"Father Donovan, did you know that Mr. O'Neill was very ill?"
"I did, Monsignor," said Father Dan.
"And that a surgeon is coming from London to perform an operation upon him—did you know that?"
"I did, Monsignor."
"Did you know also that I was here to-night to attend with Mr. Curphy to important affairs and perhaps discharge some sacred duties?"
"I knew that too, Monsignor."
"Then," said the Bishop, pointing at me, "how dare you bring this man here—this man of all others, who has been the chief instrument in bringing shame and disgrace upon our poor sick friend and his deeply injured family?"
"So that's how you look at it, is it, Monsignor?"
"Yes, sir, that is how I look at it, and I am sorry for a priest of my Church who has so weakened his conscience by sympathy with notorious sinners as to see things in any other light."
"Sinners, Bishop?"