"SupposeyougobacktoDexter，"heproceeded。"Andsupposethatthedoctor’sopinionexaggeratestheperilinhiscase。Whatareyoutodo？Thelasttimeyousawhim，youhadtheimmenseadvantageoftakinghimbysurprise。Thosesensitivenervesofhisgaveway，andhebetrayedthefearthatyouarousedinhim。
　　Canyoutakehimbysurpriseagain？Notyou！Heispreparedforyounow；andhewillbeonhisguard。Ifyouencounternothingworse，youwillhavehiscunningtodealwithnext。Areyouhismatchatthat？ButforLadyClarindahewouldhavehopelesslymisledyouonthesubjectofMrs。Beauly。"
　　Therewasnoansweringthis，either。Iwasfoolishenoughtotrytoanswerit，forallthat。
　　"Hetoldmethetruthsofarasheknewit，"Irejoined。"HereallysawwhathesaidhesawinthecorridoratGleninch。"
　　"Hetoldyouthetruth，"returnedMr。Playmore，"becausehewascunningenoughtoseethatthetruthwouldhelphiminirritatingyoursuspicions。Youdon’treallybelievethathesharedyoursuspicions？"
　　"Whynot？"Isaid。"HewasasignorantofwhatMrs。BeaulywasreallydoingonthatnightasIwas——untilImetLadyClarinda。
　　ItremainstobeseenwhetherhewillnotbeasmuchastonishedasIwaswhenItellhimwhatLadyClarindatoldme。"
　　ThissmartreplyproducedaneffectwhichIhadnotanticipated。
　　Tomysurprise，Mr。Playmoreabruptlydroppedallfurtherdiscussiononhisside。Heappearedtodespairofconvincingme，andheowneditindirectlyinhisnextwords。
　　"WillnothingthatIcansaytoyou，"heasked，"induceyoutothinkasIthinkinthismatter？"
　　"Ihavenotyourabilityoryourexperience，"Ianswered。"IamsorrytosayIcan’tthinkasyouthink。"
　　"AndyouarereallydeterminedtoseeMiserrimusDexteragain？"
　　"Ihaveengagedmyselftoseehimagain。"
　　Hewaitedalittle，andthoughtoverit。
　　"Youhavehonoredmebyaskingformyadvice，"hesaid。"I
　　earnestlyadviseyou，Mrs。Eustace，tobreakyourengagement。I
　　goevenfurtherthanthat——I_entreat_younottoseeDexteragain。"
　　Justwhatmymother—in—lawhadsaid！justwhatBenjaminandMajorFitz—Davidhadsaid！Theywereallagainstme。AndstillIheldout。
　　Iwonder，whenIlookbackatit，atmyownobstinacy。IamalmostashamedtorelatethatImadeMr。Playmorenoreply。Hewaited，stilllookingatme。Ifeltirritatedbythatfixedlook。
　　Iarose，andstoodbeforehimwithmyeyesonthefloor。
　　Hearoseinhisturn。Heunderstoodthattheconferencewasover。
　　"Well，well，"hesaid，withakindofsadgood—humor，"Isupposeitisunreasonableofmetoexpectthatayoungwomanlikeyoushouldshareanyopinionwithanoldlawyerlikeme。Letmeonlyremindyouthatourconversationmustremainstrictlyconfidentialforthepresent；andthenletuschangethesubject。
　　IsthereanythingthatIcandoforyou？AreyoualoneinEdinburgh？"
　　"No。Iamtravelingwithanoldfriendofmine，whohasknownmefromchildhood。"
　　"Anddoyoustayhereto—morrow？"
　　"Ithinkso。"
　　"Willyoudomeonefavor？Willyouthinkoverwhathaspassedbetweenus，andwillyoucomebacktomeinthemorning？"
　　"Willingly，Mr。Playmore，ifitisonlytothankyouagainforyourkindness。"
　　Onthatunderstandingweparted。Hesighed——thecheerfulmansighed，asheopenedthedoorforme。Womenarecontradictorycreatures。Thatsighaffectedmemorethanallhisarguments。I
　　feltmyselfblushformyownhead—strongresistancetohimasI
　　tookmyleaveandturnedawayintothestreet。
　　CHAPTERXXXIV。
　　GLENINCH。
　　"AHA！"saidBenjamin，complacently。"Sothelawyerthinks，asI
　　do，thatyouwillbehighlyimprudentifyougobacktoMr。
