Our return to The Mitre—a movement which was effected with great caution—was eagerly awaited by the hall-porter, who inquired anxiously regarding my brother-in-law, and produced his grey Homburg with a note addressed To the Owner stuck in the hatband.
"The gentleman as was of your party, sir, was inquirin' about 'is 'at an hour or two back, sir. 'E 'adn't 'ardly gone, when a reverend gent come in, all of a state, with this 'at in 'is 'and. Seems he took it away absent-minded like, instead of 'is own, sir. Though 'ow 'e can 'ave made such a mistake I can't think, 'is bein' a Church 'at as plain as plain. But they're like that up 'ere, sir, some o' them."
We stared at one another, frankly astonished to learn that Berry's fantastic explanation was founded strictly upon fact.
"Did the clergyman get his own back?" said I.
"Yes, sir. 'Ere it was in the 'all."
Apparently neither the porter nor the divine had any idea of the abuse to which the latter's wideawake had been put.
"Oh, well, our friend'll be in presently," said Jonah, taking the Homburg. "When he comes, tell him we've got his hat and are having tea."
"Very good, sir. You see there's a note there, sir? The reverend wrote it 'ere. I think 'e was 'opin' to ave seen your gentleman and told 'im 'ow sorry 'e was, but when 'e 'card 'e was out, 'e sits down an' writes 'im a letter. 'E was in a state."
"Poor man," said Daphne, following after Jonah. "After all, there's no harm done."
"It was a near thing," said I. "But for my brain-wave——"