silent on
the subject for a moment, did learn something of the truth from
her husband. The information did not come to her in the way of
instruction, but was teased out of the unfortunate man. "I know that
you can proceed against him in the Court of Arches, under the 'Church
Discipline Act'," she said.

"No, my dear; no," said the bishop, shaking his head in his misery.

"Or in the Consistorial Court. It's all the same thing."

"There must be an inquiry first,--by his brother clergy. There must
indeed. It's the only way of proceeding."

"But there has been an inquiry, and he has been committed."

"That doesn't signify, my dear. That's the Civil Law."

"And if the Civil Law condemns him, and locks him up in prison,--as
it most certainly will do?"

"But it hasn't done so yet, my dear. I really think that as it has
gone so far, it will be best to leave it as it is till he has taken
his trial."

"What! Leave him there after what has occurred this morning in this
palace?" The palace with Mrs. Proudie was always a palace, and never
a house. "No; no; ten thousand times, no. Are you not aware that he
insulted you, and grossly, most grossly insulted me? I was never
treated with such insolence by any clergyman before, since I first
came to this palace;--never, never. And we know the man to be a
thief;--we absolutely know it. Think, my lord, of the souls of his
people!"

"Oh, dear; oh, dear; oh, dear," said the bishop.

"Why do you fret yourself in that way?"

"Because you will get me into trouble. I tell you the only thing to
be done is to issue a commission with the rural dean at the head of
it."

"Then issue a commission."

"And they will take three months."

"Why should they take three months? Why should they take more than
three days,--or three hours? It is all plain sailing."

"These things are never plain sailing, my dear. When a bishop has
to oppose any of his clergy, it is always made as difficult as
possible."

"More shame for them who make it so."

"But it is so. If I were to take legal proceedings against him, it
would cost,--oh, dear,--more than a thousand pounds, I should say."

"If it costs two, you must do it." Mrs. Proudie's anger was still very
hot, or she would not have spoken of an unremunerative outlay of
money in such language as that.

In this manner she did come to understand, before the arrival of
Mr. Chadwick, that her husband could take no legal steps towards
silencing Mr. Cra