"To look at him," said old Bunce, "you wouldn't think there was much in him. And as for Mrs. Eames, anybody would think she was silly--what with her plays and her nonsense, just as silly as they make them. I was wrong about that, and I'm not one to be ashamed of owning up when I am wrong. That young fellow with the motor-car, Lord Colavon or whatever his name is, is as smart as paint, and Mrs. Eames isn't a fool, not by any manner of means." Mrs. Eames, who knows exactly what is said and thought about her, feels her position acutely, and is trying to induce her husband to seek an exchange to some other parish. She cannot defend herself by telling the truth. To do that would be to invite raids on the cave with all sorts of evil results. She has, for many years, been doing all in her power for the village. She has devoted her unusual powers of mind and body to the service of the people of Hailey Compton, and now---- "It's very hard to bear," she said to me. "Not that I mind for myself. I don't, not a bit. But it's cruel to have poor darling Timothy misunderstood. Especially just when he really has done something for the village at last." Jimmy, with whom I had a chance of talking the matter over yesterday, takes a different line. "They think that of me, do they? By Jove!" he said. "Well, I dare say it's just as well they do. Unless they were satisfied that I had the stuff safely tucked away somewhere they'd go on searching for it till they found it. But, look here, you know, if I'm to be regarded as a thief I may as well do something to deserve it. I don't want to upset your aunt, Beth"--the Countess, looking very charming, was present during our talk--"and I wouldn't worry your uncle for the world, but as soon as they're safely out of Hailey Compton I'll go and get hold of that brandy. The silk will be ruined, of course, but the brandy will be all right, and I expect I could manage to hoist it up into the church again." "Jimmy," said the Countess anxiously, "you wouldn't steal that brandy, would you?" "Not for my own use," said Jimmy. "My idea would be to send it anonymously to the bishop for distribution among the country clergy. Those poor fellows must want cheering up and they get little enough of it. Just think of what your uncle Timothy's life would have been if he hadn't happened to marry your aunt. And there can't be many vicars' wives like her. That's why I think a few bottles of brandy and a dozen or so of fizz would be good for them. Their lives want brightening. Besides, the bishop would enjoy distributing it. He's a most benevolent old boy, and we owe him something. Uncle Evie told me he was in a dreadful state when he heard about the smuggling." THE END Hodder & Stoughton Some New and Forthcoming Novels THE DANCING FLOOR By JOHN BUCHAN, author of "John Macnab," "Greenmantle," etc.