"Shall I go into the City as I proposed?" said Dalrymple, who felt
that he might at any rate improve the position of circumstances by
leaving the house.

"Yes;--yes; go into the City! Go anywhere. Go. But stay! Oh, Conway!"
There was a sudden change in her voice as she spoke. "Hark,--there he
is, as sure as life." Then Conway listened, and heard a footstep on
the stairs, as to which he had then but little doubt that it was the
footstep of Dobbs Broughton. "Oh heavens! He is tipsy!" exclaimed Mrs
Broughton; "and what shall we do?" Then Dalrymple took her hand and
pressed it, and left the room, so that he might meet the husband on
the stairs. In the one moment that he had for reflection he thought
it was better that there should be no concealment.

CHAPTER LXI

"It's Dogged as Does It"

In accordance with the resolution to which the clerical commission
had come on the first day of their sitting, Dr. Tempest wrote the
following letter to Mr. Crawley:--

RECTORY, SILVERBRIDGE,
April, 9, 186--

DEAR SIR,--

I have been given to understand that you have been
informed that the Bishop of Barchester has appointed a
commission of clergymen of the diocese to make inquiry
respecting certain accusations which, to the great regret
of us all, have been made against you, in respect to a
cheque for twenty pounds which was passed by you to a
tradesman in the town. The clergymen appointed to form
this commission are Mr. Oriel, the rector of Greshamsbury,
Mr. Robarts, the vicar of Framley, Mr. Quiverful, the warden
of Hiram's Hospital at Barchester, Mr. Thumble, a clergyman
established in that city, and myself. We held our first
meeting on last Monday, and I now write to you in
compliance with a resolution to which we then came. Before
taking any other steps we thought it best to ask you to
attend us here on next Monday, at two o'clock, and I beg
that you will accept this letter as an invitation to that
effect.

We are, of course, aware that you are about to stand your
trial at the next assizes for the offence in question. I
beg you to understand that I do not express any opinion as
to your guilt. But I think it right to point out to you
that in the event of a jury finding an adverse verdict,
the bishop will be placed in great difficulty unless he
were fortified with the opinion of a commission formed
from your fellow clerical lab