It would be far easier
to pass oneself off as dead Hannibal than as living Haldane, for
instance.''
``I was thinking,'' said the Duke, ``of the most famous case of all,
the angel who koepenicked King Robert of Sicily with such brilliant
results. Just imagine what an advantage it would be to have angels
deputizing, to use a horrible but convenient word, for Quinston
and Lord Hugo Sizzle, for example. How much smoother the
Parliamentary machine would work than at present!''
``Now you're talking nonsense,'' said Belturbet; ``angels don't exist
nowadays, at least, not in that way, so what is the use of dragging
them into a serious discussion? It's merely silly.''
``If you talk to me like that I shall just do it,'' said the Duke.
``Do what?'' asked Belturbet. There were times when his young
friend's uncanny remarks rather frightened him.
``I shall summon angelic forces to take over some of the more
troublesome personalities of our public life, and I shall send the
ousted originals into temporary retirement in suitable animal
organisms. It's not every one who would have the knowledge or
the power necessary to bring such a thing off---''
``Oh, stop that inane rubbish,'' said Belturbet angrily; ``it's getting
wearisome.
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