talking with you in the minster this afternoon, was it
not?"

The clerk felt embarrassed once more, for he remembered Mr Sharnall's
violent talk, and how his anathema of all Blandamers had rang out in the
church.

"Yes," he said; "poor organist was talking a little wild; he gets took
that way sometimes, what with his grievances, and a little drop of the
swanky what he takes to drown them. Then he talks loud; but I hope your
lordship didn't hear all his foolishness."

"Oh dear no; I was engaged at the time with the architect," Lord
Blandamer said; but his tone made Janaway think that Mr Sharnall's
voice had carried further than was convenient. "I did not hear what he
said, but he seemed to be much put out. I chatted with him in the
church some days ago; he did not know who I was, but I gathered that he
bore no very good will to my family."

Mrs Janaway saw it was a moment for prudent words. "Don't pay no
manner of attention to him, if I may make so bold as to advise your
lordship," she said; "he talks against my husband just as well. He is
crazy about his organ, and thinks he ought to have a new one, or, at
least, a waterworks to blow it, like what they have at Carisbury. Don't
pay no attention to him; no one minds what Sharnall says in Cullerne."

The clerk was astonished at his wife's wisdom, yet apprehensive as to
how it might be taken. But Lord Blandamer bowed his head graciously by
way of thanks for sage counsel, and went on:

"Was there not some queer man at Cullerne who thought he was kept out of
his rights, and should be in my place--who thought, I mean, he ought to
be Lord Blandamer?"

The question was full of indifference, and there was a little smile of
pity on his face; but the clerk remembered how Mr Sharnall had said
something about a strutting peacock, and that there were no real
Blandamers left, and was particularly ill at ease.

"Oh yes," he answered after a moment's pause, "there was a poor doited
body who, saving your presence, had some cranks of that kind; and, more
by token, Mr Sharnall lived in the same house with him, and so I dare
say he has got touched with the same craze."

Lord Blandamer took out a cigar instinctively, and then, remembering
that there was a lady present, put it back into his case and went on:

"Oh, he lived in the same house with Mr Sharnall, did he? I should
like to hear more of this story; it naturally interests me. What was
his name?"

"His name was M