"What; leave him there after what 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."