind enough to reassure them in that way about their future, in the name, as Heinrich observed, of the whole of Christendom.
In the meanwhile they had crossed the field.
George and Heinrich pushed their cycles forward up the bumpy by-road, while Leo at their side walked on the turf with his cloak fluttering in the wind. They were all silent for quite a time, as though exhausted. At the place where the bad path turned off towards the broad high road, Leo remained stationary and said: "We will have to leave each other here, I am afraid." He shook hands with George and smiled. "You must have been pretty well bored to-day," he said.
George blushed. "I say now, you must take me for a...."
Leo held George's hand in a firm grip. "I take you for a very shrewd man and also for a very good sort. Do you believe me?"