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Part II
Whenheleantforwardacrosstheedgeofthepulpit,hislargehandsclaspingthewood,onecouldseenothingofhimexceptathick,blackshapesurmountedbythetwopatchesofhischeeks,flushedredbehindhissteel-rimmedglasses.Hehadastrong,impassionedvoicewhichcarriedalongway,sowhenhelaunchedasinglevehementandthunderingattackonhislisteners—"Mybrethren,acalamityhasbefallenyou;mybrethren,youhavedeservedit"—astirranthroughthecongregationasfarasthewestdoor.
Logically,whatfolloweddidnotseemtotieinwiththisresoundingfirstsentence.Onlyaftertheremainderoftheorationdidthepeoplerealizethat,byacleverrhetoricaldevice,likeaboxerdeliveringablow,thepriesthadimpartedthethemeofhisentiresermonatasinglestroke.Indeed,immediatelyafterthissentence,PanelouxquotedthepassagefromExodusconcerningtheplagueinEgyptandsaid:"Thefirsttimethatthistribulationappearedinhistory,itwastostrikedowntheenemiesofGod.PharaohopposedthedesignsoftheEternalandtheplaguebroughthimtohisknees.Sincethebeginningofhistory,thescourgeofGodhasbroughtdowntheproudandtheblindbeneathHisfeet.Thinkonthisandfalltoyourknees.
