Among the guests there was one class of which a representative was usually to be found at the Mission House.  This was the drunken clergyman, which sounds as if there was at this date a high proportion of drunken clergymen in the Church of England; but which means that when one did come to St. Agnes’ he usually stayed for a long time, because he would in most cases have been sent there when everybody else had despaired of him to see what Father Rowley could effect.

About the time when Mark was beginning to be recognized as Father Rowley’s personal vassal, it happened that the Reverend George Edward Mousley who had been handed on from diocese to diocese during the last five years had lately reached the Mission House.  For more than two months now he had spent his time inconspicuously reading in his own room, and so well had he behaved, so humbly had he presented himself to the notice of his fellow guests, that Father Rowley was moved one afternoon to dictate a letter about him to Mark, who felt that the Missioner by taking him so far into his confidence had surrendered to his pertinacity and that thenceforth he might consider himself established as his private secretary.

“The letter is to the Lord Bishop Suffragan of Warwick, St. Peter’s Rectory, Warwick,” Father Rowley began.  “My dear Bishop of Warwick, I have now had poor Mousley here for two months.  It is not a long time in which to effect a lasting reformation of one who has fallen so often and so grievously, but I think you know me well enough not to accuse me of being too sanguine about drunken priests.  I have had too many of them here for that.  In his case however I do feel justified in asking you to agree with me in letting him have an opportunity to regain the respect due to himself and the reverence due to his priesthood by being allowed once more to the altar.  I should not dream of allowing him to officiate without your permission, because his sad history has been so much a personal burden to yourself.  I’m afraid that after the many disappointments he has inflicted upon you, you will be doubtful of my judgment.  Yet I do think that the critical moment has arrived when by surprising him thus we might clinch the matter of his future behaviour once and for all.  His conduct here has been so humble and patient and in every way exemplary that my heart bleeds for him.  Therefore, my dear Bishop of Warwick, I hope you will agree to what I firmly trust will be the completion of his spiritual cure.  I am writing to you quite impersonally and informally, as you see, so that in replying to me you will not be involving yourself in the affairs of another diocese.  You will, of course, put me down as much a Jesuit as ever in writing to you like this, but you will equally, I know, believe me to be, Yours ever affectionately in Our Blessed Lord.

“And I’ll sign it as soon as you can type it out,” Father Rowley wound up.

“Oh, I do hope he will agree,” Mark exclaimed.