It wouldn't do any good. Perhaps I have said
a little more to you than I really meant. This champagne has gone to my
head a little."
"Just repeat what you said to us. I will get the attention of the
table."
"No, Doctor, for God's sake don't!" cried the lieutenant, laying his
right hand on the missionary's arm while he toyed with his cross with
the other. "To tell you the truth, I haven't the courage to say it.
They would think I was crazy. I would be put in Coventry. I have no
business to make suggestions when a general's present."
Mr. Parker sighed and did not return to the subject.
After dinner Sam was introduced to Canon Gleed, another missionary, who
seemed to be on very good terms with himself, and stood rubbing his
hands with a benignant smile.
"These are great days, Colonel Jinks," he said. "Great days, indeed,
for foreign missions. What would St. John have said on the island of
Patmos if he could have cabled for half-a-dozen armies and
half-a-dozen fleets, and got them too? He would have made short work of
his jailers. As he looks down upon us to-night, how his soul must
rejoice! The Master told us to go into all nations, and we are going to
go if it takes a million troops to send us and keep us there. You are
going on to the Capital to-morrow? You will meet a true saint of the
Lord there, your own fellow countryman, the Rev.
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