The other shrugged his shoulders. There was something of contempt in the gesture, and the stranger seemed to read a challenge there.
"I did say that we often did the Brahmin less than justice, and that the Yogi adept had usually true spirituality," he said.
"Do you mean the fellows who sit on spikes and swing from hooks on festivals?" enquired Dick, bewildered.
The other laughed a little, pleasantly. "That is not all they do, and, put like that, it certainly sounds foolish, but still those who are genuine among them, do sometimes show the complete power of spirit over matter in that way," he replied.
"A pack of liars and scoundrels," said Leather hotly, brimming over.
Childers' eyes flamed suddenly, and as suddenly the light in them died down. He kept his temper perfectly. "I do not think so," he said with serene control.
"But you do not mean that they have any power which Christians have not got, surely?" queried Paul.
"I do indeed," said Childers, "if you mean by Christians the average followers of Christ."
Leather drummed with his fingers on the table.
Paul stared into the other's face. There was something so subdued and yet so powerful about it, that he was very deeply interested. "Will you explain a little?" he asked. "We don't hear of these things from that point of view."