Egholm sighed, and passed his hand over his face. Alas, he noted to his shame how his thoughts had strayed from the Bible's lofty theme.
What could it be for a commandment, that was disannulled for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof, he wondered. H'm, it would say farther on, no doubt. And he read on, but it did not appear to say. Then he went back and began again, reading slowly, in a whisper, the same verses over again. And of a sudden, his heart contracted violently, forcing a spout of blood to his temples. What--what was this? Was it _the tithe_ that was abolished?
"Anna"--he dared not trust his own senses now--"Anna, come here and look at this. Quick--read from there to there." He stood as if about to strike; there were red spots on his pale face. Anna trembled with fear, and fell to reading about Melchisedec, the Levites, and the rest, without understanding a word of it all.
"Well, why don't you speak, woman?" broke in Egholm, when she had been reading a few seconds. "Are you asleep?--or, perhaps it doesn't interest you? Eh? Now, then, what is it you're reading?--what do you make of it? Eh?"
"Yes, yes, I see," stammered Fru Egholm, her eyes flitting to another part altogether in her confusion--"something about the Tabernacle...."
"Is the tithe abolished?--that's what I want to know," said Egholm insistently. "Does it say there, or does it not, that the tithe is weak and unprofitable?"
"Why, yes--but that's what I've always said," answered she, with marvellous presence of mind. "Was it only that you wanted me to see?"
Egholm looked her up and down contemptuously.
A moment later he was tearing down the street with the big family Bible all uncovered under one arm.
Oh, but this was the most wonderful day of his life! The Bible itself had revealed its darkest secrets to him--_to him alone_. What would they say, all those whose minds were yet in darkness? what would old Angel Karlsen say? what would young Evangelist Karlsen look like with his wrinkled face--when they heard that the Community of the Brethren of St. John was built on sand--nay, upon a swamp, into the bottomless depth of which their money sank never to be seen again? _He, Egholm, was a new Luther_, wielding the Bible as a mighty club against heresy and false doctrine. They would have to make him Angel, ay, Archangel, after this. In every land where the Brethren of St. John were known, his name would be named with honour. He would write a new Book of Laws for the Brotherhood, and it should be translated into seven tongues. Into seven tongues! Almost like a new Bible.
