And I who heard this story through spoke up: "The thing about this that I fail to get Concerns this woman, the affinity. If, as seems evident, she and the bishop Had planned this run-a-way and used the faith, And you, the congregation to get money To do it with, or used you in particular To get the money for themselves to live on After they had arrived there in Montreaux, If all this be" I said, "why did this woman Descend just at the moment when he asked you For the money that you had. You might have seen her Before you gave the money, if you had You might have held it back." "I would indeed, You can be sure I should have held it back." And then the old wife gasped and dropped her knitting. "Now, James, you let me answer that, I know. She was done with the bishop, that's the reason. Be still and let me answer. Here's the story: We found out later that the bishop's trunk And kit of tools had been returned from Jaffa There to Montreaux, were there that very day, Which means the bishop never meant to go To Palestine at all, but meant to meet This woman in Montreaux and live with her. Well, that takes money. So he used my husband To get that money. Now you wonder I see Why she would chance the spoiling of the scheme, Descend into the room before my husband Had given up this money, and this money, You see, was treated as a common fund Belonging to the church and to be used To get back Palestine, and so the bishop As head of the church, superior to my husband, Could say 'give me the money'--that was natural, My husband could not be surprised at that, Or question it. Well, why did she descend And almost lose the money? Oh, the cat! I know what she did, as well as I had seen Her do it. Yes, she listened at the landing. And when she heard my husband tell the sum Which he had brought, it wasn't enough to please her, And Satan entered in her heart, and she Waited until she heard the bishop's pockets Clink with the double eagles, then descended To expose the bishop and disgrace him there And everywhere in all the world. Now listen: She got that money or the most of it In spite of what she did. For in six weeks After my husband had returned, she walked, The brazen thing, the public streets of Springfield As jaunty as you please, and pretty soon The bishop died and all the papers printed The story of his shame."