During the service he would sometimes listen to the prayers, trying to see in them a meaning which would not clash with his opinions, or, finding that he could not understand and had to disapprove of them, he would try not to listen but to occupy his mind with observation of what was going on or with recollections which passed with extraordinary clearness through his brain as he stood idly in the church.
Durante il tempo delle funzioni sacre, ora ascoltava le preghiere, cercando di dar loro un significato che non si allontanasse dalle sue opinioni, ora, sentendo di non poterle intendere e di doverle criticare, si sforzava di non ascoltarle, e si occupava dei suoi pensieri, delle osservazioni e dei ricordi che con straordinaria vivezza gli erravano per la testa durante quell’ozioso stare in piedi in chiesa.