“Very well. I’ll telegraph. We must be scrupulously fair in the matter. And now let us dismiss an unprofitable subject. I’m afraid you have been talking too much.” “A little too much, I’m afraid,” said Brandon rather feebly. “Well, good-by, my dear fellow,” said the vicar heartily. “And forget all about this tiresome business. It doesn’t in any way concern you if only you could think so. Whatever happens, the man will be treated with every consideration. As for Professor Murdwell, I’m afraid he draws the long bow. These brilliant men of science always do. Good-by. And as I go out I’ll ask the nurse to come to you.” XX IN the meantime in Dr. Joliffe’s summerhouse the pipe of peace was being smoked. Dr. Joliffe’s cigars had a virtue of their own, and Dr. Parker, who was no mean judge of such things, had rather weakly allowed the flesh to conquer. Joliffe was a perverse fellow, but even he, apparently, was not quite impossible. His cigars somehow just saved him. The third whiff of an excellent Corona suddenly transformed Dr. Parker into a man of the world. “The fact is,” said he, “our friend here, like all country parsons who have been too long in one place, is a bit too dogmatic.” An answering twinkle came into the eye of Dr. Joliffe. Somehow the admission seemed to clear the air considerably. “He wants humoring.” “No doubt. But this poor chap is as harmless as I am.” “A good deal more harmless than you are Joliffe. But you know the sort of man we have to deal with. And after all old Henny-Penny’s quite right--in war time. You see this chap is not pulling his weight in the boat. He’s a bad example. Our parson is rather down on him no doubt; still, in the circumstances, he’s quite right to bring him under control.” “You think so?” “It can do no harm at any rate.” “But, you see, it’s going to upset the squire. And he’s such a good chap that it seems a pity.” “Well, it’s no use trying to please everyone.” “Quite so.” “Why not certify the fellow and have done with it?” “I can’t, after what I said to Brandon.” “Tell me, Joliffe, why does Brandon take such an interest in him?” “Nay,” said Joliffe, “that’s more than I can fathom.” “Do you think his mind has been affected by Gallipoli?” “They seem to think so.” “Do you?” “I seem to notice a change coming over him. But it’s so very gradual that one can hardly say what it may be.” “At any rate it is not a good sign for a man like Brandon to be wrapped up in such a fellow as John Smith.” “There I entirely agree,” said Joliffe. “And to my mind that is the worst feature of the whole affair.”