“Yes.  You wouldn’t prosecute?”

“Happily I couldn’t.  The things were gone and could not be identified, and there was nothing about him.  So, though they had me over to Backsworth, they could not fall foul of me for refusing to prosecute.  Have you seen him?”

“No, I tried, but he had got out of my way.  You’ve not been there?” seeing that Herbert had brought back his bag.

“No; I will not till I come back;” and as he took the note he added, “Rector, I do beg your pardon with all my might.”  Then, after a strong clasp of the hand, he sped away with a long, manful, energetic stride, which made Julius contrast his volunteer courage with the flight of the man who, if not pledged to pastoral care at Wil’sbro’, still had priestly vows upon him.

Julius had no scruples about risking this favourite home child.  If he thought about it at all, it was to rejoice that Mrs. Bowater was safely gone, for he had passed unscathed through scenes at St. Awdry’s that would have made his mother tremble, and he had little fear of contagion, with reasonable care.  Of course the doctors had the usual debate whether the fever were infectious or epidemic, but it made little difference.  The local ones, as well as an authority from London, had an inspection previous to the meeting, which took place in the school, whose scholars were dispersed in the panic.  No ladies were admitted.  “We have had enough of them,” quoted Worshipful Mayor Truelove.  Mr. Briggs, the ex-mayor, was at the bedside of his son, and there were hardly enough present to make decisions.

The focus of the disease was in Pettitt’s well.  The water, though cold, clear, and sparkling, was affected by noxious gases from the drains, and had become little better than poison; the air was not much better, and as several neighbouring houses, some swarming with lodgers, used this water, the evil was accounted for.  The ’Three Pigeons’ had been an attraction to the servants waiting with their ladies’ carriages during the entertainments, and though they had not meddled much with the simple element, spirits had not neutralized the mischief.  Thence too had come water for the tea and iced beverages used at the bazaar and ball.  Odours there had been in plenty from the untouched drainage of the other houses, and these, no doubt, enhanced the evil; but every one agreed that the bad management of the drains on Mr. Pettitt’s property had been the main agency in the present outbreak.

The poor little perfumer had tears of grief and indignation in his eyes, but he defended his cause and shielded the ladies with chivalry worthy of his French ancestry.  He said he had striven to do his duty as a proprietor, and if other gentlemen had done the same, and the channels could have had a free outlet, this misfortune would never have occurred.  He found himself backed up by Mr. Julius Charnock, who rose to declare that what Mr. Pettitt had said was just what his brother, Mr. Charnock Poynsett, had desired should be stated as his own opinion, namely, that the responsibility rested, not with those who had done all within their power or knowledge for the welfare of their tenants, but with those whose indifference on the score of health had led them to neglect all sanitary measures.