As Brandon left the Cathedral there was something of that strange sense with him, a sense that had come to him first, perhaps, in its dimmest and most distant form, on the day of the circus and the elephant, and that now, in all its horrible vigour and confidence, was there close at his elbow. He had always held himself immaculate; he had come down to his fellow-men, loving them, indeed, but feeling that they were of some other clay than his own, and that through no especial virtue of his, but simply because God has so wished it. And now he had stood, and a drunken wastrel had cursed him and told him that he was detested by all men and that they waited for his downfall. It was those last words of Davray's that rang in his ears: "You're one of us now. You're one of us." Drunkard and wastrel though the man was, those words could not be forgotten, would never be forgotten again. With his head up, his shoulders back, he returned to his house. The maid met him in the hall. "There's a man waiting for you in the study, sir." "Who is it?" "Mr. Samuel Hogg, sir." Brandon looked at the girl fixedly, but not unkindly. "Why did you let him in, Gladys?" "He wouldn't take no denial, sir. Mrs. Brandon was out and Miss Joan. He said you were expecting him and 'e knew you'd soon be back." "You should never let any one wait, Gladys, unless I have told you beforehand." "No, sir." "Remember that in future, will you?" "Yes, sir. I'm sure I'm sorry, sir, but----" Brandon went into his study. Hogg was standing beside the window, a faded bowler in his hand. He turned when he heard the opening of the door; he presented to the Archdeacon a face of smiling and genial, if coarsened, amiability. He was wearing rough country clothes, brown knickerbockers and gaiters, and looked something like a stout and seedy gamekeeper fond of the bottle. "I'm sure you'll forgive this liberty I've taken, Archdeacon," he said, opening his mouth very wide as he smiled--"waiting for you like this; but the matter's a bit urgent." "Yes?" said Brandon, not moving from the door. "I've come in a friendly spirit, although there are men who might have come otherwise. You won't deny that, considering the circumstances of the case." "I'll be grateful to you if you'll explain," said Brandon, "as quickly as possibly your business." "Why, of course," said Hogg, coming away from the window. "Why, of course, Archdeacon. Now, whoever would have thought that we, you and me, would be in the same box? And that's putting it a bit mild considering that it's my daughter that your son has run away with." Brandon said nothing, not, however, removing his eyes from Hogg's face.