“He calls himself Mr. Riah.”

“By the by,” said Eugene, “it comes into my mind that⁠—no doubt with an instinctive desire to receive him into the bosom of our Church⁠— I gave him the name of Aaron!”

“Eugene, Eugene,” returned Lightwood, “you are more ridiculous than usual. Say what you mean.”

“Merely, my dear fellow, that I have the honour and pleasure of a speaking acquaintance with such a Patriarch as you describe, and that I address him as Mr. Aaron, because it appears to me Hebraic, expressive, appropriate, and complimentary. Notwithstanding which strong reasons for its being his name, it may not be his name.”

“I believe you are the absurdest man on the face of the earth,” said Lightwood, laughing.