My host, instead of coming to the rescue, which he might have done, as one of "the Cloth"; looked much amused when I fielded most of my adversary's theological balls.
At length, being unaccustomed to such irreverent handling, my enemy lost his temper, and, as usual on such occasions, he tried to "take my wicket" by quoting texts against me!
"Well, all I can say is that everything you have told us is in direct opposition to Holy Writ. In fact, we are specially warned in the Scriptures that in the latter days seducing spirits shall arise."
At this fatal moment, when the Theological Closure was descending upon my unhappy head, a really brilliant thought occurred to me.
Was it a seducing spirit or a friendly intelligence who reminded me that my opponent had only quoted half the text—the half that suited him?
I pointed this fact out meekly.
He looked puzzled, and probably had honestly forgotten what he did not wish to remember.
"Finish the text? What do you mean?" he said irritably.
So I finished it for him:
"In the latter days seducing spirits shall arise, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats."