“Never mind. I have just come from talk with a confederate of yours—the sexton of St. John’s.”

“I know the man certainly. Is he in need of my services?”

“He would say ‘God forbid’ to that, I fancy. He’s had enough of you, maybe.”

“Oh, in what way?”

“In the way of silencing awkward witnesses.”

“Pray be a trifle less obscure.”

“I have this moment left him. He was seized with a fit of some sort. He’d rather have the devil himself to wait upon him than you, I expect.”

“Why so?”

“I had some talk with him before he went off his head. Do you wish to know what he charged you with?”

“Certainly I do.”