　　Dexter？Ahard—headed，sensiblemanthelawyer，nodoubt。YouwilllistentoMr。Playmore，won’tyou，thoughyouwouldn’tlistentome？"
　　（IhadofcourserespectedMr。Playmore’sconfidenceinmewhenBenjaminandImetonmyreturntothehotel。Notawordrelatingtothelawyer’shorriblesuspicionofMiserrimusDexterhadpassedmylips。）
　　"Youmustforgiveme，myoldfriend，"Isaid，answeringBenjamin。
　　"Iamafraidithascometothis——tryasImay，Icanlistentonobodywhoadvisesme。OnourwayhereIhonestlymeanttobeguidedbyMr。Playmore——weshouldneverhavetakenthislongjourneyifIhadnothonestlymeantit。Ihavetried，triedhardtobeateachable，reasonablewoman。Butthereissomethinginmethatwon’tbetaught。IamafraidIshallgobacktoDexter。"
　　EvenBenjaminlostallpatiencewithmethistime。
　　"Whatisbredinthebone，"hesaid，quotingtheoldproverb，"willnevercomeoutoftheflesh。Inyearsgoneby，youwerethemostobstinatechildthatevermadeamessinanursery。Oh，dearme，wemightaswellhavestayedinLondon。"
　　"No，"Ireplied，"nowwehavetraveledtoEdinburgh，wewillseesomething（interestingto_me_atanyrate）whichweshouldneverhaveseenifwehadnotleftLondon。Myhusband’scountry—houseiswithinafewmilesofushere。To—morrow——wewillgotoGleninch。"
　　"Wherethepoorladywaspoisoned？"askedBenjamin，withalookofdismay。"Youmeanthatplace？"
　　"Yes。Iwanttoseetheroominwhichshedied；Iwanttogoalloverthehouse。"
　　Benjamincrossedhishandsresignedlyonhislap。"Itrytounderstandthenewgeneration，"saidtheoldman，sadly；"butI
　　can’tmanageit。Thenewgenerationbeatsme。"
　　IsatdowntowritetoMr。PlaymoreaboutthevisittoGleninch。
　　Thehouseinwhichthetragedyhadoccurredthathadblightedmyhusband’slifewas，tomymind，themostinterestinghouseonthehabitableglobe。TheprospectofvisitingGleninchhad，indeed（totellthetruth），stronglyinfluencedmyresolutiontoconsulttheEdinburghlawyer。IsentmynotetoMr。Playmorebyamessenger，andreceivedthekindestreplyinreturn。IfIwouldwaituntiltheafternoon，hewouldgettheday’sbusinessdone，andwouldtakeustoGleninchinhisowncarriage。
　　Benjamin’sobstinacy——initsownquietway，andoncertainoccasionsonly——wasquiteamatchformine。Hehadprivatelydetermined，asoneoftheoldgeneration，tohavenothingtodowithGleninch。NotawordonthesubjectescapedhimuntilMr。
　　Playmore’scarriagewasatthehoteldoor。AtthatappropriatemomentBenjaminrememberedanoldfriendofhisinEdinburgh。
　　"Willyoupleasetoexcuseme，Valeria？Myfriend’snameisSaunders；andhewilltakeitunkindlyofmeifIdon’tdinewithhimto—day。"
　　ApartfromtheassociationsthatIconnectedwithit，therewasnothingtointerestatraveleratGleninch。
　　Thecountryaroundwasprettyandwellcultivated，andnothingmore。Theparkwas，toanEnglisheye，wildandbadlykept。Thehousehadbeenbuiltwithinthelastseventyoreightyyears。
　　Outside，itwasasbareofallornamentasafactory，andasgloomilyheavyineffectasaprison。Inside，thedeadlydreariness，theclose，oppressivesolitudeofadeserteddwellingweariedtheeyeandweighedonthemind，fromtherooftothebasement。ThehousehadbeenshutupsincethetimeoftheTrial。
