oing so I do not choose to
tell you, Mr Cargrim. It is not your right to question my actions. I am
not only your elder, but your ecclesiastic superior, to whom, as a
priest, you are bound to yield obedience. That obedience I now exact.
You must suffer for your sins.'

'You can't hurt me,' returned Cargrim, with defiance.

'I have no wish to hurt you,' answered the bishop, mildly; 'but for your
own good you must be punished; and punish you I will so far as lies in
my power.'

'I am ready to be punished, my lord; you have the whip hand, so I must
submit.'

'Michael, Michael, harden not your heart! Repent of your wickedness if
it is in you to do so. I cannot spare you if I would. _Bonis nocet quis
quis pepercerit malis_; that is a true saying which, as a priest, I
should obey, and which I intend to obey if only for your own benefit.
After punishment comes repentance and amendment.'

Cargrim scowled. 'It is no use talking further, my lord,' he said
roughly. 'As I have acted like a fool, I must take a fool's wages.'

'You are indeed a fool,' rejoined the bishop, coldly, 'and an ungrateful
fool to boot, or you would not thus answer one who has your interest at
heart. But as you take up such a position, I shall be brief. You must
leave my house at once, and, for very shame, I should advise you to
leave the Church.'

'Leave the Church?' echoed Cargrim, in dismay.

'I have said it. As a bishop, I cannot entrust to a guilty man the care
of immortal souls.'

'Guilty? I am guilty of nothing.'

'Do you call malice, falsehood, dissimulation nothing?'

'You cannot unfrock me for what I have done,' said Cargrim, evading a
direct reply. 'You may have the will, but you have not the power.'

Dr Pendle looked at him in amazement 'Yours is indeed an evil heart,
when you can use such language to me,' he said sorrowfully. 'I see that
it is useless to argue with you in your present fallen condition.'

'Fallen condition, my lord?'

'Yes, poor lad! fallen not only as a priest, but as a man. However, I
shall plead no more. Go where you will, do what you will, although I
advise you once more not to insult an offended God by offering prayers
for others which you need for yourself. Yet, as I am unwilling that you
should starve, I shall instruct my banker in London to pay you a monthly
sum of money until you are beyond want. Now go, Michael. I am bitterly
disappointed in you; and by your own acts you have put it out of my
power to k