So he ventured on
an objection.
"I am no theologian," he said, "and I am not fond of discussion on such
matters. But there are just one or two things I should like to say. It
is no argument, to my mind at least, to point to the existence of evil
and unhappiness among men as a proof of the absence of a superior Mercy;
for what are men that such things should not be with them? Man,
too, must own some master. If he has doubts let him look up at the
marshalling of the starry heaven, and they will vanish."
"No," said Beatrice, "I fear not. Kant said so, but before that Moliere
had put the argument in the mouth of a fool. The starry heavens no
more prove anything than does the running of the raindrops down the
window-pane. It is not a question of size and quantity."
"I might accept the illustration," answered Geoffrey; "one example of
law is as good as another for my purpose. I see in it all the working of
a living Will, but of course that is only my way of looking at it, not
yours."
"No; I am afraid," said Beatrice, "all this reasoning drawn from
material things does not touch me.
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