"Which half?" asked the bishop, with alarm. "If it is, I hope it will not be the top half."
"Absurd!" said Bradstock. "I mean it may be dun or yellowish."
"Let us trust not," replied the bishop. "I am inclined to think Bob would have said it was not very black if it had been at all coloured. I think we may dismiss the Jugpore legend."
"I trust we may," said Bradstock.
"I have an idea," said the bishop, "I have a luminous idea. Let us go to the library."
They adjourned to the library, and Bradstock lighted a cigar.
"What is your idea?" he asked.
"I will tell you in a few minutes," said the bishop, as he laid a big atlas upon his table. Bradstock watched him curiously. The bishop opened the atlas and laid a flat ruler on it. He shifted it once or twice, nodded his head, said "Ah!" and nodded it again.
"I believe I have it," said the bishop. "It will be worth trying, at any rate."
"What is it?" asked Bradstock.