k there is any fear of ... of a scandal?" asked Lionel
in a pained voice, anxious not to wound.

"I trust not ... I trust not. I have no reason to think.... Of course,
things _do_ look odd, and my wife says ... but, no! I am sure she must
be wrong. I ... I hope so."

"Mrs. Peters has heard----?" hazarded Lionel. The clergyman shook his
head with dignity.

"Nothing. Nothing. My wife called, but was refused admittance. Naturally
she, as the vicar's wife, felt a little hurt...."

"Of course," agreed Lionel. "But no other friends come? Nobody in
motors?"

"I believe not. I should have heard,--it would have drifted round to me
in the course of time."

"Nobody stays here, I suppose?"

"Oh, yes--golfers. One is here now--an excellent man,--old and of
foreign origin, I believe. He calls himself Beckett; but he has told me
(in confidence) that he is here for rest, incognito. He may be somebody
of importance--an excellent man, however. He gave me a guinea for our
restoration fund the day I showed him the church."

"The ambassador!" was Lionel's swift conclusion; and then aloud, "Has
he been here long?"

"Three days. For golf. We have played a few rounds." He smiled at some
hidden joy. "He is not very good, for even I can give him a stroke a
hole. Uncommunicative--very, but interesting, a gentleman, and I should
say a seeker."

"Ah!" said Lionel, getting up. "Well, I must go on. Can you tell me how
to find The Quiet House?"

The other gasped.

"You are going to _call_!" He recollected himself and apologized. "I beg
your pardon, but ... go straight down the road ... the prettiest house
on the right. By the way, if you are staying here I should be happy to
take you round the links. Or show you the church----"

"Thank you," said Lionel. "You are very good, but I don't know how long
I shall be staying."

"Well, come round and smoke a pipe after dinner," suggested the
clergyman. His eagerness to secure one who knew Miss Arkwright was
poorly disguised. "I would say, come and dine, but Mrs. Peters...."

He left it to be understood that Mrs. Peters' permission must first be
obtained. Lionel could hardly restrain a smile. "Thank you," he said;
"I can not promise yet, but I will remember. Good-by."

He left Mr. Peters rejoicing over a fresh piece of news that had
"drifted round," which he meant to retail to his wife at the earliest
opportunity. As he sat down again to finish his modest allowance, Tony
Wild and Mr. Hedd