and report?"

"I will if you wish it."

"I shall be in after seven."

"Very well."

"I dare say you will be surprised," observed Stepton. "I see my bus."

Malling left him imperatively waving his arm, and, turning, walked toward
Kensington.

What were his expectations? He did not know. Stepton had upset his mind.
As he went on slowly he strove to regain his mental equilibrium. But he
could not decide exactly what Stepton had meant. He felt inferior to the
professor as he turned into Hornton Street.

He did not hesitate, but went at once to the curate's door and rapped. No
one answered. He rapped again, and touched the bell, half hoping, even
while he did so, that there was no one within to hear.

But an inquiring head appeared in the area, observed, and was sharply
withdrawn. Steps sounded in the passage, and the maid Ellen presented
herself, looking somewhat disordered.

"Yes, sir?" she said.

"Is Mr. Chichester at home?"

"He is in, sir, poor gentleman," replied the maid. "Did you want to see
him?"

"Yes."

"I'm sure I don't know whether he will see you, sir."

"Is he ill?"

"Not to say ill, sir. But haven't you heard?"

"What?"

"His poor rector's gone, sir, what used to come here to visit him so
regular. I never see a gentleman in such a way. Why, he's so changed I
don't hardly know him."

"Have you been here long?" said Mailing, abruptly.

"Only six months, sir."

The maid began to look rather astonished.

"And so Mr. Chichester is quite altered by his grief?"

"You never did, sir! He was so firm, wasn't he, above every one! Even his
rector used to look to him and be guided by him. And now he's as gentle
and weak almost as a new-born child, as they say."

Malling thought of Stepton. Had he looked forward to some such change?

"Perhaps I could console Mr. Chichester in his grief," he said. "Will you
take him this card and ask if I can see him? I knew Mr. Harding, too. I
might be of use, possibly."

"I'll ask him, sir. He's laying down on the bed, I do believe."

Ellen hurried up-stairs with the card. It seemed to Malling that she was
away for a long time. At last she returned.

"If you please, sir, Mr. Chichester wants to know if it's anything
important. He's feeling very bad, poor gentleman. But of course if it's
anything important, he wouldn't for all the world say no."

"It is important."

"Then I was to ask you to walk in, sir, please."

Chichester's sitting-room was emp