“Any time,” said the other reluctantly.  “I suppose you are tired with your journey?”

Mr. Burge assented, and rising from his chair yawned loudly and stretched himself.  In the small room with his huge arms raised he looked colossal.

“I suppose,” said the jeweller, still seeking to re-assure himself, “I suppose dear Brother Clark felt pretty certain of you, else he wouldn’t have sent you here?”

“Brother Clark said ’What is a jeweller’s shop compared with a ’uman soul, a priceless ‘uman soul?’” replied Mr. Burge.  “What is a few gew-gaws to decorate them that perish, and make them vain, when you come to consider the opportunity of such a trial, and the good it’ll do and the draw it’ll be—­if I do win—­and testify to the congregation to that effect?  Why, there’s sermons for a lifetime in it.”

“So there is,” said the jeweller, trying to look cheerful.  “You’ve got a good face, Brother Burge, and you’ll do a lot of good by your preaching.  There is honesty written in every feature.”

Mr. Burge turned and surveyed himself in the small pier-glass.  “Yes,” he said, somewhat discontentedly, “I don’t look enough like a burglar to suit some of ’em.”

“Some people are hard to please,” said the other warmly.

Mr. Burge started and eyed him thoughtfully, and then as Mr. Higgs after some hesitation walked into the shop to turn the gas out, stood in the doorway watching him.  A smothered sigh as he glanced round the shop bore witness to the state of his feelings.

The jeweller hesitated again in the parlour, and then handing Brother Burge his candle turned out the gas, and led the way slowly upstairs to the room which had been prepared for the honoured visitor.  He shook hands at the door and bade him an effusive good-night, his voice trembling despite himself as he expressed a hope that Mr. Burge would sleep well.  He added casually that he himself was a very light sleeper.

To-night sleep of any kind was impossible.  He had given up the front room to his guest, and his own window looked out on an over-grown garden.  He sat trying to read, with his ears alert for the slightest sound.  Brother Burge seemed to be a long time undressing.  For half an hour after he had retired he could hear him moving restlessly about his room.

Twelve o’clock struck from the tower of the parish church, and was followed almost directly by the tall clock standing in the hall down-stairs.  Scarcely had the sounds died away than a low moaning from the next room caused the affrighted jeweller to start from his chair and place his ear against the wall.  Two or three hollow groans came through the plaster, followed by ejaculations which showed clearly that Brother Burge was at that moment engaged in a terrified combat with the Powers of Darkness to decide whether he should, or should not, rifle his host’s shop.  His hands clenched and his ear pressed close to the wall, the jeweller listened to a monologue which increased in interest with every word.