ave sent me.

"I am going for a few days' golf and sea-bathing into Devonshire, so
don't waste too much sympathy upon me. My best regards to Lady Sybil.
Just now I imagine that she is overwhelmed with good wishes, but if she
will add mine to the number, I can assure you and her that I offer them
most heartily.

"Yours most sincerely,

"KINGSTON BRGOKS."

"P.S.--Have you heard that your friend the Bishop is going to bring a
Bill before the House of Lords which is to exterminate me altogether?"

Lady Caroom sighed for a moment as she read the letter, but immediately
afterwards her face cleared.

"After all, I think it is best," she murmured, "and Atherstone is such a
dear."

CHAPTER XII

THE PRINCE OF SINNERS SPEAKS OUT

The bishop sat down amidst a little murmur of applause. He glanced up
and saw that his wife had heard his speech, and he noted with
satisfaction the long line of reporters, for whose sake he had spoken
with such deliberation and with occasional pauses. He felt that his
indictment of this new charitable departure had been scathing and
logical. He was not altogether displeased to see Brooks himself in the
Strangers' Gallery. That young man would be better able to understand
now the mighty power of the Church which he had so wantonly disregarded.

But it was not the bishop's speech which had filled Brooks with dismay,
which had made his heart grow suddenly cold within him. For this he had
been prepared--but not for the adversary who was now upon his feet
prepared to address the House. At least, he said to himself, bitterly,
he might have been spared this. It was Lord Arranmore, who, amidst some
murmurs of surprise, had risen to address the House--pale, composed,
supercilious as ever. And Brooks felt that what he could listen to
unmoved from the Bishop of Beeston would be hard indeed to bear from
this man.

The intervention of Lord Arranmore so early in the debate was wholly
unexpected. Every one was interested, and those who knew him best
prepared themselves for a little mild sensation. The bishop smiled to
himself with the satisfaction of a man who has secured a welcome but
unexpected ally. Lord Arranmore's views as to charity and its
dispensation were fairly well known.

So every one listened--at first with curiosity, afterwards with
something like amazement. The bishop abandoned his expression of gentle
tolerance for one of manifest uneasiness. It seemed scarcely credible
that he hear