"If you can do that thoroughly and clearly," the bishop said, "you will render a service to the whole community."
"There should not be much difficulty," Brooks remarked, helping himself to omelette. "I never appealed for subscriptions, but directly they began to come in I engaged a clerk and a well-known firm of auditors, through whose banking-account all the money has passed. They have been only too anxious to take the matter up."
"I am more than pleased at your decision, Mr. Brooks," the bishop said, genially. "I rejoice at it. You will pardon my remarking that you seem very young to have inaugurated and to carry the whole responsibility of a work of such magnitude."
"The work," Brooks answered, "has largely grown of itself. But I have an excellent staff of helpers."
"The sole responsibility though rests with you.
"I am arranging to evade it," Brooks answered. "I am going to adopt commercial methods and inaugurate a Board of Directors."
The bishop hesitated.
"Again, Mr. Brooks," he said, "I must address a suggestion to you which might seem to require an apology. You have adopted methods and expressed views with regard to your scheme which are in themselves scarcely reconcilable with the point of view with which we churchmen are bound to regard the same question. But if you thought it worth while before finally arranging your Board to discuss the whole subject with me, it would give me the greatest pleasure to have you visit me at the palace at any time convenient to yourself."
"I shall consider it a great privilege," Brooks answered, promptly, "and
I shall not hesitate to avail myself of it."
The little party broke up soon afterwards, but Lady Caroom touched
Brooks upon his shoulder.