But our own humane and enlightened age is only
interested in a science about bad ones. It never occurred to him to ask Orm the
obvious question. It was rather as if some curious animal had come out of his hat,
as out of the hat of a conjurer.
You don’t propose to found the defence on the fact
that the prosecuting counsel is bald, do you? He laid some papers and packages on
the table, and began carefully to unfold them.
But I think I can explain how the business happens
to concern you.
Most of the ghosts aren’t ghosts, and the few that
may be won’t do you any harm.
You see, the Dark Ages tried to make a science
about good people. John Bankes has gone and the emeralds and all the other jewels
with him.
It may already be settled for me, and—did you hear
that noise?
And so, in his own more conversational fashion, he
told the story.
Acts of pure revenge are acts of hopeless revenge.
And I suspect you will find, too, that every conceivable sort of man has been a
murderer.
No need to trouble the gentleman to - day,
particularly.
You begin to see why all the suspects in this case
must be innocent.
It seems a very quiet hobby for a man of his
sort.
My good sir, said the professor in remonstrance,
don’t you believe that criminology is a science?
I’m afraid I shall be too busy for pleasure this
evening, he said. But it was pale and goggling, and looked like the picture of
Judas.
He’s either hidden them or passed them on to a
confederate.
But it was pale and goggling, and looked like the
picture of Judas. He doesn’t understand that a poet’s eccentricities wouldn’t seem
eccentric to other poets. Then he said gently:You know what I am and what we are.
I’ve seen a good many things acted before my eyes that I didn’t believe in, replied
the priest. There will have to be an inquest, of course, said Carver, gravely. My
good sir, said the professor in remonstrance, don’t you believe that criminology is
a science?
Thank your stars I’m not, said Father
Brown.
He looked like Sir Humphrey Gwynne, said the
priest. Pray don’t let anybody move, said the man called Carver, in clear and
courteous tones. Devine smiled slightly; everybody had been threatened with the
hospitality of John’s new car. It’s an under - statement to say his reformation was
sincere. Smith, Father Brown -Of course, cried Bankes; let ‘em all come. I’ll get
her to give an eye to them, answered the secretary.
And I suspect you will find, too, that every
conceivable sort of man has been a murderer.
I mean it will not return, replied the
priest.
Sir Arthur Travers is dead, said Bagshaw, briefly.
I can’t tell you now, - said Father Brown. The detail gave them a curious sense of
the pervasive force of his personality. Two thousand years ago you went in an ox
wagon.
That’s it, assented Bankes, with buoyant
benevolence.