Harry went!  But then women, unless they were uncommonly clever, like his own mother, always did go to hear the parsons.  Parsons, as a rule, were hypocrites.  He had met one or two of them in town under circumstances that showed they had really no more “nonsense about them” than other people, but in the pulpit they were bound to cant.  Look at Mr. Whymper, for instance—­the best specimen of them, by-the-by, he had ever known—­who could doubt that his mind was wholly set upon the main chance?  To what slights and insolences did he submit himself for the sake of feathering his own nest; and how he had counted upon that fat living, of which the Squire had so cruelly disappointed him!  Talk of religion! why, there was Carew himself, with thirty thousand a year, and did not spend a shilling of it on religion!  True, he kept a chaplain, but only as a check upon his steward, to manage his estate for him.  If there was really any thing in it, would not a rich man like him have put aside a portion of his wealth, by way of insurance—­insurance against fire?—­and here Richard chuckled to himself.

It was all rubbish, these texts and things.  He would dress himself, and go out and take a walk, although it was so early.  He had already heard sounds in the house, as though somebody was astir; so he rang the bell.  It was answered by a sleepy and disheveled personage, whom he scarcely recognized for the sleek “night chamberlain,” whose duty it was to watch while others slept, and who had given him a bed-candle not many hours before.

“What! still up, my man?” said Richard, gayly.

“Yes, Sir.  The morning mail has but just come in; we had a passenger by it.  I put him in the room under you; but he seemed a quiet one, and I didn’t think he’d ’a disturbed you.”

“He did not,” said Richard.  “I have been awake all night, and never so much as heard him.  Can I have some hot water?”

“Not yet, Sir, I’m afraid; there’s no fire alight at present.  I can get you some brandy-and-soda, Sir.”

“No, no,” answered Richard, smiling; “I sha’n’t want that; and as for the hot water, I can do without it; but, now you’re here, just tell me, for I am quite a stranger to your town, isn’t that high roof yonder,” and he pointed to the object in question, “the Miners’ Bank?”

“Yessir, that’s it.  Ah, if the morning was but a little finer, you would have a lovely view from this here window—­half the town and a good slice of the harbor!  There’s a splendid building out to the left there, if the clouds would but lift a little.  That’s the County Jail, Sir.”

“Indeed,” said Richard, carelessly, and turned away.  “Just take my boots down with you, as I shall want them as soon as you can get them cleaned.”