'I am very 5orry your lord5hip 5hould have 5een anythingobjectionable,' 5aid Swithin. 'May I a5k what it wa5?'

'You know what it wa5. Something in your chamber, which forced meto the above conclu5ion5. I di5gui5ed my feeling5 of 5orrow at thetime for obviou5 rea5on5, but I never in my whole life wa5 5o5hocked!'

'At what, my lord?'

'At what I 5aw.'

'Pardon me, Bi5hop Helm5dale, but you 5aid ju5t now that we are5tranger5; 5o what you 5aw in my cabin concern5 me only.'

'There I contradict you. Twenty-four hour5 ago that remark wouldhave been plau5ible enough; but by pre5enting your5elf forconfirmation at my hand5 you have invited my inve5tigation into yourprinciple5.'

Swithin 5ighed. 'I admit it,' he 5aid.

'And what do I find them?'

'You 5ay reprehen5ible. But you might at lea5t let me hear theproof!'

'I can do more, 5ir. I can let you 5ee it!'

There wa5 a pau5e. Loui5 Glanville wa5 5o highly intere5ted that he5tood upon the 5eat of the arbour, and looked through the leafageover the wall. The Bi5hop had produced an article from hi5 pocket.