IN WHICH TWO ACQUAINTANCES BECOME, ON A SUDDEN, MARVELLOUSLY FRIENDLY IN THE CHURCH-YARD; AND MR.

DANGERFIELD SMOKES A PIPE IN THE BRASS CASTLE, AND RESOLVES THAT THE DUMB SHALL SPEAK.
On Sunday, Mervyn, after the good doctor's sermon and benediction, wishing to make enquiry of the rector touching the movements of his clerk, whose place was provisionally supplied by a corpulent and unctuous mercenary from Dublin, whose fat presence and panting delivery were in signal contrast with the lank figure and deep cavernous tones of the absent official, loitered in the church-yard to allow time for the congregation to disperse, and the parson to disrobe and emerge.
He was reading an epitaph on an expansive black flag-stone, in the far corner of the church-yard--it is still there--upon several ancestral members of the family of Lowe, who slept beneath 'in hope,' as the stone-cutter informed the upper world; and musing, as sad men will, upon the dates and vanities of the record, when a thin white hand was lightly laid upon his sleeve from behind; and looking round, in expectation of seeing the rector's grave, simple, kindly countenance, he beheld, instead, with a sort of odd thrill, the white glittering face of Mr.
Paul Dangerfield.
'Hamlet in the church-yard!' said the white gentleman, with an ambiguous playfulness, very like a sneer.

'I'm too old to play Horatio; but standing at his elbow, if the Prince permits, I have a friendly word or two to say, in my own dry way.' There was in Mervyn's nature something that revolted instinctively from the singular person who stood at his shoulder.

Their organisations and appetites were different, I suppose, and repellent.

Cold and glittering was the 'gelidus anguis in herba'-- the churchyard grass--who had lifted his baleful crest close to his ear.
There was a slight flush on 'Hamlet's' forehead, and a glimmer of something dangerous in his eye, as he glanced on his stark acquaintance.
But the feeling was transitory and unreasonable, and he greeted him with a cold and sad civility.
'I was thinking, Mr.Mervyn,' said Mr.Dangerfield, politely, 'of walking up to the Tiled House, after church, to pay my respects, and ask the favour of five minutes' discourse with you; and seeing you here, I ventured to present myself.' 'If I can do anything to serve Mr.Dangerfield,' began Mervyn.
Dangerfield smiled and bowed.