himself a missionary.'

'Oh! oh! the wolf in the skin of a sheep!'

'Not at all. The man is--well, it is no use my explaining, as you will
see him shortly, and then can judge for yourself. But if you will take
my advice, George, you will let Baltic figure the matter out on his own
slate, as the Americans say. Don't mention his name or actual business
to anyone. Believe me, I know what I am talking about.'

'Very well,' grumbled George, convinced by Harry's earnestness, but by
no means pleased to be condemned to an interval of ignorance and
inactivity. 'I shall hold my tongue and close my eyes. But you agree
with me that Gabriel did not kill the brute?'

'Of course! From the first I never had any doubts on that score.'

Here for the time being the conversation ended, and George went his way
to play the part of a careless onlooker. But for his promise, he would
have warned Gabriel of the danger which threatened him, and probably
have complicated matters by premature anger. Luckily for all things, his
faith in Brace's good sense was strong enough to deter him from so rash
and headlong a course; therefore, at home and abroad, he assumed a
gaiety he did not feel. So here in the episcopalian palace of
Beorminster were three people, each one masking his real feelings in
intercourse with the others. The bishop, his son and his scheming
chaplain were actors in a comedy of life which--in the opinion of the
last--might easily end up as a tragedy. No wonder their behaviour was
constrained, no wonder they avoided one another. They were as men living
over a powder magazine which the least spark would explode with
thunderous noise and damaging effect.

Baltic was the _deus ex machina_ to strike the spark for ignition, but
he seemed in no hurry to do so. Punctual to his promise he returned to
Beorminster, and heard Sir Harry's report about the pistol with grave
attention. Without venturing an opinion for or against the curate, he
asked Sir Harry to preserve a strict silence until such time as he gave
him leave to speak, and afterwards took his way to Gabriel's lodgings in
the lower part of the town. There he was fortunate enough to find young
Pendle within doors, and after a lengthy interview with him on matters
connected with the crime, he again sought the baronet. A detailed
explanation to that gentleman resulted in a visit of both to Sir Harry's
bank, and an interesting conversation with its manager. When Brace and
Baltic fi