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Chapter 25

           "Itisthefashiontoblaspheme!"hesaid—"Amarkofbrilliancyinliterature,andwitinsociety!Iforgot!Praygoon—ifyoudidasChristsuggested——"

           "Yes—ifIgavehalfmygoodstothepoor,Ishouldnotbethankedforit,orconsideredanythingbutafoolformypains."

           "Youwouldwishtobethanked?"hesaid.

           "Naturally!Mostpeoplelikealittlegratitudeinreturnforbenefits."

           "Theydo.AndtheCreator,whoisalwaysgiving,issupposedtolikegratitudealso,"—heobserved—"NeverthelessHeseldomgetsit!"

           "Idonottalkofhyperphysicalnothingness,"—Isaidwithimpatience—"Iamspeakingoftheplainfactsofthisworldandthepeoplewholiveinit.Ifonegiveslargely,oneexpectstobeacknowledgedasgenerous—butifIweretodividemyfortune,andhandhalfofittothepoor,thematterwouldbechronicledinaboutsixlinesinoneofthepapers,andsocietywouldexclaim‘Whatafool!’"

           "Thenletustalknomoreaboutit,"—saidLucio,hisbrowsclearing,andhiseyesgatheringagaintheirwontedlightofmockeryandmirth—"HavingwontheDerby,youhavereallydoneallanineteenth-centurycivilizationexpectsyoutodo,andforyourreward,youwillbeinuniversaldemandeverywhere.YoumayhopesoontodineatMarlboroughHouse—andalittleback-stairinfluenceandpoliticaljobberywillworkyouintotheCabinetifyoucareforit.

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