"Has anybody else anything which he would wish to say?"
The vicar asked the question in the same curiously quiet tone of voice. Mr. Ingledew stood up.
"Yes, vicar, I have something which I should rather like to say. I am not pretending to have, in this matter, any locus standi. Nor do I intend to assail Mr. Plumber on the lines which Mr. Luxmare has followed. To me it seems to be a matter of comparative indifference to which journal a man, be he cleric or layman, may choose to send his contributions. Journals nowadays are very much of a muchness, their badness is merely a question of degree. There is, however, one point on which I should like to be enlightened by Mr. Plumber. I am told that he is the author of some verses which were published in the issue of Skittles, dated July 11th, and entitled 'The Lingering Lover.' Is that so, Mr. Plumber?"
As Mr. Ingledew asked his question, the curate, for the first time, showed signs of obvious uneasiness.
"That is so," he said.
Mr. Ingledew smiled. His smile did not seem to add to the curate's comfort.
"I do not intend to criticise those verses. Probably Mr. Plumber will admit that by no standard of criticism can they be adjudged first rate. But, in this connection, I would make one remark--and here I think you will agree with me, vicar--that even a clergyman should be decently honest."
"Pray," asked the vicar, who possibly had noticed Mr. Plumber's uneasiness, and had, thereupon, become uneasy himself, "what has honesty to do with the matter?"
"A good deal, as I am about to show. Mr. Luxmare asked Mr. Plumber if he intended to continue to contribute to Skittles. Mr. Plumber declined to answer that question. I could have answered it; and now do. No more of Mr. Plumber's contributions will appear in Skittles."
The curate started--indeed, everybody started--vicar, churchwardens, sidesmen and all.