'One moment,' he said. Scrope stopped with a sneer.
'If you can remain a few days at Avignon,' he continued, 'I shall be happy to oblige you in whatever you will. For the moment I have duties.'
'Of course,' interrupted Scrope. 'Duties are wonderful convenient things when one's bones are in danger. The pious Æneas knew that very well, Mr. Kelly; but then the worthy army-chaplain had not a Scrope upon his heels for the best part of a twelvemonth.'
'Oh,' cried Kelly, 'then it is you who have followed me.' More than once he had heard that his steps were dogged.
'Over a wearisome stretch of Europe,' agreed Scrope.
'It was you who came to Philabe this morning?'
'Who else? So, you see, I have been at some pains to come up with you, and those duties must wait.'
'Those duties,' replied Kelly, 'are so urgent that I am in two minds whether to take to my heels.'
To any man who was acquainted with the Parson this statement would have been proof enough that there was all the necessity in the world for delay. But then Scrope knew very little of his opponent, and:
'I am not at all surprised to hear that,' he replied contemptuously.