what, Mr Cargrim,'
said Tinkler, rising in rigid military fashion, 'it's my opinion that
there is too much tall talk about this case. Jentham was shot in a
drunken row, and the murderer has cleared out of the district. That is
the whole explanation of the matter.'

'I daresay you are right, Mr Inspector,' sighed Cargrim, putting on his
hat. 'We are all apt to elevate the commonplace into the romantic.'

'Or make a mountain out of a mole hill, which is plain English,' said
Tinkler. 'Good-day, Mr Cargrim.'

'Good-day, Tinkler, and many thanks for your lucid statement of the
case. I have no doubt that his lordship, the bishop, will take your very
sensible view of the matter.'

As it was now late, Mr Cargrim returned to the palace, not ill pleased
with his afternoon's work. He had learned that Miss Whichello had
visited the dead-house, that she had known the dead man as a violinist
under the name of Amaru, and had buried him for old acquaintance sake at
her own expense. Also he had been informed that Captain Pendle and his
brother Gabriel had been on Southberry Heath on the very night, and
about the very time, when the man had been shot; so, with all these
materials, Mr Cargrim hoped sooner or later to build up a very pretty
case against the bishop. If Miss Whichello was mixed up with the matter,
so much the better. At this moment Mr Cargrim's meditation was broken in
upon by the voice of Dr Graham.

'You are the very man I want, Cargrim. The bishop has written asking me
to call to-night and see him. Just tell him that I am engaged this
evening, but that I will attend on him to-morrow morning at ten
o'clock.'

'Oh! ho!' soliloquised Cargrim, when the doctor, evidently in a great
hurry, went off, 'so his lordship wants to see Dr Graham. I wonder what
that is for?'

CHAPTER XIX

THE BISHOP'S REQUEST

Whatever Dr Pendle may have thought of the Southberry murder, he kept
his opinion very much to himself. It is true that he expressed himself
horrified at the occurrence of so barbarous a crime in his diocese, that
he spoke pityingly of the wretched victim, that he was interested in
hearing the result of the inquest, but in each case he was guarded in
his remarks. At first, on hearing of the crime, his face had
betrayed--at all events, to Cargrim's jealous scrutiny--an expression of
relief, but shortly afterwards--on second thoughts, as one might
say--there came into his eyes a look of apprehension. That look