That same day, and soon after three o'clock in the afternoon, Parson
Jack knocked at the door of St. Cadox Rectory.
The Rector, a widower, usually ate his dinner in the middle of the day,
and immediately afterwards retired to his study (with a glass of hot
brandy-and-water), presumably to meditate. At Parson Jack's entrance he
started up from his arm-chair with a flushed face and a somewhat
incoherent greeting, in the middle of which he suddenly observed that
his friend's face, too, was agitated.
"But what brings you? Nothing wrong, I hope?"
"No--o," answered Parson Jack dubiously. Then, "Oh no; on the contrary,
I came to ask if you have any books bearing on this part of the world--
county histories, ecclesiastical histories, and the like--especially
ecclesiastical histories. I want to read up about Langona."