The fact was that these tidings had been conveyed to the dean with
the express intent that he might put Robarts on his guard; but the
task of speaking on such a subject to a brother clergyman had been so
unpleasant to him that he had been unable to introduce it till the
last five minutes before his departure. "I hope you will not put it
down as an impertinent interference," said the dean, apologizing.
"No," said Mark; "no, I do not think that." He was so sad at heart
that he hardly knew how to speak of it.
"I do not understand much about such matters," said the dean; "but I
think, if I were you, I should go to a lawyer. I should imagine that
anything so terribly disagreeable as an arrest might be avoided."
"It is a hard case," said Mark, pleading his own cause. "Though these
men have this claim against me I have never received a shilling
either in money or money's worth."
"And yet your name is to the bills!" said the dean.
"Yes, my name is to the bills, certainly, but it was to oblige a
friend."
And then the dean, having given his advice, rode away. He could not
understand how a clergyman, situated as was Mr. Robarts, could find
himself called upon by friendship to attach his name to accommodation
bills which he had not the power of liquidating when due! On that
evening they were both wretched enough at the parsonage.
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