He could not imagine why he felt excited.

After all, who was old Blackmore to frighten him?
But old Blackmore went on before he could speak.
"See how people are leaving the Church! The Wargraves, the Hendersons, Sir James Bartlet, Lady Magnier, and then all the priests.

Now they're not all knaves--I wish they were; it would be so much easier to talk of it.

But Sir James Bartlet, last month! Now, there's a man who has spent half his fortune on the Church, and he doesn't resent it even now.

He says that any religion is better than none, but that, for himself, he just can't believe any longer.