bishop. So does Major Joicy. He's tremendously interested in the
Something Society, which looks after the poor black things out in
Nigeria--that is the name of the place, isn't it?"--this with a sweet
smile at the major, who was blushing like a schoolboy, and thoroughly
unhappy. When detached from the racecourse or the card-table, his command
of language was nil. He would rather have encountered a wild beast than a
bishop's wife, and Mrs. Ocklebourne knew this.

She was thoroughly enjoying herself, for she was full of mischief, and
the present situation promised to yield a rich harvest. But another look
at the weary face of Mrs. Swinton made her change her tactics. She laid
herself out to amuse the bishop, and also to charm his wife.

"The sinner has beguiled the saint," whispered Mrs. Ocklebourne, as the
party made a move for the dining-room, "but I'm hungry, and, if I were
really good, I believe I should want a high tea every day."

The meal was a merry one. Polly Ocklebourne had the most infectious laugh
in the world, and she kept the conversation going in splendid fashion,
whipping up the laggards and getting the best out of everybody. She even
succeeded in making the major tell a funny story, at which everybody
laughed.

A little while before the time for the bishop to leave, a servant
whispered to the rector that a gentleman was waiting in the study to see
him. He did not trouble to inquire the visitor's name. Since money
affairs had been straightened out, these chance visitors had lost their
terror, and anyone was free to call upon the clergyman, with the
certainty of a hearing, at morning, noon, or night, on any day in the
week.

Mr. Barnby was the visitor. He came forward to shake the rector's hand
awkwardly.

"What is it, Barnby?" cried the rector, with a laugh. "No overdrawn
account yet awhile, surely."

"No, Mr. Swinton, nothing as trivial as that. I have just left Mr.
Herresford at Asherton Hall, and he makes a very serious charge
concerning two checks drawn by him, one for two thousand, the other for
five thousand dollars. He declares that they are forgeries."

"Forgeries! What do you mean?"

"To be more accurate, the checks have been altered. The first was
originally for two dollars, the second for five dollars. These figures
were altered into two thousand and five thousand. You will see, if you
take them to the light, that the ink is different--"

"But what does all this signify?" asked the r