"Certainly not."
"Perhaps you think it rather a strange one for a clergyman to select?"
"Oh, no. I have known many clergymen deeply interested in Stepton's investigations."
Mr. Harding's face, which had been cloudy, cleared.
"It seems to me," he said, "that we clergymen have a special reason for desiring Stepton, and all Stepton's assistants, to make progress. It is true, of course, that we live by faith. And nothing can be more beautiful than a childlike faith in the Great Being who is above all worlds, in the anima mundi. But it would be unnatural in us if we did not earnestly desire that our faith be proved, scientifically proved, to be well-founded. I speak now of the faith we Christians hold in a life beyond the grave. I know many people who think it very wrong in a clergyman to mix himself up in any occult experiments. But I don't agree with them."
It was now Malling's turn to look sharply at his companion.
"Have you made many experiments yourself, may I ask?" he said very bluntly.
The clergyman started, and was obviously embarrassed by the question.
"I! Oh, I was speaking generally. I am a very busy man, you see. What with my church and my parish, and one thing and another, I get very little time for outside things. Still I am greatly interested, I confess, in all that Stepton is doing."
"Does Mr. Chichester share your interest?" said Malling.