“It's because of my loyalty,” said Langmaid. “I wouldn't desert my pals. I couldn't bear, Wallis, to see you go to the guillotine without me.” Mr. Plimpton became unpleasantly silent. “Well, you may think it's a joke,” he resumed, after a moment, “but there will be a guillotine if we don't look out. That confounded parson is getting ready to spring something, and I'm going to give Mr. Parr a tip. He'll know how to handle him. He doesn't talk much, but I've got an idea, from one or two things he let drop, that he's a little suspicious of a change in Hodder. But he ought to be waived.” “You're in no condition to talk to Mr. Parr, or to anyone else, except your wife, Walks,” Langmaid said. “You'd better go home, and let me see Mr. Parr. I'm responsible for Mr. Hodder, anyway.” “All right,” Mr. Plimpton agreed, as though he had gained some shred of comfort from this thought. “I guess you're in worse than any of us.” Volume 6. CHAPTER XX. THE ARRAIGNMENT I Looking backward, Hodder perceived that he had really come to the momentous decision of remaining at St. John's in the twilight of an evening when, on returning home from seeing Kate Marcy at Mr. Bentley's he had entered the darkening church. It was then that his mission had appeared to him as a vision. Every day, afterward, his sense and knowledge of this mission had grown stronger. To his mind, not the least of the trials it was to impose upon him, and one which would have to be dealt with shortly, was a necessary talk with his assistant, McCrae. If their relationship had from the beginning been unusual and unsatisfactory, adjectives would seem to defy what it had become during the summer. What did McCrae think of him? For Hodder had, it will be recalled, bidden his assistant good-by--and then had remained. At another brief interview, during which McCrae had betrayed no surprise, uttered no censure or comment, Hodder had announced his determination to remain in the city, and to take no part in the services. An announcement sufficiently astounding. During the months that followed, they had met, at rare intervals, exchanged casual greetings, and passed on. And yet Hodder had the feeling, more firmly planted than ever, that McCrae was awaiting, with an interest which might be called suspense, the culmination of the process going on within him.