"He must have meant me. Don't I know?" So another and another objection was made to Mr. C--on the same ground; and before the week was out, it was pretty widely known that the new preacher had indulged in reprehensible personalities. Some said this was an error in the preacher; others, that he was highly blamable; while others affirmed that there must be some mistake about the matter. On the following Sunday, Mr. Grant was absent from his usual place in the church. It would do him no good to sit under the ministry of Mr. C--. During the week that followed, two of the official members called upon the jeweller to make inquiries about the alleged personalities. Grant was, by this time, pretty sore on the subject, and when allusion was made to it, he gave his opinion of the preacher in no very choice language. "In what did this personality consist?" asked one of the visitors. "It's hardly necessary to ask that question," replied Grant. "It is for me. No one, whom I have yet seen, has been able to give me any information on the subject." "If you ask Mr. C--, he will enlighten you." "I have already done so." "You have?" "Yes." "What was his reply?" "That he is innocent of the personality laid to his charge." "Did you mention my name?" "I did." "Well?" "He had not even heard of you as a member of the church here." "I can hardly credit that, after what he said." "You will, at least, give him the chance of vindication. He is now at my house, and has expressed a wish to see you."