He then explained, rather more
fully than he had done at supper, the idea he had conceived, and the
object of the meeting,
"And now," he concluded, "let each one express his opinion,"
A profound silence followed. The Abbe Marinier was about to speak when
Dane rose feebly to his feet. His pale, fleshless face, refined and full
of intellect, wore a look of solemn gravity. "I believe," said he in
Italian, which sounded foreign and formal, but which was nevertheless
warm with feeling, "that finding ourselves, as we now do, united at the
beginning of a religious movement, we should at once do two things. The
first is to concentrate our souls in God, silently each in his own way,
until we feel the presence in us of God Himself, the desire of Him, His
very glory, in our hearts. I will now do this, and I beg you to do it
with me."
So saying, Professor Dane crossed his arms over his breast, bent his
head, and closed his eyes. The others rose, and all save Abbe Marinier
clasped their hands. The Abbe, with a sweeping gesture which embraced
the air, brought them together on his breast.
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