n in England.'

'That is right, doctor,' replied the undaunted Mrs Pansey. 'Always speak
well of your patients.'

Altogether, so high stood the bishop's reputation as a transparently
honest man that no one suspected anything was wrong save Graham and Mr
Cargrim. The former remembered Dr Pendle's unacknowledged secret, and
wondered if the gipsy was in possession of it, while the latter was
satisfied that the bishop had been driven away by the fears roused by
Mother Jael's communication, whatever that might be. But the general
opinion was that too much work and too much sun had occasioned the
bishop's illness, and it was spoken of very lightly as a mere temporary
ailment soon to be set right by complete change and complete rest. Thus
Dr Pendle's reputation of the past stood him in good stead, and saved
his character thoroughly in the present.

'Now,' said Cargrim to himself, 'I know for certain that Mother Jael is
aware of the truth, also that the truth implicates the bishop in
Jentham's death. I shall just go in and question her at once. She can't
escape from that tent so easily as she vanished the other day.'

But Cargrim quite underrated Mother Jael's power of making herself
scarce, for when he entered the tent he found it tenanted only by Daisy
Norsham, who was looking in some bewilderment at an empty chair. The
cunning old gipsy had once more melted into thin air.

'Where is she?' demanded Cargrim, regretting that his clerical garb
prevented him from using appropriate language.

'Oh, really, dear Mr Cargrim, I don't know. After the dear bishop came
out so upset with the heat, we all ran to look after him, so I suppose
Mother Jael felt the heat also, and left while our backs were turned. It
is really very vexing,' sighed Daisy, 'for lots of girls are simply
dying to have their fortunes told. And, oh!' making a sudden discovery,
'how very, very dreadful!'

'What is it?' asked the chaplain, staring at her tragic face.

'That wicked old woman has taken all the money. Oh, poor Mrs Pansey's
home!'

'She has no doubt run off with the money,' said Cargrim, in what was for
him a savage tone. 'I must question the servants about her departure.
Miss Norsham, I am afraid that your beautiful nature has been imposed
upon by this deceitful vagrant.'

Whether this was so or not, one thing was clear that Mother Jael had
gone off with a considerable amount of loose silver in her pocket. The
servants knew nothing of her depa