perstition, and acknowledged to me that he 
had never had fear as to his own power but 
once; and that was one day when he had 
heard a preacher, more subtle than his col-
leagues, bawl from the pulpit, “Dearly beloved 
brethren let us never forget when we hear 
boasts of progress and light that the cleverest 
stratagem of the devil is to persuade us that 
he does not exist.” 
His recollection of this famous orator natu-
rally led us to the subject of Universities, and 
my strange companion assured me that he did 
not consider it beneath him in many cases to 
inspire the pen, the tongue, and the brain of 
dons, and that he was almost always present 
in person, although invisible, at all academic 
gatherings. 
Encouraged by so much affability, I asked 
him for news of God, and if he had seen Him 
lately. He answered me with an indifference 
shaded by a certain sadness, “We bow when 
we meet, but like two old noblemen whose in-
nate politeness cannot altogether extinguish 
the memory of ancient ill-will.” 
It is doubtful whether His Highness had ever 
before given so lengthy an audience to a mere 
mortal, and I feared to abuse his kindness. Fi-
nally, as the shuddering dawn whitened the 
window 
panes, 
this 
famous 
personage,