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the whole of the religion founded upon the historic truth of those
events tumbled to the ground。 〃My；〃 he exclaimed； with all the
arrogance of youth； 〃they put a gipsy or fortune…teller into prison
for getting money out of silly people who think they have
supernatural power； why should they not put a clergyman in prison
for pretending that he can absolve sins； or turn bread and wine into
the flesh and blood of One who died two thousand years ago？ What；〃
he asked himself； 〃could be more pure 'hanky…panky' than that a
bishop should lay his hands upon a young man and pretend to convey
to him the spiritual power to work this miracle？ It was all very
well to talk about toleration； toleration； like everything else； had
its limits； besides； if it was to include the bishop let it include
the fortune…teller too。〃 He would explain all this to the
Archbishop of Canterbury by and by； but as he could not get hold of
him just now； it occurred to him that he might experimentalise
advantageously upon the viler soul of the prison chaplain。 It was
only those who took the first and most obvious step in their power
who ever did great things in the end； so one day； when Mr Hughes
for this was the chaplain's namewas talking with him； Ernest
introduced the question of Christian evidences； and tried to raise a
discussion upon them。 Mr Hughes had been very kind to him； but he
was more than twice my hero's age； and had long taken the measure of
such objections as Ernest tried to put before him。 I do not suppose
he believed in the actual objective truth of the stories about
Christ's Resurrection and Ascension any more than Ernest did； but he
knew that this was a small matter； and that the real issue lay much
deeper than this。
Mr Hughes was a man who had been in authority for many years； and he
brushed Ernest on one side as if he had been a fly。 He did it so
well that my hero never ventured to tackle him again； and confined
his conversation with him for the future to such matters as what he
had better do when he got out of prison； and here Mr Hughes was ever
ready to listen to him with sympathy and kindness。
CHAPTER LXVI
Ernest was now so far convalescent as to be able to sit up for the
greater part of the day。 He had been three months in prison； and；
though not strong enough to leave the infirmary； was beyond all fear
of a relapse。 He was talking one day with Mr Hughes about his
future； and again expressed his intention of emigrating to Australia
or New Zealand with the money he should recover from Pryer。
Whenever he spoke of this he noticed that Mr Hughes looked grave and
was silent： he had thought that perhaps the chaplain wanted him to
return to his profession； and disapproved of his evident anxiety to
turn to something else； now； however； he asked Mr Hughes point blank
why it was that he disapproved of his idea of emigrating。
Mr Hughes endeavoured to evade him； but Ernest was not to be put
off。 There was something in the chaplain's manner which suggested
that he knew more than Ernest did； but did not like to say it。 This
alarmed him so much that he begged him not to keep him in suspense；
after a little hesitation Mr Hughes； thinking him now strong enough
to stand it； broke the news as gently as he could that the whole of
Ernest's money had disappeared。
The day after my return from Battersby I called on my solicitor； and
was told that he had written to Pryer； requiring him to refund the
monies for which he had given his I。O。U。's。 Pryer replied that he
had given orders to his broker to close his operations； which
unfortunately had resulted so far in heavy loss； and that the
balance should be paid to my solicitor on the following settling
day； then about a week distant。 When the time came； we heard
nothing from Pryer； and going to his lodgings found that he had left
with his few effects on the very day after he had heard from us； and
had not been seen since。
I had heard from Ernest the name of the broker who had been
employed； and went at once to see him。 He told me Pryer had closed
all his accounts for cash on the day that Ernest had been sentenced；
and had received 2315 pounds； which was all that remained of
Ernest's original 5000 pounds。 With this he had decamped； nor had
we enough clue as to his whereabouts to be able to take any steps to
recover the money。 There was in fact nothing to be done but to
consider the whole as lost。 I may say here that neither I nor
Ernest ever heard of Pryer again； nor have any idea what became of
him。
This placed me in a difficult position。 I knew； of course； that in
a few years Ernest would have many times over as much money as he
had lost； but I knew also that he did not know this； and feared that
the supposed loss of all he had in the world might be more than he
could stand when coupled with his other misfortunes。
The prison authorities had found Theobald's address from a letter in
Ernest's pocket； and had communicated with him more than once
concerning his son's illness； but Theobald had not written to me；
and I supposed my godson to be in good health。 He would be just
twenty…four years old when he left prison； and if I followed out his
aunt's instructions； would have to battle with fortune for another
four years as well as he could。 The question before me was whether
it was right to let him run so much risk； or whether I should not to
some extent transgress my instructionswhich there was nothing to
prevent my doing if I thought Miss Pontifex would have wished it
and let him have the same sum that he would have recovered from
Pryer。
If my godson had been an older man； and more fixed in any definite
groove； this is what I should have done； but he was still very
young； and more than commonly unformed for his age。 If； again； I
had known of his illness I should not have dared to lay any heavier
burden on his back than he had to bear already； but not being uneasy
about his health； I thought a few years of roughing it and of
experience concerning the importance of not playing tricks with
money would do him no harm。 So I decided to keep a sharp eye upon
him as soon as he came out of prison； and to let him splash about in
deep water as best he could till I saw whether he was able to swim；
or was about to sink。 In the first case I would let him go on
swimming till he was nearly eight…and…twenty； when I would prepare
him gradually for the good fortune that awaited him； in the second I
would hurry up to the rescue。 So I wrote to say that Pryer had
absconded； and that he could have 100 pounds from his father when he
came out of prison。 I then waited to see what effect these tidings
would have； not expecting to receive an answer for three months； for
I had been told on enquiry that no letter could be received by a
prisoner till after he had been three months in gaol。 I also wrote
to Theobald and told him of Pryer's disappearance。
As a matter of fact； when my letter arrived the governor of the gaol
read it； and in a case of such importance would have relaxed the
rules if Ernest's state had allowed it； his illness prevented this；
and the governor left it to the chapla