“I suppose it is unnecessary to ask,” said he to his guest as he proceeded to carve a chicken, “whether you believe in ghosts?”
“I do not,” said Wardle promptly, “why should I?”
“Why not?” asked Mr. Batchel.
“Because I’ve had the advantage of a commercial education,” was the reply, “instead of learning dead languages and soaking my mind in heathen fables.”
Mr. Batchel winced at this disrespectful allusion to the University education of which he was justly proud. He wanted an opinion, however, and the conversation had to go on.
“Your commercial education,” he continued, “allows you, I daresay, to know what is meant by a hypothetical case.”
“Make it one,” said Wardle.
“Assuming a ghost, then, would it be capable of exerting force upon a material body?”
“Whose?” asked Wardle.
“If you insist upon making it a personal matter,” replied Mr. Batchel, “let us say mine.”