I will dispose of the case of Penrose first.

The zeal with which this young man has undertaken the work of conversion intrusted to him has, I regret to say, not been fired by devotion to the interests of the Church, but by a dog-like affection for Romayne.  Without waiting for my permission, Penrose has revealed himself in his true character as a priest.  And, more than this, he has not only refused to observe the proceedings of Romayne and Miss Eyrecourt—­he has deliberately closed his ears to the confidence which Romayne wished to repose in him, on the ground that I might have ordered him to repeat that confidence to me.

To what use can we put this poor fellow’s ungovernable sense of honor and gratitude?  Under present circumstances, he is clearly of little use to us.  I have therefore given him time to think.  That is to say, I have not opposed his leaving London, to assist in the spiritual care of a country district.  It will be a question for the future, whether we may not turn his enthusiasm to good account in a foreign mission.  However, as it is always possible that his influence may still be of use to us, I venture to suggest keeping him within our reach until Romayne’s conversion has actually taken place.  Don’t suppose that the present separation between them is final; I will answer for their meeting again.

I may now proceed to the failure of my agent, and to the course of action that I have adopted in consequence.

The investigations appear to have definitely broken down at the seaside village of Clovelly, in the neighborhood of Mr. Winterfield’s country seat.  Knowing that I could depend upon the information which associated this gentleman with Miss Eyrecourt, under compromising circumstances of some sort, I decided on seeing Mr. Winterfield, and judging for myself.

The agent’s report informed me that the person who had finally baffled his inquiries was an aged Catholic priest, long resident at Clovelly.  His name is Newbliss, and he is much respected among the Catholic gentry in that part of Devonshire.  After due consideration, I obtained a letter of introduction to my reverend colleague, and traveled to Clovelly—­telling my friends here that I was taking a little holiday, in the interests of my health.

I found Father Newbliss a venerable and reticent son of the Church—­with one weak point, however, to work on, which was entirely beyond the reach of the otherwise astute person charged with my inquiries.  My reverend friend is a scholar, and is inordinately proud of his learning.  I am a scholar too.  In that capacity I first found my way to his sympathies, and then gently encouraged his pride.  The result will appear in certain discoveries, which I number as follows: 

1.  The events which connect Mr. Winterfield with Miss Eyrecourt happened about two years since, and had their beginning at Beaupark House.

2.  At this period, Miss Eyrecourt and her mother were staying at Beaupark House.  The general impression in the neighborhood was that Mr. Winterfield and Miss Eyrecourt were engaged to be married.