BISHOP.  I hope I have not kept you waiting, sister.

MLLE. No, brother, Madame has just gone out for bread.  She forgot it this morning.

BISHOP (having seated himself by the fire).  The wind blows cold from the mountains to-night.

MLLE. (nodding).  All day it has been growing colder.

BISHOP.  ’Twill bring great suffering to the poor.

MLLE. Who suffer too much already.

BISHOP.  I would I could help them more than I do!

MLLE. You give all you have, my brother.  You keep nothing for yourself—­you have only bare necessities.

BISHOP.  Well, I have sent in a bill for carriage hire in making pastoral visits.

MLLE. Carriage hire!  I did not know you ever rode.  Now I am glad to hear that.  A bishop should go in state sometimes.  I venture to say your bill is small.

BISHOP.  Three thousand francs.

MLLE. Three thousand francs!  Why, I cannot believe it!

BISHOP.  Here is the bill.

MLLE. (reading bill).  What is this!

EXPENSES OF CARRIAGE

For furnishing soup to hospital 1500 francs
For charitable society of D——­ 500 "
For foundlings 500 "
For orphans 500 "
                                    ——­
Total 3000 francs

So! that is your carriage hire!  Ha, ha!  I might have known it!

[They laugh together.]

[Enter MADAME, excited, with bread.]

MADAME.  Such news as I have heard!  The whole town is talking about it!  We should have locks put on our doors at once!

MLLE. What is it, Madame?  What have you heard?

MADAME.  They say there is a suspicious vagabond in the town.  The inn-keeper refused to take him in.  They say he is a released convict who once committed an awful crime.

[The Bishop is looking into the fire, paying no attention to Madame.]

MLLE. Do you hear what Madame is saying, brother?

BISHOP.  Only a little.  Are we in danger, Madame?

MADAME.  There is a convict in town, your Reverence!

BISHOP.  Do you fear we shall be robbed?

MADAME.  I do, indeed!

BISHOP.  Of what?

MADAME.  There are the six silver plates and the silver
soup-ladle and the two silver candlesticks.

BISHOP.  All of which we could do without.

MADAME.  Do without!

MLLE.  ’Twould be a great loss, brother.  We could not treat a guest as is our wont.

BISHOP.  Ah, there you have me, sister.  I love to see the silver laid out for every guest who comes here.  And I like the candles lighted, too; it makes a brighter welcome.

MLLE. A bishop’s house should show some state.

BISHOP.  Aye—­to every stranger!  Henceforth, I should like every one of our six plates on the table whenever we have a guest here.