"Preached!" said the Doctor, looking with great surprise at Richmond minimus. "What did he preach about?"
"About me!" said Browne furiously. "He dared to preach about my private affairs—at least——"
"Begin at the beginning," said the Doctor. "How did particulars of this outrage reach you, Browne?"
"Through the boy Stopford," said Browne; and Richmond minimus fairly gasped to think how mistaken he had been about converting Stopford.
"Stopford," explained Browne, "came to me and said that he was very much afraid that liberties were to be taken with my name. I refused to believe it at first. Then, to satisfy myself, I went into the great school-room at the time mentioned by Stopford and stood behind the blackboards in the cupboard."
Browne then related all that he had heard, and Richmond minimus said that he trembled with indignation and spoke so fast that Dr. Dunstan had to ask him once or twice to repeat the sentence. But Richmond admitted that Browne's version of the sermon was very fairly just.
Then the Doctor said—
"Thank you, Browne. I much regret your natural annoyance. You may leave the sequel to me."
So Browne hooked it and Richmond minimus was left alone with the Doctor.
The Doctor said nothing for some time. Then he sighed, and looked at his sermon, and rose and went to the cane corner.