"I have always tried to live my life according to God’s will. Why do you think I became a vicar? I may be a man of the cloth but I am also still a man. And like any other man, I am not immune to temptation.

"Around eight months ago, an acquaintance of mine came to me with a business proposition. A friend of his was starting out and needed a few investors. He was an up-and-coming artist ready to rock the art world. Sebastian Gold. I was star-struck, momentarily dazzled by the prospect of helping such a promising artist on the road to fame and fortune.

"So I foolishly raided the church funds of several thousands pounds to aid this bright new star.

"And then I met him. Arrogant, conceited little yob. Absolutely no idea of art. Have you seen those so-called paintings? Terrible. I then realised I’d made a big mistake. I tried to get the money back but got short shrift from both Gold and my acquaintance. The money was all tied up apparently. I’d get my money back when he started selling. That was when I realised I’d never see that money again. That’s why I was so against Gold’s exhibition at Arlington Grange. I was afraid he might try to swindle money from Mrs Peacock and also reveal that I had stolen to fund him.

"Then came the crunch. The morning of the exhibition, I received a letter from the parish council. The church funds were due to be audited in a few weeks. They were sending someone down. If it was discovered that I had misappropriated church funds, I would be stripped of my living and be sent to jail. That could not be allowed to happen. Gold had to pay up or I was ruined.

"After finding out Mrs White was in the same boat as myself, I went to the conservatory to calm down. I found the lead piping and decided to threaten Gold with it to make him give me back the money. I went through the secret passage to the lounge where several paintings were already set up, ready for the showing. In my rage, I destroyed them with the lead piping and left it there. Then I went to the library to have it out with him.

"Gold stood at the easel, so smug, so self-satisfied. I explained the situation I was in. And he laughed at me. Laughed in my face. He retorted that not one of the paintings was for sale. All just for show. In a moment of madness, I picked up the candlestick that Mrs White had brought in earlier and I hit him with it. I hardly realised what I’d done until I was wiping the blood off my hands. I threw his body in the cellar and went to find everyone else in the study.

"It was my fault for investing in that worthless vermin. And I can’t blame anyone else but myself for the decision to kill him. But God really should have made me stronger, so I could resist temptation.

"Oh God, forgive me..."

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