‘Of course it is,’ said Mr Robarts.  They all declared that was their desire, as a matter of course; and Mr Thumble said it louder than anyone else.

’But if he is found guilty, then will come that difficulty to the bishop, in which we are bound to give him any assistance within our power.’

‘Of course we are,’ said Mr Thumble, who, having heard his own voice once, and having liked the sound, thought that he might creep into a little importance by using it on any occasion that opened itself for him.

’If you will allow me, sir, I will venture to state my views shortly as I can,’ said Dr Tempest.  ’That may perhaps be the most expedient course for us all in the end.’

‘Oh, certainly,’ said Mr Thumble.  ‘I didn’t mean to interrupt.’

‘In the case of his being found guilty,’ continued the doctor, ’there will arise the question whether the punishment awarded to him by the judge should suffice for ecclesiastical purposes.  Suppose, for instance, that he should be imprisoned for two months, should he be allowed to return to his living at the expiration of that term?’

‘I think he ought,’ said Mr Robarts:—­’considering all things.’

‘I don’t see why he shouldn’t,’ said Mr Quiverful.

Mr Oriel sat listening patiently, and Mr Thumble looked up to the doctor, expecting to hear some opinion expressed by him with which he might coincide.

‘There certainly are reasons why he should not,’ said Dr Tempest; ’though I by no means say that those reasons are conclusive in the present case.  In the first place, a man who has stolen money can hardly be a fitting person to teach others not to steal.’

‘You must look to the circumstances,’ said Robarts.

’Yes, that is true; but just bear with me for a moment.  It cannot, at any rate, be thought that a clergyman should come out of prison and go to his living without any notice from his bishop, simply because he has already been punished by the common law.  If this were so, a clergyman might be fined ten days running for being drunk in the street—­five shillings each time—­and at the end of that time might set his bishop at defiance.  When a clergyman has shown himself to be utterly unfit for clerical duties, he must not be held to be protected from ecclesiastical censure or from deprivation by the action of the common law.’

‘But Mr Crawley has not shown himself to be unfit,’ said Robarts.

‘That is begging the question, Robarts,’ said the doctor.

‘Just so,’ said Mr Thumble.  Then Mr Robarts gave a look at Mr Thumble, and Mr Thumble retired into his shoes.

’That is the question as to which we are called upon to advise the bishop,’ continued Dr Tempest.  ’And I must say that I think the bishop is right.  If he were to allow the matter to pass by without notice—­that is to say, in the event of Mr Crawley being pronounced guilty by a jury—­he would, I think, neglect in his duty.  Now I have been informed that the bishop has recommended Mr Crawley to desist from his duties till the trial be over, and that Mr Crawley has declined to take the bishop’s advice.’