to Totnes. He was an old man, a very old man, with a quavering voice, but he would not sit down.

“It has occurred to the Lord Bishop,” he piped, “that monsieur has not been offered the privilege of watching by the bier.”

The idea startled me, and I was at a loss what to say.

“The Lord Bishop presents his profound regrets, and will monsieur care to watch?”

I saw at once that a refusal would have horrified the ecclesiastic.

“I shall regard it as an honor,” I said. “When?”

“From midnight to two o’clock,” answered the priest. “The later watches are arranged.”