Society had forgotten him, but he unconsciously was agitating, and drawing to himself the attention of the outside world.
The enthusiasm of these neophytes was a danger, and his brother, the Wooden Staff, without understanding the full extent of the evil, warned him with his usual good sense.
"You are turning the heads of these poor men, with the things you tell them.

Be careful; they are very well meaning, but they are very ignorant.

And having been ignorant all their lives, it is dangerous to turn such men into sages at one blow.

It is as if I, being accustomed to the homely stew, were taken to-day to His Eminence's table.

I should gorge myself and drink too much; at night I should have a colic, and should probably hop the twig." Gabriel acknowledged the truth of this prudent advice, but he could not draw back--he was driven on by the affection of his disciples and his own ardour as propagandist.