His words and manner evidently brought the curate to a sense of his own
unconventionality. He held out his hand.

"I beg your pardon. Your coming in surprised me. I had no idea"--his blue
eyes went searchingly over Malling's calm face--"that you could be here.
I thought you and the rector were complete strangers till I introduced
you yesterday."

"So we were."

Malling sat down comfortably on a sofa. His action evidently recalled
Chichester's mind to the fact that he was to see the rector.

"Isn't the rector coming to see me?" he asked.

"Almost directly. He's busy for a few minutes. We were smoking together
in his study."

"You seem to--you seem to have made great friends!" said Chichester, with
a sort of forced jocularity.

"Great friends! They're hardly made in a moment. I happened to be at
church this morning--"

"At church--where?" exclaimed the curate.

"At St. Joseph's. And Mr. Harding kindly asked me to lunch."

"You were at church at St. Joseph's this morning?" said Chichester.