ous peculiar MSS.

But there now remained in question a trifling sum of money which a Mr.
Liar loudly demanded in payment of an "affair of honour." This,
however, he seemed little likely to obtain, seeing that an elderly
uncle by marriage of Christian's, whose name was Office, was as eager
and affable and frank about the sum as he was bent on keeping it; and
rattled the contents of his breeches' pocket in sheer bravado of his
means to go to law for it.

"He left a bare pittance, the merest pittance," he said. "What could
there be of any account? Christian despised money, professed to
despise it. That alone would prove my wretched nephew queer in the
head--despised _money_!

"Tush, friend!" cried Obstinate from his corner. "Whether the money is
yours, or neighbour Liar's--and it is as likely as not neither's--that
talk about despising money's what but a silly lie? 'Twas all sour
grapes--sour grapes. He had cunning enough for envy, and pride enough
for shame; and at last there was naught but cunning left wherewith to
patch up a clout for him and his shame to be gone in. I watched him
set out on his pestilent pilgrimage, crazed and stubborn, and not a
groat to call his own."

"Yet I have heard say he came of a moneyed stock," said Pliable. "The
Sects of Privy Opinion were rare wealthy people, and they, so 'tis
said, were his kinsmen. Truth is, for aught I know, Christian must
have been in some degree a very liberal rascal, with all his faults."
He tittered.

"Oh! he was liberal enough," said Mr. Malice suavely: "why, even on
setting out, he emptied his wife's purse into a blind beggar's
hat!--his that used to bleat, 'Cast thy bread--cast thy bread upon the
waters!' whensoever he spied Christian stepping along the street. They
say," he added, burying his clever face in his mug, "the Heavenly
Jerusalem lieth down by the weir."

"But we must not contemn a man for his poverty, neighbours," said
Liar, gravely composing his hairless face. "Christian's was a
character of beautiful simplicity--beautiful! _How_ many rickety
children did he leave behind him?"

A shrill voice called somewhat I could not quite distinguish, for at
that moment a youth rose abruptly near by, and went hastily out.

Obstinate stared roundly. "Thou hast a piercing voice, friend Liar!"

"I did but seek the truth," said Liar.

"But whether or no, Christian believed in it--verily he seemed to
believe in it. Was it not so, neighbour Obstinate?" enq