Several mellow guffaws greeted this speech, for Gerda’s parent was evidently a privileged jester among them; but to the dismay of his brother, who was now talking in a quiet whisper to Wolf, the hollow voice of Jason floated once more across the room.

“Ask that drunk priest over there why he took young Redfern from a good job and turned him into a pious zany.”

There was a vibration in his tone that at once quieted the general clatter of tongues, and everyone looked at Mr. Valley.

“I don’t⁠ ⁠… quite⁠ ⁠… understand your⁠ ⁠… question⁠ ⁠… Mr. Otter,” stammered the little man.

The bull-like voice of Mr. Manley of Willum’s Mill broke in then.