"Was Loyola despicable," asked Sheffield, "or St. Dominic?"
"They had the sanction of their superiors," said Charles.
"You are hard on parties surely, Reding," said Carlton; "a man may individually write, preach, and publish what he believes to be the truth, without offence; why, then, does it begin to be wrong when he does so together with others?"
"Party tactics are a degradation of the truth," said Charles.
"We have heard, I believe, before now," said Carlton, "of Athanasius against the whole world, and the whole world against Athanasius."
"Well," answered Charles, "I will but say this, that a party man must be very much above par or below it."
"There, again, I don't agree," said Carlton; "you are supposing the leader of a party to be conscious of what he is doing; and, being conscious, he may be, as you say, either much above or below the average; but a man need not realise to himself that he is forming a party."
"That's more difficult to conceive," said Vincent, "than any statement which has been hazarded this afternoon."
"Not at all difficult," answered Carlton: "do you mean that there is only one way of gaining influence? surely there is such a thing as unconscious influence?"
"I'd as easily believe," said Vincent, "that a beauty does not know her charms."