“I don’t know how it happens, Scharley, but in your mouth the loftiest ideas end up sounding like vulgar jokes. I know you don’t usually hold anything sacred, but—”

“Hold anything sacred?” the penitent interrupted. “Reinmar? Do my ears deceive me?”

“Don’t impute to me perfidy or the lack of my own opinion, please,” Reynevan said through pursed lips. “Of course I was brought closer to the Hussites by the fact that Peterlin died for them. I know what kind of person my brother was, and I stand without hesitation on the side he supported. But I still have my own mind. I thought the matter through and weighed it up in my heart. I received Holy Communion from the Chalice with complete conviction, for I support the Four Articles, I support the teachings of Wycliffe, I support the Hussites in the matter of liturgy and interpretation of the Bible. I support their world view and their plans to establish social justice.”

“Excuse me, what kind of justice?”

“Omnia sunt communia, Scharley! ‘Everything shared’—the whole of divine justice is contained in those words. There are no superiors, no inferiors, no wealthy people, no poor people. Everything is shared! Communism! Doesn’t it sound splendid?”

“I haven’t heard anything so splendid-sounding for a long time.”

“Why the sarcasm?”

“Don’t worry about it. Go on. How else did the Wycliffites endear themselves to you?”

“I support the principle of sola Scriptura heart and soul.”

“Aha.”

“One needn’t add anything to the Bible and neither can one, for the Bible is sufficiently lucid for every believer to be able to understand it without commentary from the pulpit. There’s no need for mediators between the faithful and God. Everybody is equal before the Creator. The authority of the Pope and the church dignitaries can only be accepted when it accords with the will of God Most High and the Holy Bible. In particular, wealth was entrusted to the clergy with the aim of carrying out the obligations imposed by Christ and the Bible. If priests don’t carry out those responsibilities, if they sin, their wealth ought to be confiscated.”

“Ah!” said Scharley, livening up. “Confiscated? I like that. I like the sound of that!”