from
a voice below the gangway.) "No, it can be no Christian country,
in which the head of the bar, the lagal adviser (loud laughter and
cheers)--yes, I say the lagal adviser of the crown (great cheers and
laughter)--can stand up in his seat in this house (prolonged cheers
and laughter), and attempt to lagalise indacent assaults on the bodies
of religious ladies." (Deafening cheers and laughter, which were
prolonged till the honourable member resumed his seat.)

When Mr Harding had listened to this and much more of the same kind
for about three hours, he returned to the door of the House, and
received back from the messenger his own note, with the following
words scrawled in pencil on the back of it: "To-morrow, 10 P.M.--my
chambers.--A. H."

He was so far successful;--but 10 P.M.: what an hour Sir Abraham had
named for a legal interview! Mr Harding felt perfectly sure that long
before that Dr Grantly would be in London. Dr Grantly could not,
however, know that this interview had been arranged, nor could he
learn it unless he managed to get hold of Sir Abraham before that
hour; and as this was very improbable, Mr Harding determined to
start from his hotel early, merely leaving word that he should dine
out, and unless luck were much against him, he might still escape the
archdeacon till his return from the attorney-general's chambers.

He was at breakfast at nine, and for the twentieth time consulted his
Bradshaw, to see at what earliest hour Dr Grantly could arrive from
Barchester. As he examined the columns, he was nearly petrified
by the reflection that perhaps the archdeacon might come up by the
night-mail train! His heart sank within him at the horrid idea,
and for a moment he felt himself dragged back to Barchester without
accomplishing any portion of his object. Then he remembered that had
Dr Grantly done so, he would have been in the hotel, looking for him
long since.

"Waiter," said he, timidly.

The waiter approached, creaking in his shoes, but voiceless.

"Did any gentleman,--a clergyman, arrive here by the night-mail
train?"

"No, sir, not one," whispered the waiter, putting his mouth nearly
close to the warden's ear.

Mr Harding was reassured.

"Waiter," said he again, and the waiter again creaked up. "If anyone
calls for me, I am going to dine out, and shall return about eleven
o'clock."

The waiter nodded, but did not this time vouchsafe any reply; and Mr
Harding, taking up his hat