To crown all, from the same parlour came the sound of a psalm most shrilly and villainously chanted through the nose in a voice familiar to my ears.

I, unlike my servant, had not bound myself against an oath where the case called, and with a round one that sent Jonah's eyes in agony up to the ceiling I pushed by him and ran into the parlour.

A sonorous "Amen" came pat with my entrance; Phineas Tate stood before me, lean and pale, but calm and placid.
"What in the devil's name brings you here ?" I cried.
"The service of God," he answered solemnly.
"What, does it forbid sleep at nights ?" "Have you been sleeping, young man ?" he asked, pertinently enough, as I must allow.
"I have been paying my respects to His Majesty," said I.
"God forgive him and you," was the retort.
"Perhaps, sir, perhaps not," I replied, for I was growing angry.

"But I have asked your intercession no more than has the King.

If Jonah brought you here, it was without my leave; I beg you to take your departure .-- Jonah, hold the door there for Mr Tate." The man raised his hand impressively.
"Hear my message first," he said.