Monsignor laid down the sheets at last and sighed.

“Finished, father?”

“Oh, yes!  I’ve been re-reading.  Now let us talk.”

Father Jervis turned back to the front page, settled the paper on his knee, and leaned back.

“The main point is this,” he said.  “Repressive measures will be passed in Germany, as soon as the act can be got through.  That will mean that Germany will be brought up into line with the rest of Europe, America, Australia, and half Asia, throughout her whole empire.  That will mean again that our own repressive measures will really and truly be put into force.  At present they are largely inoperative.”

“How do you mean?”

“Well, we’ve got laws against things like blasphemy and heresy, and particularly the dissemination of heresy, and all the rest; but they’re practically never put into force except in very flagrant cases.  For instance, Socialist and infidel speeches can be delivered freely in what are called private houses, which are really clubs.  Well, that sort of thing cannot possibly go on.  The infidels have complained of tyranny, of course—­that’s part of the game.  As a matter of fact they’ve been perfectly free, unless they gave actually public offence.  They’ve distributed their pamphlets and done what they liked.  Well, of course it was impossible to be really strict so long as Germany was lax.  They could always meet in Berlin, and have their pamphlets printed there; and we could do nothing.  But, you see, the whole situation’s changed with the Emperor’s conversion.  He’s one of those heavy, consistent men—­quite stupid, of course—­who act their principles right out to the farthest detail.  So long as he was agnostic he allowed almost anything to go on.  And now he’s a Christian he’ll understand that that must stop.  He’s responsible before God, you see, as the ruler——­”

“But the people.  What of the people?”

Father Jervis stared.

“The people?  Why, they’re the ruled, aren’t they?”

“But—­er—­democracy——­”

“Democracy?  Why, no one believes in that, of course.  How could they?”

“Go on, father.”

“But, Monsignor, you must get that clear.  You must remember we’re really educated people, not half-educated.”

Monsignor twitched with irritation.  He could not understand even yet.

“Father, do you mean that the people won’t resent this sudden change of front on the part of the Emperor?  Certainly, if they’re really liberally-minded they’ll tolerate his following his own conscience.  But how can they justify his suddenly dictating to them?”

The priest leaned forward a little.  His old manner came back, and once more he spoke to Monsignor as to a child.

“Monsignor, listen carefully, please.  I assure you you’re completely out of date.  What the German people will say now is this:  ’Up to now the Emperor has been agnostic, and therefore he has not allowed any laws against heresy.  Now he is a Catholic, and therefore he will cause laws to be passed against heresy.’”