"Is it indeed," said Aldean, for her eyes were fastened upon him. "What a rum idea!"
"Jim, Jim," reproved Mallow, smiling.
"It is a very wonderful idea," said Miss Slarge, reproachfully. "Do you know, Mr. Mallow, I made a most remarkable discovery last week? The two-horned mitre of the Romish bishops is nothing but the mitre worn by Dagon, the fish-god of the Babylonians."
"I do not quite understand, Miss Slarge."
"It is not difficult," replied the lady. "Dagon was depicted as half man, half fish."
"I know," cried Aldean; "he had a fish's tail, like a mermaid."
"True enough," assented Mallow; "but that does not explain the mitre."
Miss Slarge became excited. "The head of the fish, with open jaws, was worn on the god's head!" she cried, "and the scales and tail formed a cloak. The bishops of the papal church don't wear the tail, but they place the open-jawed head on their brows, and call it a mitre. Now do you see?"
"Oh yes. It is truly wonderful, Miss Slarge."
"Osiris also wore such a mitre, Mr. Mallow. How then can you doubt that the Pope of Rome is not the modern representative of the Philistine, of the Babylonian deity. Why, if----"