The Burglars' Club: A Romance in Twelve Chronicles

entered the drawing-room at 7.58 in order to collect his family and any guests. His annoyance may theref

a, Mush, L. Van, Khu

e examination room, my

onsulting his watch unnecessarily. Then, with a sigh,

ows. He rose, bowed low, and sank on his knees, caught hold of the prelate's hand, caressed it gently, and finally kissed it. The Bishop was embarrassed. He pre

he sai

ps I had better show you my papers. I have a letter from my Patriarc

of papers. He abstracted a letter therefrom,

and college. Here and there he saw a word he almost knew, yet the next one to it was a perfect

d," he said. "He is no longer facile to read. I sometimes have diff

e Bishop understood nothing, though occasionally he

s, being from Scotland Yard, informing all and sundry that the bearer, Georgiowitch Kassala, a Christian

a shade of disappointment in his voi

ged from Batoum to Bister. I have received money in fifteen different coinages, of which the English is the finest and difficultest. Perhaps my most interesting contribution is this-see, a kopeck from Lassitudino Hospidar, the heathen cook of a Bulgarian wind-jammer, in me

r a start, but it costs money to underpin the west end of a cathedral. And all the while the usual subscription lists had to be headed from the Palace, and there was more than the usual depression in agriculture. The Bishop felt that it was a singularly inappropria

believe, I have many calls upon my purse. But we will speak again of this. You will, of course

," he replied. "I shall be glad." Then he glanced doubt

"'A wash and a brush up,' as our saying

e Bishop appeasingly to his hungry wife, "I have brought a visitor

him with a gentle hand. "Here," he went on, "is my chaplain, Mr. Jones, who will be greatly inter

oved to the

ers; so much so that Mr. Marmaduke Percy, no doubt feeling that the Asiatic was monopolizing

rops and-barley-sugar, I think he called it-and such-like things; but they were all filled with aniline colours. In return for language lessons he got me to introduce him to the chief of the Persian frontier Customs, whom he bribed for his purposes. He made a large fortune b

recital of their countryman's perfidy, and Mr. P

and he twice made notes in his pocket-book about As

temperament, now put a question that had bee

lage somewhere n

ite plainly from Mush. With a telescope we can e

t reprovingly, for jokes on s

"Surely you heard that the Ark itself

hop and the chaplain toge

to remove the ice was by blasting, and Professor Papineau inserted a charge of dynamite. A fatal mistake was made in the size of the charge, with the result that the whole enormous chunk was blown to atoms. Embedded in the fragments were found what were apparently portions of a leviathan ship, which my Patriarch and Professor Papineau regard as being the veritable vessel built by Noah. In no other way but by a universal d

wish to be the first to give it to the world. He might resent my telling you, and my Patriarch would be gr

N THE PLEASURE OF IN

.

d to have no words left in them. After breathing-space they

"Do you know, your Grace," said Mr. Kassala, "I have heard t

he old crozier of the see is now kept in our chapter house. It was too old for use, so last year the ladies of the county present

ala had then the pleasure of inspecting the crozier presented by the ladies of the county. It was of ebony and

water-colour sketch of it in order to show to my Patriarch, who is deeply inte

ans," said

st in the morning. I am an early riser.

Bishop. I don't think you ought to leave such a valuable article about. There is alw

nk we need consider that eventuality," he said.

viously been. He seemed a little preoccupied. At eleven the house party retired

GURE PASS A WI

althily walking along the corridor. He saw the figure pass a window, and the moonlight fell upon Mr. Kassala. In great wonderment Mr. Jones followed. A turn of the passage brought the Asiatic to the head of the great staircase, and here he stopped so suddenly that the chaplain almost ran into him. For two minutes Mr. Kassala paused in a state of indecision. Then he advanced to a door, and gently opened it. Mr. Jones was para

said the Asiatic. "I have mistak

ext door opened, and

e matter?"

ow," said the prelate. "Mr. Kass

d! Wha

u had a camel-hair paint

der any longer. I have

t, Mr. Jones?" asked

said the unhappy Jones. "I wa

rked the Bishop drily. "I hope I shall have a

h his dignity, the Bishop closed his door. Mr. Percy did the same,

as permeated with distress. "Cheer up," said the Asiatic, as he turned into his r

w was highly inadvisable. Yet he had acted from the best and most creditable of motives. Only by hearsay was he acquainted with the habits and customs of the East, but he felt sure that honest Asiatics would not be found prowling about a palace in the midnight hours. What di

ened breathlessly. Then he opened his door again. Good graciou

certain step. As he passed the Bishop's door the chaplain's heart gave a bound of relief. He stopped at Mr. Percy's door, and tapped gently. T

In times of great perplexity he was accustomed to look for guidance to Mr. Paley's "Evidences." Mechanically he now took down

kfast-room the next morning. Although his lordship had betrayed no conscio

ow, my lord,

tler, "will you inform Mr. Kassal

t Mr. Kassala's room was empty, that his bed had not be

ss my confidence in the bona fides of Mr. Kassala has been shaken. You spoke about burglars last night, Marmad

rdrobe last night, and it was there

us in this extraordinary manner. Perhaps you can throw some light on

s doing. I haven't the faintest idea why he went into your room, unle

want with Mr. Perc

r that?" said the chaplain, w

chaplain. "How on earth should I know, Jones?" he sa

ealment of his midnight interview with Mr. Kassala. He longed

through the drawing-room silver at once. I hope

r household gods, Mr. Percy went to hi

rdship's crozier?"

ut you do look unhappy, Jon

t replying. "The key was in th

's on the floor." But it did not seem to be there, although

itless search. "It will probably turn up after I've go

ercy," he said, "I know of your mi

get you into trouble over it. You may rely on me. If you don't say anything, I shan't. Now good-

after leaving stringent instructions regarding Mr. Kassala, shoul

out eleven o'clock, with firm determination on his face, he forced the lock of the crozier case. His worst fears were realised. In place of the

thered round it, complimenting their host upon it. Their host, by the way, was lately his Majesty's Secreta

Ribston's subscription has been paid for the next two ye

for the Ribston Pippin!

do so I wish to propose a new member-Mr. Marmaduke Percy. You will recollect that his name was brought forward twelve months or so ago, but he was not considered equal to the demands that are occasionally made upon the members of this honourable fraternity. I have reason to believe that we did Mr. Percy an injustice. Yesterday, at any rate, he

. "I note that Mr. Danby Travers

t on! Make it thick eno

ext, and Mr. Danby Travers will then be asked for the