‘I didn’t mean to discuss him at all.’

‘Nor did I, Mr Robarts.’

’I only mentioned his name, because, as I said, he was over with us the other day at Framley, and we were all talking about your affair.’

‘My affair!’ said Mr Crawley.  And then came a frown upon his brow, and a gleam of fire into his eyes, which effectually banished that look of humility which he had assumed.  ’And may I ask why the archdeacon was discussing—­my affair?’

‘Simply from the kindness which he bears to you.’

’I am grateful for the archdeacon’s kindness, as a man is bound to be for any kindness, whether displayed wisely or unwisely.  But it seems to me that my affair, as you call it, Mr Robarts, is of that nature that they who wish well to me will better further their wishes by silence than by any discussion.’

‘Then I cannot agree with you.’  Mr Crawley shrugged his shoulders, opened his hands a little and then closed them, and bowed his head.  He could not have declared more clearly by any words that he differed altogether from Mr Robarts, and that as the subject was one so peculiarly his own he had a right to expect that his opinion should be allowed to prevail against that of any other person.  ’If you come to that, you know, how is anybody’s tongue to be stopped?’

’That vain tongues cannot be stopped, I am well aware.  I do not expect that people’s tongues should be stopped.  I am not saying what men will do, but what good wishes should dictate.’

‘Well, perhaps you’ll hear me out for a minute.’  Mr Crawley again bowed his head.  ’Whether we were wise or unwise, we were discussing this affair.’

‘Whether I stole Mr Soames’s money?’

‘No; nobody supposed for a moment you had stolen it.’

’I cannot understand how they can suppose anything else, knowing, as they do, that the magistrates have committed me for the theft.  This took place at Framley, you say, and probably in Lord Lufton’s presence.’

‘Exactly.’

’And Lord Lufton was chairman at the sitting of the magistrates at which I was committed.  How can it be that he should think otherwise?’

’I am sure that he has not an idea that you were guilty.  Nor yet has Dr Thorne, who was also one of the magistrates.  I don’t suppose one of them then thought so.’

‘Then their action, to say the least of it, was very strange.’

’It was all because you had nobody to manage it for you.  I thoroughly believe that if you had placed the matter in the hands of a good lawyer, you would never have heard a word more about it.  That seems to be the opinion of everybody I speak to on the subject.’

’Then in this country a man is to be punished or not, according to ability to fee a lawyer!’

‘I am not talking about punishment.’