"I am proud," Mr. Seicht asseverated, "of the acquaintance of the wealthiest proprietor of the country."
"Pardon the correction, sir; my father is the proprietor."
"No matter, you are his only son," rejoined Seicht. "Your presence proves that you take an interest in the great questions of the day. This is very laudable."
"My presence, however, by no means proves that I concur in the object of this meeting. Curiosity has led me hither."
The official directed a look of inquiry at the banker.
"Sheer curiosity," repeated this gentleman coldly.
"Can you not, then, become reconciled to the spirit of progress?" asked Seicht, with a smile revealing astonishment.
"The value of my convictions consists in this, that I worship genuine progress," replied the millionaire gravely. "The progress of this community, in particular, looks to me like retrogression."
"I am astonished at what you say," returned the official; "for surely Shund's masterly speech has demonstrated that we are keeping pace with the age."
"I cannot see, sir, how fiendish hatred of religion can be taken for progress. This horrible, bloodthirsty monster existed even in the days of Nero and Tiberius, as we all know. Can the resurrection of it, now that it has been mouldering for centuries, be seriously looked upon as a step in advance? Rather a step backward, I should think, of eighteen hundred years. Especially horrible and revolting is this latest instance of tyranny, forcing parents who entertain religious sentiments to send their children to irreligious schools. Not even Nero and Tiberius went so far. On this point, I agree, there has been progress, but it consists in putting a most unnatural constraint upon conscience."