parson of that day couldn't give me the right sort. Good Lord! I can
see him yet: short man, rather stout and baldish. Meant well, but his
religion wasn't worth a bean to me that day.... Religion is all very
well to talk about on a Sunday; broadcloth coat, white tie and that
sort of thing; good for funerals, too, when a man's dead and can't
answer back. Sometimes I've amused myself wondering what a dead man
would say to a parson, if he could sit up in his coffin and talk five
minutes of what's happened to him since they called him dead.
Interesting to think of--eh? ...Had lots of time to think.... Thought
of most everything that ever happened; and more that didn't."

"You are a stranger in Brookville, sir?" observed Wesley Elliot,
politely.

He had already decided that the man was neither a _colporteur_ nor a
clerical mendicant; his clothes were too good, for one thing.

The man laughed, a short, unpleasant sound which ended in a fit of
coughing.

"A stranger in Brookville?" he echoed. "Well; not precisely.... But
never mind that, young man. Now, you're a clergyman, and on that
account supposed to have more than ordinary good judgment: what would
you advise a man to do, who had--er--been out of active life for a
number of years. In a hospital, we'll say, incapacitated, very much
so. When he comes out, he finds himself quite pleasantly situated, in
a way; good home, and all that sort of thing; but not allowed to--to
use his judgment in any way. Watched--yes, watched, by a person who
ought to know better. It's intolerable--intolerable! Why, you'll not
believe me when I tell you I'm obliged to sneak out of my own house
on the sly--on the sly, you understand, for the purpose of taking
needful exercise."

He stopped short and wiped his forehead with a handkerchief, the
fineness of which the minister noted mechanically--with other details
which had before escaped him; such as the extreme, yellowish pallor
of the man's face and hands and the extraordinary swiftness and
brightness of his eyes. He was conscious of growing uneasiness as he
said:

"That sounds very unpleasant, sir; but as I am not in possession of
the facts--"

"But I just told you," interrupted the stranger. "Didn't I say--"

"You didn't make clear to me what the motives of this person who
tries to control your movements are. You didn't tell me--"

The man moved his hand before his face, like one trying to brush away
imaginary flies.

"I suppose s