After which apologetic speech the old sinner creaked out of the room pulling his forelock.
"You see," said Lestrange, with a triumphant look at the other two, "Thorold was in Heathton, and in the churchyard on that night."
"It would seem so; but that does not prove he took away the body," put in Sophy.
"My second witness can prove that. Come in, Cicero."
The fat man, resplendent in new clothes, rolled into the room.
"Pax vobiscum," said he.
The Rector turned an angry glance on him.
"This is not the time for playing the fool," he said cuttingly. "You are a cunning rogue, but some day you will overreach yourself. Now, then, out with your lie."
"Lie! I scorn to pervert the truth, reverend sir. I shall tell the truth in puris naturalibus."
"I hope not," threw in the Rector, laughing, in spite of himself, at this abuse of quotation.