"Then you employ the interior language. We commune directly
with the Holy Spirit. You get some message from Him every
day more satisfactory than words. It's the answer of your
prayers. I tell you, sir, words are an invention of the
devil. Do you like Rayel?" he asked, turning upon me
abruptly.

"You need have no doubt of that," I answered, "or of my
willingness to look after him if it should be necessary--to
take him away with me and cherish him as I would a brother."

"Good! Good!" he exclaimed smiling and rubbing his hands
joyfully. "I have not long to live. When the time comes,
take him out among the knaves and fools! But we must hurry:
our time is short. We must prepare him for a second birth.
You will find him an apt pupil--a very apt one. He already
knows more of the world than I thought possible. I don't
think you will find him troublesome--he can help you; he
will teach you wisdom; he will enlarge the issues of your
life. My fortune will be ample for his needs: use it as you
see fit. I have one servant left," he said, drawing his
chair closer to mine and speaking scarcely above a whisper:
"I would like this to be his home when I am dead. It will be
better, however, to place him in some public institution
where he can be well provided for. I shall leave a
sufficient allowance for him. The manner of its bestowal I
leave entirely to your judgment. There were two of them--you
have seen the other. He was a faithful fellow. They were
poor fools, both of them, but uncommonly wise," he
continued. "They kept it to themselves. I found them in an