“It may be awful,” he rejoined; “but it's grand. By Heaven! it's magnificent.”

He got up, as if excited, and moved about the room, while Anthony went on pretending to eat. After a minute or two Sergius sat down again.

“Power of any kind is a grand thing,” he said.

“Only power for good.”

“You're bound to say that; you're a parson.”

“I only say what I really feel; you know that, Serge.”

“Ah, you don't understand.”

Anthony looked at him with a sudden, strong significance.

“Part of a parson's profession—the most important part—is to understand men who aren't parsons.”