He spoke the last words with deep feeling and earnestness, and Alwyn, meeting his clear, grave, brilliant eyes, was more than ever impressed by the singular dignity and overpowering magnetism of his presence. Remembering how insufficiently he had realized this man's true worth, when he had first sought him out in his monastic retreat, he was struck by a sudden sense of remorse, and leaning across the table, gently touched his hand.
"How greatly I wronged you once, Heliobas!" he said penitently, with a tremor of appeal in his voice--"Forgive me, will you?-- though I shall never forgive myself!"
Heliobas smiled, and cordially pressed the extended hand in his own.
"Nay, there is nothing to forgive, my friend," he answered cheerfully--"and nothing to regret. Your doubts of me were very natural,--indeed, viewed by the world's standard of opinion, much more natural than your present faith, for faith is always a SUPER- natural instinct. Would you be practically sensible according to modern social theories?--then learn to suspect everybody and everything, even your best friend's good intentions!"
He laughed, and the luncheon being concluded, he rose from the table, and taking an easy-chair nearer the window, motioned Alwyn to do the same.
"I want to talk to you"--he continued, "We may not meet again for years,--you are entering on a difficult career, and a few hints from one who knows and thoroughly understands your position may possibly be of use to you. In the first place, then, let me ask you, have you told any one, save me, the story of your Ardath adventure?"
"One friend only,--my old school comrade, Frank Villiers"--replied Alwyn.
"And what does he say about it?"
"Oh, he thinks it was a dream from beginning to end,"--and Alwyn smiled a little,--"He believes that I set out on my journey with my brain already heated to an imaginative excess, and that the whole thing, even my Angel's presence, was a pure delusion of my own overwrought fancy,--a curious and wonderful delusion, but always a delusion."
"He is a very excellent fellow to judge you so leniently"-- observed Heliobas composedly, "Most people would call you mad."
"Mad!" exclaimed Alwyn hotly--"Why, I am as sane as any man in London!"
"Saner, I should say,"--replied Heliobas, smiling,--"Compared with some of the eminently 'practical' speculating maniacs that howl and struggle among the fluctuating currents of the Stock Exchange, for instance, you are indeed a marvel of sound and wholesome mental capability! But let us view the matter coolly. You must not expect such an exceptional experience as yours to be believed in by ordinary persons. Because the majority of people, being utterly UNspiritual and worldly, have NO such experiences, and they therefore deem them impossible;--they are the gold-fish born in a bowl, who have no consciousness of the existence of an ocean. Moreover, you have no proofs of the truth of your narrative, beyond the change in your own life and disposition,--and that can be easily referred to various other causes. You spoke of having gathered one of the miracle-flowers on the Prophet's field,--may I see it?"