‘I have the natural ambition of a man,’ said he.

‘Of course you have, and the natural passions; and therefore I say that you don’t believe the doctrine you preach. St Paul was an enthusiast. He believed so that his ambition and passions did not war against his creed. So does the Eastern fanatic who passes half his life erect upon a pillar. As for me, I will believe in no belief that does not make itself manifest by outward signs. I will think no preaching sincere that is not recommended by the practice of the preacher.’

Mr Slope was startled and horrified, but he felt that he could not answer. How could he stand up and preach the lessons of his Master, being there as he was, on the devil’s business? He was a true believer, otherwise this would have been nothing to him. He had audacity for most things, but he had not audacity to make a plaything of the Lord’s word. All this the signora understood, and felt much interest as she saw her cockchafer whirl round upon her pin.

‘Your wit delights in such arguments,’ said he, ‘but your heart and your reason do not quite go along with them.’

‘My heart!’ said she; ‘you quite mistake the principles of my composition if you imagine that there is such a thing about me.’ After all, there was very little that was false in anything the signora said. If Mr Slope allowed himself to be deceived it was his own fault. Nothing could have been more open than her declarations about herself.

The little writing table with her desk was still standing before her, a barrier, as it were, against the enemy. She was sitting as nearly upright as she ever did, and he had brought a chair close to the sofa, so that there was only the corner of the table between him and her. It so happened that as she spoke her hand lay upon the table, and as Mr Slope answered her he put his hand upon hers.

‘No heart!’ said he. ‘That is a very heavy charge which you bring against yourself, and one of which I cannot find you guilty—’

She withdrew her hand, not quickly and angrily, as though insulted by his touch, but gently and slowly.

‘You are in no condition to give a verdict on the matter,’ said she, ‘as you have not tried me. No; don’t say that you intend doing so, for you know you have no intention of the kind; nor indeed have I either. As for you, you will take your vows where they will result in something more substantial than the pursuit of such a ghostlike, ghastly love as mine—’

‘Your love should be sufficient to satisfy the dream of a monarch,’ said Mr Slope, not quite clear as to the meaning of his words.

‘Say an archbishop, Mr Slope,’ said she. Poor fellow! She was very cruel to him. He went round again upon his cork on this allusion to his profession. He tried, however, to smile, and gently accused her of joking on a matter, which was, he said, to him of such vital moment.

‘Why—what gulls do you men make of us,’ she replied. ‘How you fool us to the top of our bent; and of all men you clergymen are the most fluent of your honeyed caressing words. Now look me in the face, Mr Slope, boldly and openly.’

Mr Slope did look at her with a languishing loving eye, and as he did so, he again put forth his hand to get hold of hers.

‘I told you to look at me boldly, Mr Slope; but confine your boldness to your eyes.’

‘Oh, Madeline,’ he sighed.