CHAPTER L.
THE DESCENT TO THE VAULTS.
Sir Richard commenced the descent.
“Come on,” he said. “Come on.”
He got down about half a dozen steps, but finding that no one followed him he paused, and called out—
“Remember that time is precious. Come on!”
“Why don’t you go?” said the churchwarden to the beadle.
“What! Me go afore a blessed churchwarden? Conwulsions—no! I thinks and I hopes as I knows my place better.”
“Well, but upon this occasion, if I don’t mind it—”
“No—no, I could not. Conwulsions—no!”
“Ah!” said Sir Richard Blunt. “I see how it is; I shall have to do all this business alone, and a pretty report I shall have to make to the Secretary of State about the proceedings of the authorities of St. Dunstan’s.”
The churchwarden groaned.
“I’m a coming, Sir Richard—I’m a comin
