upon terms, and the landlady, charmed with her new lodger's appearance and
manners, no less than with the respectability of his profession, proceeded
to descant at some length on the quiet, comfort, and numerous other
advantages of the apartments.

"Just the very plice you wants, sir. We 'ave 'ad clerical gentlemen 'ere
before, sir; in fact, there's one a-staying 'ere now, second floor,--you
may know of 'im, sir,--the Reverend Mr John Duggs; a very pleasant
gentleman you'll find him, sir. I'll tell 'im you're 'ere, sir; 'e'd be
sure to like to meet another gentleman of the syme cloth, has they say."

Somehow or other the Rev. Mr Butler failed to display the hearty pleasure
at this announcement that the worthy Mrs Gabbon had naturally expected.

Aloud he merely said, "Indeed," politely, but with no unusual interest.

Within himself he reflected, "The deuce take Mr John Duggs! However, I
want the rooms, and a man must risk something."

As a precautionary measure he visited a second-hand bookseller on his way
back, and purchased a small assortment of the severest-looking works on
theology they kept in stock; and these, with his slender luggage, he
brought round to Mrs Gabbon's in the course of the afternoon.

He looked carefully out of his sitting-room window, but the doctor's
blinds were still down, and he saw no one coming or going about the house;
so he began his inquiries by calling up his landlady.

"I have been troubled with lumbago, Mrs Gabbon," he began.

"Dearie me, sir," said Mrs Gabbon, "I'm sorry to 'ear that; you that looks
so 'ealthy too! Well, one never knows what's be'ind a 'appy hexterior,
does one, sir?"

"No, Mrs Gabbon," replied Mr Bunker, solemnly; "one never knows what even
a clergyman's coat conceals."

"That's very true, sir. In the midst of life we are in----"

"Lumbago," interposed Mr Bunker.

Mrs Gabbon looked a trifle startled.

"Well," he continued with the same gravity, "I may unfortunately have
occasion to consult a doctor----"

"There's Dr Smith," interrupted Mrs Gabbon, her equanimity quite restored
by his ecclesiastical tone and the mention of ailments; "'e attended my
poor dear 'usband hall through his last illness; an huncommon clever
doctor, sir, as I ought to know, sir, bein'----"

"No doubt an excellent man, Mrs Gabbon; but I should like to know of one
as near at hand as possible. Now I see the name of a Dr Twiddel----"

"I wouldn't recommend 'im, sir," said Mrs Gabb