A Young M. That is not the subject for to-day; you were going to talk about the words the beggar wrote upon the walls of Babylon.
Wise M. If there is one amongst you that believes, he will be my best friend. Surely there is one amongst you. [They are all silent.] Surely what you learned at your mother's knees has not been so soon forgotten.
A Young M. Master, till you came, no teacher in this land was able to get rid of foolishness and ignorance. But every one has listened to you, every one has learned the truth. You have had your last disputation.
Another. What a fool you made of that monk in the market-place! He had not a word to say.
Wise M. [comes from his desk and stands among them in the middle of the room]. Pupils, dear friends, I have deceived you all this time. It was I myself who was ignorant. There is a God. There is a Heaven. There is fire that passes and there is fire that lasts for ever.
[Teigue, through all this, is sitting on a stool by the door, reckoning on his fingers what he will buy with his money.]
A Young M. [to Another]. He will not be satisfied till we dispute with him. [To the Wise Man.] Prove it, Master. Have you seen them?
Wise M. [in a low, solemn voice]. Just now, before you came in, someone came to the door, and when I looked up I saw an angel standing there.
A Young M. You were in a dream. Anybody can see an angel in his dreams.
Wise M. Oh, my God! It was not a dream! I was awake, waking as I am now. I tell you I was awake as I am now.