Collected works > Edinburgh edition, 1894-98 - Works of Robert Louis Stevenson > Volume 11, 1895 - Miscellanies, Volume III

FATHER DAMIEN
tails of the misconduct of the poor peasant priest,
toiling under the cliffs of Molokai ?
Many have visited the station before me; they
seem not to have heard the rumour. When I was
there I heard many shocking tales, for my informants
were men speaking with the plainness of the laity ;
and I heard plenty of complaints of Damien. Why
was this never mentioned ? and how came it to you
in the retirement of your clerical parlour?
But I must not even seem to deceive you. This
scandal, when I read it in your letter, was not
new to me. I had heard it once before ; and I must
tell you how. There came to Samoa a man from
Honolulu; he, in a public-house on the beach,
volunteered the statement that Damien had 'con-
tracted the disease from having connection with the
female lepers ' ; and I find a joy in telling you how
the report was welcomed in a public-house. A man
sprang to his feet ; I am not at hberty to give his
name, but from what I heard I doubt if you would
care to have him to dinner in Beretania Street.
' You miserable little ' (here is a word I dare
not print, it would so shock your ears). ' You
miserable little ,' he cried, ' if the story were a
thousand times true, can't you see you are a million
times a lower for daring to repeat it ? ' I wish
it could be told of you that when the report reached
you in your hou^e, perhaps after family worship, you
had found in your soul enough holy anger to receive
it with the same expressions ; ay, even with that one
which I dare not print ; it would not need to have
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