Again he broke off his sentence abruptly, and remained silent so long that Barnes, who was afire with curiosity to hear the rest of Carter’s story, finally ventured to ask, “What did Jesus say to Mr. Drake’s question?”

“You will be astonished to hear what he said, as we all were,” replied Carter, as he continued his narrative.

Ten

Chapter Ten

“The attitude of the different people at the table waiting for Jesus’s answer to Drake’s question was worth noting. I have already told you how I was seated, directly opposite him and at Mrs. Drake’s left. Silvester, the hotel man, sat next to Mrs. Burrage, who was on Jesus’s right, and Mrs. Silvester was on my left. Then came Judge Crawford and Mrs. Rider, his divorced sister, next to Drake.

“I could not help wondering a little how all these people regarded Jesus, if they had any real knowledge of his earthly history centuries ago. The more I thought of it on my way home, the more I seemed impressed with the feeling that they didn’t know him very well, and regarded him now as a distinguished or noted person who happened to be for a moment in the public eye.

“But no matter about that. They had all heard of the inability of the smartest newspapermen in New York to secure a photograph, and their curiosity was excited for a moment, at least beyond the usual limit even for a New Yorker.

“There was at least a full minute of silence following Drake’s question. Then Jesus lifted his head, looked at Drake as he sat at the upper end of the table, and spoke.

“If I should try to express literally and exactly his words, I should fail to convey to you the exact impression it all made on us. I will only attempt to give you the general substance of it. You understand I am not quoting exactly as he spoke, and I cannot reproduce or imitate in any way his voice or his manner. All I can give you is the result.

“‘I will tell you the secret of my power,’ he said, speaking very low and deliberately, ‘if you will answer these questions I put to you.

“‘I came here as your guest, at your invitation, and when we sat down at this table you acknowledged by no word or sign the great fact of the Heavenly Father who alone furnishes mankind daily food. No hint of thanksgiving or humble and loving dependence of all humanity on God’s bounty fell from your lips.

“‘During the evening, no attempt has been made to discuss those great and eternal truths which always lie at the heart of all real life. All your conversation has been trivial and in the largest degree useless.