Page:Chesterton - The Club of Queer Trades.djvu/109

Awful Reason of the Vicar's Visit favor of a few moments conversation on a most urgent matter."

I had already subdued the stud, thereby proclaiming that the image of God has supremacy over all matters (a valuable truth), and, throwing on my dress-coat and waist coat, hurried into the drawing-room. He rose at my entrance, flapping like a seal; I can use no other description. He flapped a plaid shawl over his right arm; he flapped a pair of pathetic black gloves; he flapped his clothes; I may say, without exaggeration, that he flapped his eyelids, as he rose. He was a bald-browed, white-haired, white-whiskered old clergyman of a flappy and floppy type. He said:

"I am so sorry. I am so very sorry. I am so extremely sorry. I come—I can only say—I can only say in my defence, that I come—upon an important matter. Pray forgive me."

I told him I forgave perfectly and waited.

"What I have to say," he said, brokenly, "is so dreadful—it is so dreadful—I have lived a quiet life." 93