Part 52 (1/2)

”Mr. Marvel will call at the rector's office to-morrow, Tuesday, at 11.30 promptly.

”(Signed) BARTHOLOMEW CAPON, D.D.,

”_Rector_, etc., etc.”

The tone of the note struck even John Marvel and he immediately brought it over to me. We both agreed that the doctor must have read the account of the raid on Madam Snow's and of his presence there when the officers arrived, and we decided that, notwithstanding the curtness of the summons, it was due to John himself to go and make a simple statement of the matter. We felt indeed that the interview might result in awakening the living interest of Dr. Capon in the work on which we had embarked and securing the co-operation not only of himself but of the powerful organization which he represented as rector of a large church. Dr. Capon was not a difficult man; in his own way, which was the way of many others, he tried to do good. He was only a worldly man and a narrow man.

He felt that his mission was to the rich. He knew them better than the poor and liked them better. The poor had so much done for them, why should not he look after the rich? Like Simon, he believed that there was a power in money which was unlimited.

At 11.30 promptly John Marvel presented himself in the front room of the building attached to the church, in one corner of which was the rector's roomy office. A solemn servant was in waiting who took in his name, closing the door silently behind him, and after a minute returned and silently motioned John Marvel to enter. Dr. Capon was seated at his desk with a number of newspapers before him, and in response to John's ”Good morning,” he simply said, ”Be seated,” with a jerk of his head toward a chair which was placed at a little distance from him, and John took the seat, feeling, as he afterward told me, much as he used to feel when a small boy, when he was called up by a teacher and set down in a chair for a lecture. The rector shuffled his newspapers in a sudden little accession of excitement, taking off his gold-rimmed gla.s.ses and putting them on again, and then taking up one, he turned to John.

”Mr. Marvel, I am astonished at you--I am simply astounded that you should have so far forgotten yourself and what was due to your orders as to have done what I read in this sheet and what the whole press is ringing with.”

”Well, sir,” said John, who had by this time gotten entire control of himself, and felt completely at ease in the consciousness of his innocence and of his ability to prove it. ”I am not surprised that you should be astounded unless you knew the facts of the case.”

”What facts, sir?” demanded Dr. Capon sternly. ”Facts! There is but one fact to be considered--that you have violated a fundamental canon.”

”Yes, I knew it would look so, and I had intended to come yesterday to consult you as to the best method----”

”It is a pity you had not done so--that you allowed your sense of duty to be so obscured as to forget what was due alike to me and to your sacred vows.”

”But I was very much engaged,” pursued John, ”with matters that appeared to me of much greater importance than anything relating to my poor self.”

”Oh!” exclaimed the rector. ”Cease! Cease your pretences! Mr. Marvel, your usefulness is ended. Sign that paper!”

He picked up and held out to him with a tragic air a paper which he had already prepared before John Marvel's arrival. John's mind had for the moment become a blank to some extent under the unexpected attack, and it was a mechanical act by which his eye took in the fact that the paper thrust into his hand was a resignation declaring that it was made on the demand of the rector for reasons stated which rendered it imperative that he sever his connection with that parish.

”I will not sign that paper,” said John quietly.

”You will not what?” The rector almost sprang out of his chair.

”I will not sign that paper.”

”And pray, why not?”

”Because it places me in the position of acknowledging a charge which, even if true, has not been specifically stated, and which is not true whatever the appearances may be, as I can readily prove.”

”Not true?” the rector exclaimed. ”Is it not true that you allowed a Jew to speak in your church, in my chapel?”

”That I did what?” asked John, amazed at the unexpected discovery of the rector's reason.

”That you invited and permitted a man named Wolffert, a socialistic Jew, to address a congregation in my chapel?”

”It is true,” said John Marvel, ”that I invited Mr. Wolffert to speak to an a.s.semblage in the chapel under my charge, and that he did so speak there.”

”Uttering the most dangerous and inflammatory doctrines--doctrines alike opposed to the teaching of the church and to the command of the law?”

”That is not true,” said John. ”You have been misinformed.”

”I do not wish or propose to discuss either this or any other matter with you, Mr. Marvel. You have allowed a Jew to speak in the house of G.o.d. Your usefulness is ended. You will be good enough to sign this paper, for you may rest a.s.sured that I know my rights and shall maintain them.”