"The seer must know the hearts of men. Knowledge of love is the knowledge of God. Love is the Wheel of Life; love is the Holy Breath that turns the Wheel. The seer is far from ready for his work in the world, who has forgotten from his breast the love of man and the love of woman. And then, my son, we are almost at the end of the night of the world. The builders are coming in to take the places of those who have torn down with war and every other madness of self. These builders must be born of men and women—the new race—but of men and women who have learned what great love means....
"So you have come to the desert for a greater message, my son, than that which you carry to the waiting ones in Peking—"
"I hear your words. They always come to me again and again afterward. Do not think that I miss what you say when I bring the thought down to the personal thing that tortures me. Tell me: am I to see Anna Erivan soon?"
The last sentence was hoarsely uttered.
"My son, is there doubt in your heart in regard to Rajananda?"
"No."
"Do you believe in my love for you, as master to disciple?"
"I do not understand it. I do not feel worthy to be your disciple, but I have every reason to believe in it."
"Will you do as I ask—a hard thing?"
Romney felt himself smothering close to the ground. He arose to his feet. There was red before his eyes, a breaking tension in his throat. The strongest thing about him—the control of his temper—was stretched to the snapping point.