'Oh yes,' said Walters, as they forced him back into the seething throng; 'oh yes, one soon has enough of nonsense of that kind. Christ has come! God help us all!'
On the steps that led up to the door a woman fought with the police. She was as a mad thing, screaming in her agony:
'Let me see Christ! Let me see Him! My daughter's dead! I brought her to be healed; she's been killed in the crowd; I want Him to bring her back to life. Let me see Christ! Let me see Him!'
They would not. Lifting her off her feet, they bore her back among the people.
'What a terrible scene!' murmured the Archbishop. 'What lamentable and dangerous excitement!'
'You represent a Church, my dear Archbishop,' replied the Cardinal, 'which advocates the freedom of private judgment. These proceedings suggest that your advocacy may have met with even undesired success.'
The Archbishop, looking about him with dubious glances, said to the policeman who had constituted himself their guide:
'This sort of thing almost makes one physically anxious. The people seem to be half beside themselves.'
'You may well say that, my lord. I never saw a crowd in such a mood before; and I've seen a few. I hear they've sent for the soldiers.'
'The soldiers? Dear, dear! how infinitely sad!'