'Like as not,' said Josiah. 'I haven't been to the works this afternoon.' Another silence fell, and then Josiah, feeling himself unable to bear any further suspense as to his wife's real mood and temper, suddenly determined to tell her all about the geese, and know the worst. And precisely at the instant that he opened his mouth, the maid opened the door and announced: 'Mr. Duncalf wishes to see you at once, sir. He won't keep you a minute.' 'Ask him in here, Mary,' said the Deputy-Mayoress sweetly; 'and bring another cup and saucer.' Mr. Duncalf was the Town Clerk of Bursley: legal, portly, dry, and a little shy. 'I won't stop, Curtenty. How d'ye do, Mrs. Curtenty? No, thanks, really----' But she, smiling, exquisitely gracious, flattered and smoothed him into a chair. 'Any interesting news, Mr. Duncalf?' she said, and added: 'But we're glad that _anything_ should have brought you in.' 'Well,' said Duncalf, 'I've just had a letter by the afternoon post from Lord Chell.' 'Oh, the Earl! Indeed; how very interesting.' 'What's he after?' inquired Josiah cautiously. 'He says he's just been appointed Governor of East Australia--announcement 'll be in to-morrow's papers--and so he must regretfully resign the mayoralty. Says he'll pay the fine, but of course we shall have to remit that by special resolution of the Council.' 'Well, I'm damned!' Josiah exclaimed. 'Topham!' Mrs. Curtenty remonstrated, but with a delightful acquitting dimple. She never would call him Josiah, much less Jos. Topham came more easily to her lips, and sometimes Top. 'Your husband,' said Mr. Duncalf impressively to Clara, 'will, of course, have to step into the Mayor's shoes, and you'll have to fill the place of the Countess.' He paused, and added: 'And very well you'll do it, too--very well. Nobody better.' The Town Clerk frankly admired Clara. 'Mr. Duncalf--Mr. Duncalf!' She raised a finger at him. 'You are the most shameless flatterer in the town.' The flatterer was flattered. Having delivered the weighty news, he had leisure to savour his own importance as the bearer of it. He drank a cup of tea. Josiah was thoughtful, but Clara brimmed over with a fascinating loquacity. Then Mr. Duncalf said that he must really be going, and, having arranged with the Mayor-elect to call a special meeting of the Council at once, he did go, all the while wishing he had the enterprise to stay. Josiah accompanied him to the front-door. The sky had now cleared. 'Thank ye for calling,' said the host. 'Oh, that's all right. Good-night, Curtenty. Got that goose out of the canal?' So the story was all abroad! Josiah returned to the dining-room, imperceptibly smiling. At the door the sight of his wife halted him. The face of that precious and adorable woman flamed out lightning and all menace and offence. Her louring eyes showed what a triumph of dissimulation she must have achieved in the presence of Mr. Duncalf, but now she could speak her mind.