when I look back on work joyously achieved, I
often murmur to myself, with a sudden sigh, Excepto quod non simul esses,
coetera loetus!«
    He pronounced his Latin in the new-old way, with Continental vowels. The
effect of this on an Englishman's lips is always more or less pedantic, and in
his case it was intolerable.
    »And when,« he exclaimed, dismissing the melancholy thought, »do you present
yourself for ordination?«
    It was his habit to pay slight attention to the words of anyone but himself,
and Peak's careless answer merely led him to talk on wide subjects with renewal
of energy. One might have suspected that he had made a list of uncommon words
wherewith to adorn his discourse, for certain of these frequently recurred.
Nullifidian, morbific, renascent, were among his favourites. Once or twice he
spoke of psychogenesis, with an emphatic enunciation which seemed to invite
respectful wonder. In using Latin words which have become fixed in the English
language, he generally corrected the common errors of quantity: minnus the
spiritual fervour, acting as his loccum tennens. When he referred to Christian
teachers with whom he was acquainted, they were seldom or never members of the
Church of England. Methodists, Romanists, Presbyterians appeared to stand high
in his favour, and Peak readily discerned that this was a way of displaying
large-souled tolerance. It was his foible to quote foreign languages, especially
passages which came from heretical authors. Thus, he began to talk of Feuerbach
for the sole purpose of delivering a German sentence.
    »He has been of infinite value to me - quite infinite value. You remember
his definition of God? It is constantly in my mind. Gott ist eine Thräne der
Liebe, in tiefster Verborgenheit vergossen über das menschliche Elend.
Profoundly touching! I know nothing to approach it.«
    Suddenly he inquired:
    »Do you see much of the Exeter clergy?«
    »I know only the Vicar of St. Ethelreda's, Mr. Lilywhite.«
    »Ha! Admirable fellow! Large-minded, broad of sympathies. Has distinctly the
scientific turn of thought.«
    Peak smiled, knowing the truth. But he had hit upon a way of meeting the
Rev. Bruno which promised greatly to diminish the suffering inherent in the
situation. He would use the large-souled man deliberately for his mirth.
Chilvers' self-absorption lent itself to persiflage, and by indulging in that
mood Godwin tasted some compensation for the part he had to play.
    »And I believe you know the Warricombes very well?«