“No, thanks, it’s all right outside on the stairs. I never like to leave it very long.”
Egholm put his hand to his eyes; the cracked and furrowed countenance of the Evangelist always distracted his attention. Then he began telling of his discovery—first, in mysterious roundabout hints, then suddenly breaking out into fiery declamation, with the open book before him, and his finger-nail underlining the words.
Karlsen was thunderstruck. And he thought he knew his Bible.... Never in his life had he come across that place. He stamped about the room, spitting into all four corners.
Egholm went further; he drew up an outline of the new laws, the entire reorganisation....
“It’ll be a hard struggle for me, I know. But I’ll....”
“Oh, we’ll manage it all right,” said Karlsen cheerfully.
“Eh? D’you mean to say ... you’re on my side?”
“Oh, I’m on the side of the Bible, of course.”
And there was Egholm with the enemy’s leading general won over, without a blow!