"Perhaps not," Paul admitted, "although I contend that a certain
amount of comfort is."

"By no means. There was never a greater fallacy, although I am free
to admit that under certain conditions it may conduce to that end.
But tell me, have you never seen one happy amid the greatest physical
privations?"

"Not absolutely."

"No, not absolutely; the absolute does not belong to the finite. I
refer to what most men would consider happiness."

"Oh, if you're talking about saints, they're outside my experience."

A faint smile played over Ah Ben's face as he answered:

"Saints, my dear sir, are no more to me than to you. Have you ever
seen a prize fight?"

"Oh, yes; several."

"Do you not believe that the winner of a prize fight, even when
covered with bruises, and suffering in every bone of his body, is
happier at the moment of victory than he was the previous morning
while lying comfortably in his bed?"

"I dare say; but now you're speaking of--"

"Happiness," suggested Ah Ben, "and if you will pardon me for saying