"I cannot retail to you all their little tattle, Sir Gordon. Look here, sir, what do you mean? Speak out." Sir Gordon grew red and was silent for a few minutes. "I will be plain, Bayle," he said at last. "The fact is I am very uneasy." "About Hallam?" "Yes. He occupies a position of great trust." "But surely Mr Trampleasure shares it." "Trampleasure shares nothing. He's a mere dummy: a bank ornament. There, I don't say I suspect Hallam, but I cannot help seeing that he is living far beyond his means." "But you have the books--the statements?" "Yes; and everything is perfectly correct. I do know something about figures, and at our last audit there was not a penny wrong." Bayle drew a breath full of relief. "Every security, every deed was in its place, and the bank was never in a more prosperous state." "Then of what do you complain?" "That is what I do not know. All I know, Bayle, is that I am uneasy, and dissatisfied about him. Can you help me?" "How can I help you?" "Can you tell me something to set my mind at rest, and make me think that Hallam is a strictly honourable man, so that I can go off again yachting. I cannot exist away from the sea." "I am afraid I can tell you nothing, Sir Gordon." "Not from friend to friend?" "I am the trusted friend of the Hallams'. I am free of their house. They have entrusted a great deal of the education of their child to me!" "Well, tell me this. You know the people. What do they say of Hallam in the town?" "I have never heard an unkind word respecting him unless from disappointed people, to whom, I suppose from want of confidence in their securities, he has refused loans." "That's praising him," said Sir Gordon. "Do the people seem to trust him?" "Oh! certainly." "More praise. But do they approve of his way of living? Hasn't he a lot of debts in the town?" Bayle was silent. "Ah! that pinches. Well, now does not that seem strange?" "I know nothing whatever of Mr Hallam's private affairs. He may perhaps have lost his own money, and his indebtedness be due to his endeavours to recoup himself." "Yes," said Sir Gordon, dryly. "What a lovely day!" "It is delightful," said the curate, with a sigh of relief, as they turned back. "I was going to start to-morrow for a run up the Norway fiords." "Indeed; so soon?" "Yes," said Sir Gordon, dryly; "but I am not going now." They parted at the entrance of the town, and directly after the curate became aware of the fact that old Gemp was looking at him very intently. He forgot it the next moment as he entered his room, to be followed directly after by his landlady, who drew his attention to a note upon the chimney-piece in Thickens's formal, clerkly hand. "One of the school children brought this, sir; and, begging your pardon," cried the woman, colouring indignantly, "if it isn't making too bold to ask such a thing of you, sir, don't you think you might say a few words next Sunday about Poll-prying, and asking questions?"