Part 4: His Scandalous Career, Chapter 30 - 33 Summary

Michael attends seminary school and succeeds in earning the wrathful hatred of every theologian. He does a military stint and proves that violence is never effective against a disciplined human being. Jubal considers his pranks while in the army, such as making weapons disappear along with commanding officers' trousers, Michael's delayed boyhood working itself out. Now Michael promotes himself as The Reverend Dr. Valentine M. Smith, A.B., D.D., Ph.D.—founder and pastor of the Church of All Worlds, which sickens Jubal. However, Michael obtains the degrees through common, if not strictly honest, means.

Ben Caxton visits and Jubal engages him in a discussion about Rodin's sculpture replicas, which Jubal has been collecting. Ben cannot understand the La Belle Heaulmiere, because he only sees its surface. The pretzel-like figure of...