It was the chalice and the chalice only that the
thieves came for."
"It seems foolish to keep such a valuable chalice in the vestry," I said.
"It is kept in the bank as a rule," the vicar answered. "I got it from
the bank on Saturday and it would have gone back this morning. Of course
it was not possible to keep such a gift a secret. The church papers had
paragraphs about it, which some of the daily papers copied."
"Every gang in London knew of its existence then," I said.
"True," said the curate, "and you might go further than that and remember
that much of our work here lies in some very poor and some very
disreputable neighborhoods."
"It does," said the vicar. "Amongst our parishioners we must have many
thieves, I am afraid."
"There are thieves and thieves," said Mr. Hayes, "and I fancy there are
many who would not meddle with the sacred vessels of a church.
Superstition perhaps, but a powerful deterrent."
The vicar shook his head, evidently not agreeing with this opinion.
"Probably I have had more to do with thieves than you have, vicar," he
said with a smile, and turning to me he went on: "I am very interested in
a hooligans' club we have.
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