At once the Rector was upon his feet.
"Will you pardon me, sir," he began with elaborate politeness.

"Do I understand you're a clergyman ?" "Oh, no, sir," replied the evangelist, "just a plain preacher." "You are not in any Holy Orders then ?" "Oh, no, sir." "Are you an ordained or accredited minister of any of the--ah--dissenting bodies ?" "Not exactly, sir." "Then, sir," demanded the Rector, "may I ask by what authority you presume to exercise the functions of the holy ministry and in my parish ?" "Well--really--sir, I do not know why I--" "Then, sir, let me tell you this will not be permitted," said the Rector sternly.

"There are regularly ordained and accredited ministers of the Church and of all religious bodies represented in this neighbourhood, and your ministrations are not required." "But surely, sir," said the evangelist hurriedly as if anxious to get in a word, "I may be permitted in this free country to preach the Gospel." "Sir, there are regularly ordained and approved ministers of the Gospel who are quite capable of performing this duty.

I won't have it, sir.

I must protect these people from unlicensed, unregulated--ah--persons, of whose character and antecedents we have no knowledge.