"That is old or new, according to your point of view." "Well, over here," said Newman, "one's point of view gets shifted round considerably." And he threw back his head and looked about the room.
"Your house is of a very curious style of architecture," he said.
"Are you interested in architecture ?" asked the young man at the chimney-piece.
"Well, I took the trouble, this summer," said Newman, "to examine--as well as I can calculate--some four hundred and seventy churches.

Do you call that interested ?" "Perhaps you are interested in theology," said the young man.
"Not particularly.

Are you a Roman Catholic, madam ?" And he turned to Madame de Cintre.
"Yes, sir," she answered, gravely.
Newman was struck with the gravity of her tone; he threw back his head and began to look round the room again.

"Had you never noticed that number up there ?" he presently asked.
She hesitated a moment, and then, "In former years," she said.
Her brother had been watching Newman's movement.

"Perhaps you would like to examine the house," he said.
Newman slowly brought down his eyes and looked at him; he had a vague impression that the young man at the chimney-piece was inclined to irony.