“Why, you insolent—”
“Silence, Mr Distin,” said the rector firmly.
“But, really, sir, this man’s—”
“I said silence, Mr Distin. Pray contain yourself. Recollect what you are. I will say anything more that I consider necessary.”
He cleared his throat, sat back for a few moments, and then turned to the constable.
“Now, my good fellow, you have heard Mr Distin’s indignant repudiation of this charge, and you are obstinately determined all the same.”
“Don’t know about obstinate, sir,” replied the constable, “I am only doing my duty, sir.”
“What you conceive to be your duty, Bates. But you are wrong, my man, quite wrong. You are upon the wrong scent. Now I beg of you try to look at this in a sensible light and make a fresh start to run down the offender. You see you have made a mistake. Own to it frankly, and I am sure that Mr Distin will be quite ready to look over what has been said.”
Just then there was a tap at the door.
“May I come in, sir?”