It is their business." At this point the host brought in lights.

After closing the shutters he was in the act of retiring when a door near at hand--on the farther side of the passage if the sound could be trusted--flew open with a clatter.
Its opening let out a burst of laughter, nor was that the worst: alas, above the laughter rang an oath--the ribald word of some one who had caught his foot in the step.
The landlord uttered an exclamation and went out hurriedly, closing the door behind him.

A moment and his voice could be heard, scolding and persuading in the passage.
"Umph!" the vintner muttered, looking from one to the other with a humorous eye.

"It seems to me that the Venerable Company of Pastors have not yet expelled the old Adam." Open flew the door and cut short the word.

But it had been heard, "Pastors ?" a raucous voice cried.