Mr. R. Haslam. (Deprecating gesture, reads.) "The book is of course admirable in workmanship, knowledge and insight, but Mrs. Reach Haslam has not, if the truth must be told, surpassed herself."
Mrs. R. Haslam. If I'd known about that when I saw their lady reporter this morning!...
Bishop. (Putting the book down.) Enthralling narrative! Enthralling! Now, my dear lady (rising).
Mrs. R. Haslam. (Interrupting him.) Please sit down. As you are having a glimpse of me in my profession to-night, I want to ask you one or two professional questions—about the psychology of that false curate.
Bishop. (Sitting down again.) Yes, yes. Psychology. Just so.
Mrs. R. Haslam. I never lose an opportunity of gathering material. Father, will you mind taking down? My husband is good enough to act as my stenographer.
Bishop. Touching!
Mrs. R. Haslam. Now I noticed nothing remarkable about that curate.
Bishop. (Agreeing.) No. And yet, you know—curious thing—he's a gentleman, quite! Oh, quite! And I even remember once meeting his father, when I was Court Chaplain, at a garden party in aid of the Additional Curates Society.