'Considering the way I am kept waiting here, Mr Cargrim,' after which
pointed speech there was nothing left for the defeated chaplain but to
retreat as gracefully as he could. Yet Cargrim might have known, from
past experience, that a duel of words with sharp-tongued Dr Graham could
only end in his discomfiture. But in spite of all his cunning he usually
burnt his fingers at a twice-touched flame.
Extremely curious to know the reason of Graham's unexpected visit and
haggard looks, Cargrim, having informed the bishop that the doctor was
waiting for him, attempted to make a third in the interview by gliding
in behind his superior. Graham, however, was too sharp for him, and
after a few words with the bishop, intimated to the chaplain that his
presence was not necessary. So Cargrim, like the Peri at the Gates of
Paradise, was forced to lurk as near the library door as he dared, and
he strained his ears in vain to overhear what the pair were talking
about. Had he known that the revelation of Bishop Pendle's secret formed
the gist of the interview, he would have been even more enraged than he
was. But, for the time being, Fate was against the wily chaplain, and,
in the end, he was compelled to betake himself to a solitary and sulky
walk, during which his reflections concerning Graham and Baltic were the
reverse of amiable. As a defeated sneak, Mr Cargrim was not a credit to
his cloth.
Dr Pendle had the bewildered air of a man suddenly roused from sleep,
and was inclined to be peevish with Graham for calling at so untoward a
time. Yet it was five o'clock in the afternoon, which was scarcely a
suitable hour for slumber, as the doctor bluntly remarked.
'I was not asleep,' said the bishop, settling himself at his
writing-table. 'I simply lay down for half-an-hour or so.'
'Worn out with worry, I suppose?'
'Yes,' Dr Pendle sighed; 'my burden is almost greater than I can bear.'
'I quite agree with you,' replied Graham, 'therefore I have come to help
you to bear it.'
'That is impossible. To do so, you must know the truth, and--God help
me!--I dare not tell it even to you.'
'There is no need for you to do so, Pendle. I know your secret.'
The bishop twisted his chair round with a rapid movement and stared at
the sympathetic face of Graham with an expression of blended terror and
amazement. Hardly could his tongue frame itself to speech.
'You--know--my--secret!' stuttered Pendle, with pale lips.
'Yes, I know that Krant did not die at Sedan as we supposed. I know that
he returned to life--to Beorminster--to you, under the name of Jentham!
Hold up, man! don't give way,' for the bishop, with a heavy sigh, had
fallen forward on his desk, and, with his grey head buried in his arms,
lay there silent and broken down in an agony of doubt, and fear and
shame.