Surely there was nothing in the bill-of-sale which the old man had in his pocket but a mere matter of business; yet they were strangely silent about it, as if it brought shame to some one.

There was an embarrassed pause.

The Doctor went back to Lois for relief.
"I think it is the pain and want of such as she that makes them susceptible to religion.

The self in them is so starved and humbled that it cannot obscure their eyes; they see God clearly." "Say rather," said Holmes, "that the soul is so starved and blind that it cannot recognize itself as God." The Doctor's intolerant eye kindled.
"Humph! So that's your creed! Not Pantheism.

Ego sum.