rtizans,
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 drinks
as fast as they were able. The crowd, having an inherent respect for the
clergy, as became the inhabitants of a cathedral city, opened out to let
him pass, and there was much less swearing and drinking when his black
coat and clerical collar came into view. Mosk saw that the appearance of
the chaplain was detrimental to business, and resenting his presence
gave him but a surly greeting. As to Bell, she tossed her head, shot a
withering glance of defiance at the bland new-comer, and withdrew to the
far end of the bar.

'My friend,' said Cargrim, in his softest tones, 'I have come to see
your wife and inquire how she is.'

'She's well enough,' growled Mosk, pushing a foaming tankard towards an
expectant navvy, 'and what's more, sir, she's asleep, sir, so you can't
see her.'

'I should be sorry to disturb her, Mr Mosk, so I will postpone my visit
till a more fitted occasion. You seem to be busy to-night.'

'So busy that I've got no time for talking, sir.'

'Far be it from me to distract your attention, my worthy friend,' was
the chaplain's bland reply, 'but with your permission I will remain in
this corner and enjoy the humours of the scene.'

Mosk inwardly cursed the visitor for making this modest request, as he
detested parsons on account of their aptitude to make teetotalers of his
customers. He was a brute in his way, and a Radical to boot, so if he
had dared he would 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 not pay his rent and was already in
bad odour with his landlord, he judged it wise to be diplomatic, lest a
word from Cargrim to the bishop and Sir Harry should make matters worse.
He therefore grudgingly gave the required permission.

'Though this ain't a sight fit for the likes of you, sir,' he grumbled,
waving his hand. 'This lot smells and they swears, and they gets rowdy
in their cups, so I won't answer as they won't offend you.'

'My duty has carried me into much more uns