Serenus turned lovingly toward his companion.
“Brother Saulus, I pray thee, before sending him away to darkness and despair, if thou wilt, let us hold brief converse with him. Behold is he not bound and in torment, and doth not he also need release, even as this Roman?”
“O Serenus, thou speakest with thy wonted wisdom! I thank thee, for I thought only of the Roman! With all my long missionary experiences I may still gain further knowledge and mercy from thee. I beseech thee, do what seemeth good in thine own eyes.”
Serenus then came near, and calmly looked into the man’s face.
“Why dost thou torment this Roman who hath never done aught against thee?”
“Behold I am in a rage of misery which is the bitter fruit of my life while in the flesh, and I have found [pg 471]a certain satisfaction in the control and sensations of a material body of expression!”
“Why didst thou choose this man?”
“His weak personality lacked any positive moral and spiritual strength, therefore he offered no resistance to my occupation.”
“Now thou speakest the words of soberness.”
“Thy presence hath calmed my anger, and, for the hour, restored my power to reason understandingly.”