"Do you mind," said the curate, slightly lowering his voice, "if I speak
rather--rather confidentially to you?"

"Not at all, if you wish to--"

"Well, now, you are a man of the world, you've seen many people. I wish
you would tell me something."

"What is it?"

Ellen appeared with the mutton. As soon as she had put it on the table
and departed, Chichester continued:

"How does Mr. Harding strike you? What impression does he make upon you?"

Eagerness, even more, something that was surely anxiety, shone in his
eyes as he asked the question.

"He's a very agreeable man."

"Of course, of course! Would you say he was a man to have much power over
others, his fellow-men?"

"Speaking quite confidentially--"

"Nothing you say shall ever go beyond us two."

"Then--I don't know that I should."

"He doesn't strike you as a man of power?"