"So I imagined. Cold conviction sometimes leads one farther."
They were silent for a minute or two, and then one said:
"We have been anxious about Castillo. It is not that we doubt his sincerity."
"You doubt his staying power?"
Father Agustin made an assenting gesture.
"Our friend is ardent, but a fierce fire soon burns out. The danger is that when warmth is needed there may be no fuel left."
"I think you should try to guard him from pressure he is unfit to stand," Grahame suggested. "One cannot always choose one's tools, but if you are careful he may last until his work is done."
"It is so," Father Agustin agreed. "One loves the ring of fine, true steel, but it is fortunate that metal of softer temper has its use, though it sometimes needs skillful handling."
"He kens!" exclaimed Macallister. "Ye may rake stuff that will serve ye weel from the scrap heap o' humanity, and there's times when it's a comfort to remember that. But I'm surprised to find ye meddling with politics."
"I am not a politician; it is not permitted. But I may hate injustice, and there is no canon that bids me support what is evil. I came here as your guest with other friends, and if they honor me with their confidence I cannot refuse; nor do I think it a grave offense to give them a word of advice."