ice." His thin, rather musical voice held a new and arresting note.
"My visit to you to-night was not of, a purely social nature. I came
because--I may have been wrong--because I felt it to be both an
obligation and an act of friendship to come here to discuss with you a
peculiar situation which has arisen within the last day or two in
Littlefield."

Instantly Anstice guessed what was to follow; and he knocked the ashes
out of his pipe with a rather impatient gesture which was not lost on
the other man.

"If you will listen to me for one moment," said Carey hastily, "you may
then refuse to discuss the subject if you wish. But I think it will
really be better if you can bring yourself to listen to me first."

Even Anstice's annoyance was not proof against the other man's
moderation; and he spoke with creditable mildness.

"I think I know what you want to say, Carey. Is it--this interesting
subject--concerned with certain statements which are being made about
me--anonymously--in the parish?"

Carey's face lost a little of its uneasiness.

"Yes," he said, "since you appear to be already acquainted with the fact
there is no use in denying it. Indeed, I don't wish to do so, seeing
that is what I came to say to you."

"You have received such a letter yourself?"

"Yes. I received a letter this morning."

"I see." For a moment Anstice sat in silence, his lips set firmly
together; and the other man, watching, was struck, as Sir Richard had
been on the previous day, by the look of suffering in his face. "Well,
Carey, is it asking you too much to let me know exactly what form the
accusation against me took? Or have you the letter with you?"

"No. I burnt the letter immediately," Carey answered. "Naturally such
communications are best destroyed--and forgotten--at once. But"--he
hesitated--"the fact is I have since discovered that I am not the only
person to be addressed by the unknown correspondent."

"Indeed?" Anstice's eyes flashed. "Is it permissible to ask who else has
been thus--honoured?"

The clergyman paused a moment before replying, and it was evident a
conflict was taking place in his mind. The struggle was, however, soon
terminated, and he answered Anstice's question resolutely.

"Yes, it is quite permissible. Indeed, I had already gained the consent
of the other--victim"--he smiled deprecatingly--"to tell you, if
necessary, what was being said behind your back."

"Well?" Anstice's tone was peremptory, b