"But it's a terrible thing to see too clearly!" continued Chichester,
almost as if talking to himself, absorbed. "A terrible thing!"

He looked up at Malling, and almost solemnly he said:

"Are you still going on with all those investigations?"

"When I have any spare time, I often spend some of it in that sort of
work," answered Malling, lightly.

It was his way to make light of his research work, and indeed he seldom
mentioned it unless he was forced to do so.

"Do you think it is right?" said Chichester, earnestly.

"Right?"

"To strive to push one's way into hidden regions."

"If I didn't think it right I shouldn't do it," retorted Malling, but
without heat.

"And--for clergymen?" questioned Chichester, leaning forward, and
dropping his small, thin hands down between his knees.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you think it right for clergymen to indulge themselves--for it is
indulgence--in investigations, in attempts to find out more than God
has chosen to reveal to us?"