I was just observing to our charming host that--er-- Humph! . . .

Bless me! Now what _was_ I . . .

MANSON. Something about your sacred obligations, I believe.

BISHOP. May I trouble you again?

[MANSON gravely fixes the ear-trumpet in his ear.]

ROBERT. That's right: stick the damned thing in 'is ear-'ole,
comride!

MANSON [through the trumpet]. Your sacred obligations.

BISHOP. Precisely, precisely! Er-- Shall we sit?

[They do so. The BISHOP looks to MANSON to begin. MANSON, failing
him, the spirit begins to work within himself.]

Well--er---speaking of that, of course, my dearly-beloved brother,
I feel very seriously on the matter, very seriously--as I am sure
you do. The restoration of a church is a tremendous, an
overwhelming responsibility. To begin with, it--it costs quite a
lot. Doesn't it?

MANSON. It does: quite a lot.

BISHOP. Hm, yes--yes! . . . You mentioned _Sacred obligations_