Randal.—“Read specially to apply to purposes that lead to power.”
Parson (very much struck with Randal’s pithy and Spartan logic).—“Upon my word, sir, you express yourself very well. I must own that I began these questions in the hope of differing from you; for I like an argument.”
“That he does,” growled the Squire; “the most contradictory creature!”
Parson.—“Argument is the salt of talk. But now I am afraid I must agree with you, which I was not at all prepared for.”
Randal bowed, and answered—“No two men of our education can dispute upon the application of knowledge.”
Parson (pricking up his ears).—“Eh! what to?”
Randal.—“Power, of course.”
Parson (overjoyed).—“Power!—the vulgarest application of it, or the loftiest? But you mean the loftiest?”
Randal (in his turn interested and interrogative).—“What do you call the loftiest, and what the vulgarest?”