And there is the Church of England, of which I am the head, which numbers many gentlemen, but is no religion for a Christian; and there is the Catholic, which is the only religion (so far as I am acquainted with any), suited for both gentlemen and Christians.

That is my view of the matter, Mr.Mallock." The merry look was back in his eyes, melancholy though they always were, as he said this.

For myself, it was on the tip of my tongue to ask His Majesty why, if he thought so, he did not act upon it.

But I did not, thinking it too bold on so short an acquaintance; and I think I was right in that; for he put it immediately into words himself.
"I know what you are thinking, Mr.Mallock.

Well; I am not yet a good enough Christian for that." I knew very well what His Majesty meant when he said that: he was thinking of his women to whom as yet he could not say good-bye; and the compassion surged up in me again at the thought that a man so noble as this, and who knew so much (as his speeches had shewed me), could be so ignoble too--so tied and bound by his sins; and it affected me so much--here in his presence that had so strange a fascination in it--that it was as if a hand had squeezed my throat, so that I could not speak, even if I would.
"Well, sir," he said, "I must thank you for coming so quickly when I sent for you.