"Either fact were enough to make them loathsome,"replied the girl, "but it is the fact that they werewithout souls that made them totally impossible--one easily overlooks physical deformity, but the moraldepravity that must be inherent in a creature withouta soul must forever cut him off from intercoursewith human beings."

"And you think that regardless of their physical appearancethe fact that they were without souls would have been apparent?"asked Bulan.

"I am sure of it," cried Virginia. "I would know themoment I set my eyes upon a creature without a soul."

With all the sorrow that was his, Bulan could scarcerepress a smile, for it was very evident either thatit was impossible to perceive a soul, or else that hepossessed one.

"Just how do you distinguish the possessor of a soul?"he asked.

The girl cast a quick glance up at him.