The Bishop's Secret
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Оглавление
Hume Fergus. The Bishop's Secret
PREFACE
CHAPTER I 'ENTER MRS PANSEY AS CHORUS'
CHAPTER II. THE BISHOP IS WANTED
CHAPTER III. THE UNFORESEEN HAPPENS
CHAPTER IV. THE CURIOSITY OF MR CARGRIM
CHAPTER V. THE DERBY WINNER
CHAPTER VI. THE MAN WITH THE SCAR
CHAPTER VII. AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION
CHAPTER VIII. ON SATURDAY NIGHT
CHAPTER IX. AN EXCITING ADVENTURE
CHAPTER X. MORNING SERVICE IN THE MINSTER
CHAPTER XI. MISS WHICHELLO'S LUNCHEON-PARTY
CHAPTER XII. BELL MOSK PAYS A VISIT
CHAPTER XIII. A STORMY NIGHT
CHAPTER XIV 'RUMOUR FULL OF TONGUES'
CHAPTER XV. THE GIPSY RING
CHAPTER XVI. THE ZEAL OF INSPECTOR TINKLER
CHAPTER XVII. A CLERICAL DETECTIVE
CHAPTER XVIII. THE CHAPLAIN ON THE WARPATH
CHAPTER XIX. THE BISHOP'S REQUEST
CHAPTER XX. MOTHER JAEL
CHAPTER XXI. MRS PANSEY'S FESTIVAL
CHAPTER XXII. MR MOSK IS INDISCREET
CHAPTER XXIII. IN THE LIBRARY
CHAPTER XXIV. THE BISHOP ASSERTS HIMSELF
CHAPTER XXV. MR BALTIC, MISSIONARY
CHAPTER XXVI. THE AMAZEMENT OF SIR HARRY BRACE
CHAPTER XXVII. WHAT MOTHER JAEL KNEW
CHAPTER XXVIII. THE RETURN OF GABRIEL
CHAPTER XXIX. THE CONFESSION OF BISHOP PENDLE
CHAPTER XXX. BLACKMAIL
CHAPTER XXXI. MR BALTIC ON THE TRAIL
CHAPTER XXXII. THE INITIALS
CHAPTER XXXIII. MR BALTIC EXPLAINS HIMSELF
CHAPTER XXXIV. THE WAGES OF SIN
CHAPTER XXXV. THE HONOUR OF GABRIEL
CHAPTER XXXVI. THE REBELLION OF MRS PENDLE
CHAPTER XXXVII. DEA EX MACHINÂ
CHAPTER XXXVIII. EXIT MR CARGRIM
CHAPTER XXXIX. ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL
Отрывок из книги
Of late years an anonymous mathematician has declared that in the British Isles the female population is seven times greater than the male; therefore, in these days is fulfilled the scriptural prophecy that seven women shall lay hold of one man and entreat to be called by his name. Miss Daisy Norsham, a veteran Belgravian spinster, decided, after some disappointing seasons, that this text was particularly applicable to London. Doubtful, therefore, of securing a husband at the rate of one chance in seven, or dissatisfied at the prospect of a seventh share in a man, she resolved upon trying her matrimonial fortunes in the country. She was plain, this lady, as she was poor; nor could she rightly be said to be in the first flush of maidenhood. In all matters other than that of man-catching she was shallow past belief. Still, she did hope, by dint of some brisk campaigning in the diocese of Beorminster, to capture a whole man unto herself.
Her first step was to wheedle an invitation out of Mrs Pansey, an archdeacon's widow – then on a philanthropic visit to town – and she arrived, towards the end of July, in the pleasant cathedral city of Beorminster, in time to attend a reception at the bishop's palace. Thus the autumn manœuvres of Miss Norsham opened most auspiciously.
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Sir Harry groaned, but like an obedient lover intercepted a withered old dame who was the greatest bore in the town. She usually told a digressive story about a lost purse, but hitherto had never succeeded in getting to the point, if there was one. Accepting the suggestion of supper with alacrity, she drifted away on Sir Harry's arm, and no doubt mentioned the famous purse before he managed to fill her mouth and stop her prosing.
Lucy, who had a quiet humour of her own in spite of her demure looks, laughed at the dejection and martyrdom of Sir Harry; and taking the eagerly-proffered arm of a callow lieutenant, ostentatiously and hopelessly in love with her, went away to play her part of deputy hostess. She moved from group to group, and everywhere received smiles and congratulations, for she was a general favourite, and, with the exception of Mrs Pansey, everyone approved of her engagement. Behind a floral screen a band of musicians, who called themselves the Yellow Hungarians, and individually possessed the most unpronounceable names, played the last waltz, a smooth, swinging melody which made the younger guests long for a dance. In fact, the callow lieutenant boldly suggested that a waltz should be attempted, with himself and Lucy to set the example; but his companion snubbed him unmercifully for his boldness, and afterwards restored his spirits by taking him to the supper-room. Here they found Miss Tancred in the full flow of her purse story; so Lucy, having pity on her lover, bestowed her escort on the old lady as a listener, and enjoyed supper at an isolated table with Sir Harry. The sucking Wellington could have murdered Brace with pleasure, and very nearly did murder Miss Tancred, for he plied her so constantly with delicacies that she got indigestion, and was thereby unable to finish about the purse.
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