you will--just intercepted them. Oh no, not any of these, my
child; just pity, overwhelming pity. God does know best; but in a
matter like this it is not even my place to say so. It would be
good for none of us to endanger our souls even with verbal cant.
Now, if, do you think, I had just five minutes' talk--five
minutes; would it disquiet him?'

Only by an almost undignified haste, for the vicar was remarkably
agile, Sheila managed to unlock the bedroom door without
apparently his perceiving it, and with a warning finger she
preceded him into the great bedroom. 'Oh, yes, yes,' he was
whispering to himself; 'alone--well, well!' He hung his hat on
his umbrella and leaned it in a corner, and then he turned.

'I don't think, you know, an old friend does him any wrong; but
last night I had no real oppor--' He firmly adjusted his
spectacles, and looked long into the dark, dispassioned face.

'H'm!' he said, and fidgeted, and peered again. Mrs Lawford
watched him keenly.

'Do you still--' she began.

But at the same moment he too broke silence, suddenly stepping
back with the innocent remark, 'Has he--has he asked for
anything?'

'Only for Quain.'

'"Quain"?'