He would therefore go upstairs
at once, and have a quiet talk with this man.
Before doing so, he thought it would be well if he were to draw up
something like a plan of a campaign; he therefore reflected over some
pretty conversations which would do very nicely if Mr Holt would be kind
enough to make the answers proposed for him in their proper places. But
the man was a great hulking fellow, of a savage temper, and Ernest was
forced to admit that unforeseen developments might arise to disconcert
him. They say it takes nine tailors to make a man, but Ernest felt that
it would take at least nine Ernests to make a Mr Holt. How if, as soon
as Ernest came in, the tailor were to become violent and abusive? What
could he do? Mr Holt was in his own lodgings, and had a right to be
undisturbed. A legal right, yes, but had he a moral right? Ernest
thought not, considering his mode of life. But put this on one side; if
the man were to be violent, what should he do? Paul had fought with wild
beasts at Ephesus--that must indeed have been awful--but perhaps they
were not very wild wild beasts; a rabbit and a canary are wild beasts;
but, formidable or not as wild beasts go, they would, nevertheless stand
no chance against St Paul, for he was inspired; the miracle would have
been if the wild beasts escaped, not that St Paul should have done so;
but, however all this might be, Ernest felt that he dared not begin to
convert Mr Holt by fighting him.
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