"Almost directly. He's busy for a few minutes. We were smoking together in his study."
"You seem to—you seem to have made great friends!" said Chichester, with a sort of forced jocularity.
"Great friends! They're hardly made in a moment. I happened to be at church this morning—"
"At church—where?" exclaimed the curate.
"At St. Joseph's. And Mr. Harding kindly asked me to lunch."
"You were at church at St. Joseph's this morning?" said Chichester.
He sat down by Malling and stared into his face.
"Did you—did you stay for the sermon?"
"Certainly. I came for the sermon. I had never heard Mr. Harding preach."
"No? No? Well, what did you think of it? What did you think of it?"