The Bishop's Secret

egree, and also perplexed him not a little. If Dr Pendle's connection with Jentham was dangerous he should still be ill at ease and anxious, instead of which he was almost his old

ppeared to be, was the bishop's wife. But kindly Mrs Pendle was the most innocent of mortals, and all geese were swans to her. She

duce the name of Jentham and observe what effect it had on the bishop. With these little plans in his mind the chaplain crept about the tea-table like a tame cat, and handed round cake and bread with his most winning smile.

' said Mrs Pendle, languidly trifling with a

e of air, my dear. A

ss was all r

mere trifle,' replied the bishop, smoothing his apron. 'Has Gabriel been

ea-table; 'and the second time he told mamm

from George. Is he

ng, papa. George is coming to Beorminster,

ntended going over to Southberry this e

w morning, bishop,'

morning,

miling, 'you are not a str

l! well! I must see George. I'll go to-morrow morning at eight o'clock. You'll send a telegram to Mr

ny case, I am going in to

me, Mr Cargrim. Thank you, Lucy,

haplain, in his most sanctimonious tone, 'but duty calls me into Beormin

ried Lucy, peering into the teapot; 'h

do not wish to be uncharitable, my dear, but if Mrs Pansey is to be bel

be believed, bishop?'

uld tell a deliberate

o much,' said Lucy, with a pretty grimace. 'Wh

owing all his teeth, 'as The Derby Winner is the property of Sir Harry Brace I wish I coul

bishop, 'what is th

up at once,' cried Lu

,' sighed Cargrim, 'and Mrs Mosk, being a

the landlord

le, who had asked this question, 'he is a man of lax

that Cargrim, with some vexation, saw that he did not a

is a tramp, as I have reason to believe, and consorts with gipsi

refully thereon. 'With a scar,' he repeated in low tones. 'A man wit

uneasy face of his questioner. 'He is a gipsy; he stays at The Derby Winner

re is more to know,'

police may find

in connection with him. Evidently, from what Mr Cargrim says, he is a rolling stone, and probably will not remain much longer in Beorminster. Let us hope th

e haggard look had come back to his face, and once or twice he glanced anxiously at his wife. In his turn Cargrim examined Mrs Pendle, but saw nothing in her manner likely to indicate that she shared the uneasiness of her husband, or knew the cause of his secret anxiety. She looke

ng of it. All the better.' He rubbed his hands together with a satisfied smirk. 'Such anxiety shows that the secret is worth learning. Sooner or later I shall find it out, and then I can insist upon being the recto

nce. Therefore, before leaving the palace, he made several attempts to examine the cheque-book. But Dr Pendle remained constantly at his desk in the library, and although the plotter actually saw the cheque-book at the elbow of his proposed victim, he was unable, without any good reason, to pick it up and satisfy his curiosity. He was therefore obliged to defer any attempt to obtain it until the next day, as the bishop would probably leave it behind him when he

in the street, their shrill voices at times interrupting the continuous chatter of the women; and The Derby Winner, flaring with gas, was stuffed as full as it could hold with artizans, workmen, Irish harvesters and stablemen, all more or less exhilarated with alcohol. It was by no means a scene into which the fastidious Cargrim would have ventured of his own free will, but his desire to pump Jentham was greater than his sense of disgust, and he walked briskly into the hotel, to where Mr Mosk and Bell were dispensing dri

softest tones, 'I have come to see

g tankard towards an expectant navvy, 'and what's m

so I will postpone my visit till a more fi

ve got no time f

,' was the chaplain's bland reply, 'but with your permission I

d have driven forth Cargrim with a few choice oaths. But as his visitor was the chaplain of the ecclesiastical sovereign of Beorminster, and was acquainted with Sir Harry Brace, the owner of the hotel, and further, as Mosk could no

led, waving his hand. 'This lot smells and they swears, and they ge

localities, my friend. The worse the place the

o preach, sir?' cr

before swine, replied Cargrim, in his coo

said apologetically, 'but 'tain't my fault. You won't go talkin

t the lower orders cannot conduct themselves with decorum, especially on Saturday night. I repine

onest, whatever lies may be told to the contrary. If I can't pay my rent, t

conciliatory tones. 'We must not expect the impossible nowadays. By

ing suspiciously at his questione

est in him as he seems to be

m. He owes me money for this last week, he does.

lain, pricking up his e

two quid, sir. But he

on,' repeated Cargrim; 'he ex

sir-tho' goodness knows where it's coming f

ht Cargrim; then added

drunk he is, and lying like a good one

esting to listen to. With your permissio

take something to drink, if I

and with a nod Cargrim pushed his way into