with "Eh? 'So-and-so,' did you say?
. . . Yes, yes. I knew his father . . . an excellent fellow!"

This morning, however, the Chaplain wore a grave face. After a few
words he came to business.

"It concerns a letter I received this morning. The writer, who
signs himself 'Well Wisher,' makes a disgusting allegation against
old Bonaday--an incredibly disgusting allegation. You will prefer to
read it for yourself."

Mr. Colt produced the letter from his pocket-book, and held it out.

"Eh?" exclaimed Master Blanchminster, receding. "Another?"

"I beg your pardon--?"

The Master adjusted his glasses, and bent forward, still without
offering to touch the thing or receive it from Mr. Colt's hand.

"Yes, yes. I recognise the handwriting. . . . To tell the truth,
my dear Colt, I received just such a letter one day last week.
For the moment it caused me great distress of mind."

Mr. Colt was vexed, a little hurt, that the Master had not consulted
him about it.

"You mean to say it contained--"

"--The same sort of thing, no doubt: charges against Brother Bonaday
and against one of the nurses: incredibly disgusting, as you say."

"May I be allowed to compare the two letters? . . . I do not," said
Mr. Colt stiffly, "seek more of your confidence than you care to
bestow."

"My dear fellow--" protested the Master.

"I merely suggest that, since it concerns the discipline of
St. Hospital--for which in the past you have honoured me with some
responsibility--"

"My dear fellow, you should see it and welcome; but the fact is--"
Here the Master broke off. "I ought, no doubt, to have put it
straight into the fire."

"Why?" asked Mr. Colt.

"But the fact is, I gave it away."

"Gave it away! . . . To whom, may I ask?"

"To Brother Copas, of all people," confessed the Master with a rueful
little chuckle. "Yes, I don't wonder that you stare: yet it happened
very simply. You remember the day I asked you to send him to me for
a talk about the Petition? Well, he found me in distress over this
letter, which I had just received, and on an impulse I showed it to
him. I really wanted his assurance that the charge was as baseless
as it was foul, and that assurance he gave me. So you may with an
easy mind put your letter in the fire."

"It would at any rate be a safer course than to give it away," said
the Chaplain, frowning.

"A hit--a palpable hit! . . . I ought to have added that Brother
Copas has a notion he