Chapter 46: Chapter 46
he shop staff loaded Gabriel's box of provisions into the cab and Gabriel ordered the
man to guide his horse towards Mrs Byer's boarding house.
He didn't live there, but Amy did, and he hoped to see her and ingratiate imself with
Mrs Byers at the same time. The lady was quite pleased when she saw what he had
brought and he went upstairs while her staff were carrying the contents of the box to
the kitchen.
Amy ran, under the disapproving eyes of her mother, to kiss him when he appeared.
Sir Thomas was there also and he and Amy were having an argument.
''Would you believe?'' she said, ''That this nasty old man of the sea won't won't tell me
how he came by those letters after his name. He said it's a state secret. All he'll admit
is that KCMG stand for Knight Commander in the Order of St Michael and St George,
but he won't tell me why or how. A state secret! Have you ever heard such rubbish?''
'Maybe why he was awarded such an honour is a state secret, and if so, he can't tell
you.''
''Nonsense! If he were the real Ancient Mariner with a long grey beard and glittering
eye, he wouldn't be able to help himself. He'd tell me everything and keep on telling
me until I screamed for mercy.''
''Maybe so, but all the Ancient Mariner did was to bring a curse down on himself for
shooting an albatross and then forcing wedding guests to listen to his story. No one
gets a Knighthood for that sort of activity. You're not under a curse at the moment
are you, Sir Thomas?''
'' No, not a curse as such, but I do have your bride to be threatening never to speak to
me again if I do not divulge my secrets. I'm rather attracted to that idea. I would
welcome some peace and quiet. Anyway, Gabriel, what are you doing here at this hour
The Young Marvel
270
shouldn't you be at the office.''
''I should be, but there's a story behind my appearance here. I received a mysterious
letter from some mysterious person to go to a mysterious destination because this
person needed my advice and help.
''Well, what happened? Who was this mysterious person?''
I met him and we discussed his problem, and he was so grateful for my advice he gave
me a large box of groceries.
''He did what?''
''Actually it wasn't him. It was his manager who gave me the box of groceries.''
''You're lying! You and this old, broken down Jack Tar have got together and are
trying to drive me mad with curiosity.
Be careful Amy. Don't make acusations until you know the facts. I arrived here in a
cab that was paid for and I brought a big box of groceries. If you don't believe me ask
Mrs Byers. I gave the box to her and she was very pleased. I will give you one clue as
to the identity of my new friend. He suffers from gout.''
''Gout! Never heard of it. You're making all this up aren't you?
''No I'm not! I can't answer for Sir Tom, but you've heard nothing but the truth since I
entered this room''
''How can anyone have gout? There's no such thing.''
‘’Yes there is. It's a very painful sickness that attacks the feet, or joints, mainly of men,
no one knows why it comes or how to cure it. It just goes away after a while.
Amy was looking at him suspiciously. ''Well if he has this gout you're talking about
why did he call you? You're not a doctor.
''He wanted to talk to me about another matter, that's the secret part.''
Amy screamed. ''I'll kill you two,'' she cried.
She was about to say more but her father entered the room looking pleased with
himself.
Before he could open his mouth she said, ''Father, have you ever heard of gout?''
''Yes, of course my dear. It is a very painful condition. In fact Mr Jobley, the candidate
for parliament is suffering from it at this very moment. It is so agonizing that he
thought of giving up his campaign until he took advice from someone whom he
described as a messenger from God. His adviser used such powerful arguments that
he has regained his energy and will fight to the end, despite the pains of gout.''
Both Amy and Sir Thomas turned and looked at Gabriel. But the Reverend Mr Taylor
was not to be denied. ''You must listen to my wonderful news,'' he said.
''The Bishop and I had a friendly chat in which he told me he had heard excellent
reports of my mission to refute the false doctrines of Mr Darwin. He said the Church
of England was flourishing in Victoria, but powerful, preachers were needed to carry
on and expand its influence. And he capped all that by offering me a Victorian parish
with a house suitable for my family. And, best of all. I will get a stipend that will leave
us forty pounds a year better off'. The presbytery and church are reasonably close to a
railway station, so we can all go and have a look.''
''I would sooner go home,'' said Mrs Taylor. ''I wish Amy and Harold would give up
these ideas of living in Australia, and come with us back to England''
''Well, my dear, Amy insists that she will stay here with her husband, while Harold
has met a young lady who has converted him enough to make him give up strong
drink. He also wants to stay. What if we are blessed with granchildren, yet never meet
them, or perhaps only after they had grown up. Face it, Ivy my love, this is the Lord's
will. We are here to stay.
Everyone, except Mrs Taylor, was delighted with the news that father had brought
home. The next project was to visit the presbytery to make sure it was a nice house
suitable for a warrior fighting to preserve the supremacy of the bible and the truth of
its historical record as revealed by Bishop Ussher.
Amy apologised to the love of her life for doubting him even for a moment and kissed
him enthusiastically until her mother asked her to stop.
The next day, in the office, Gabriel casually asked his partner if he happened to be
acquainted with the bishop.
''I am now,'' said Mr Pryor, I made a social call on him the other day, at Bishopscourt
and asked him to explain some passages in the scriptures that troubled me.''
''You don't know anything about religion, or the bible.''
''You may be right there, so first I went to the Bible and Tract Society in Swanston
Street opposite St Paul's and asked Mr Wade, the old boy in charge what parts of the
bible are hardest to understand. He preached a sermon, which was a bit long and
boring, and gave me some tracts to help in understanding the bible. I got enough out
of it to make me sound like a real seeker after truth.
''While you were with the bishop did you happen to mention my future father in
law's name?"
''Yes, it did come up in the conversation. I told the bishop what a great man he is and
what an ornament he would be to the church in Victoria. We also got on to the subject
of the new cathedral and he told me the foundation stone is to be laid early in the new
year. And I said this magnificent building was worthy of an Archbishop and if the
Victorian clergy were allowed to vote on who is to become the incumbent the wisdom
of the Reverend Mr Taylor, and his vote, would be invaluable in selecting the right
man for for the job.''
''Well, whatever you said, it worked. We're all going by train to inspect the house and
the parish to make sure the offer is as good as it sounds.''
''Gabby,I told you I wouldn't let you go back to England. Now Amy doesn't have
to feel guilty because they'll be only a train ride away, If they don't like the house let
me know and I'll have another chat with the bishop,''