　　Alonelyoldcouple，manandwife，hadthekeysandthechargeofit。ThemanshookhisheadinsilentandsorrowfuldisapprovalofourintrusionwhenMr。Playmoreorderedhimtoopenthedoorsandshutters，andletthelightinonthedark，desertedplace。Fireswereburninginthelibraryandthepicture—gallery，topreservethetreasureswhichtheycontainedfromthedamp。Itwasnoteasy，atfirst，tolookatthecheerfulblazewithoutfancyingthattheinhabitantsofthehousemustsurelycomeinandwarmthemselves。Ascendingtotheupperfloor，IsawtheroomsmadefamiliartomebytheReportoftheTrial。Ienteredthelittlestudy，withtheoldbooksontheshelves，andthekeystillmissingfromthelockeddoorofcommunicationwiththebedchamber。IlookedintotheroominwhichtheunhappymistressofGleninchhadsufferedanddied。Thebedwasleftinitsplace；
　　thesofaonwhichthenursehadsnatchedherintervalsofreposewasatitsfoot；theIndiancabinet，inwhichthecrumpledpaperwiththegrainsofarsenichadbeenfound，stillhelditslittlecollectionofcuriosities。Imovedonitspivottheinvalid—tableonwhichshehadtakenhermealsandwrittenherpoems，poorsoul。Theplacewasdrearyanddreadful；theheavyairfeltasifitwerestillburdenedwithitshorridloadofmiseryanddistrust。Iwasgladtogetout（afterapassingglanceattheroomwhichEustacehadoccupiedinthosedays）intotheGuests’
　　Corridor。Therewasthebedroom，atthedoorofwhichMiserrimusDexterhadwaitedandwatched。Therewastheoakenflooralongwhichhehadhopped，inhishorribleway，followingthefootstepsoftheservantdisguisedinhermistress’sclothes。GowhereI
　　might，theghostsofthedeadandtheabsentwerewithme，stepbystep。GowhereImight，thelonelyhorrorofthehousehaditsstillandawfulvoiceforMe："_I_keepthesecretofthePoison！
　　_I_hidethemysteryofthedeath！"
　　Theoppressionoftheplacebecameunendurable。Ilongedforthepureskyandthefreeair。Mycompanionnoticedandunderstoodme。
　　"Come，"hesaid。"Wehavehadenoughofthehouse。Letuslookatthegrounds。"
　　Inthegrayquietoftheeveningweroamedaboutthelonelygardens，andthreadedourwaythroughtherank，neglectedshrubberies。Wanderinghereandwanderingthere，wedriftedintothekitchengarden——withonelittlepatchstillsparelycultivatedbytheoldmanandhiswife，andalltherestawildernessofweeds。Beyondthefarendofthegarden，dividedfromitbyalowpalingofwood，therestretchedapatchofwasteground，shelteredonthreesidesbytrees。Inonelostcornerofthegroundanobject，commonenoughelsewhere，attractedmyattentionhere。Theobjectwasadust—heap。Thegreatsizeofit，andthecurioussituationinwhichitwasplaced，arousedamoment’slanguidcuriosityinme。Istopped，andlookedatthedustandashes，atthebrokencrockeryandtheoldiron。Heretherewasatornhat，andtheresomefragmentsofrottenoldboots，andscatteredaroundasmallattendantlitteroftornpaperandfrowzyrags。
　　"Whatareyoulookingat？"askedMr。Playmore。
　　"Atnothingmoreremarkablethanthedust—heap，"Ianswered。
　　"IntidyEngland，Isuppose，youwouldhaveallthatcartedawayoutofsight，"saidthelawyer。"Wedon’tmindinScotland，aslongasthedust—heapisfarenoughawaynottobesmeltatthehouse。Besides，someofit，sifted，comesinusefullyasmanureforthegarden。Heretheplaceisdeserted，andtherubbishinconsequencehasnotbeendisturbed。EverythingatGleninch，Mrs。
　　Eustace（thebigdust—heapincluded），iswaitingforthenewmistresstosetittorights。Oneofthesedaysyoumaybequeenhere——whoknows？"
　　"Ishallneverseethisplaceagain，"
　　Isaid。
　　"Neverisalongday，"returnedmycompanion。"Andtimehasitssurprisesinstoreforallofus。"
　　Weturnedaway，andwalkedbackinsilencetotheparkgate，atwhichthecarriagewaswaiting。
　　OnthereturntoEdinburgh，Mr。PlaymoredirectedtheconversationtotopicsentirelyunconnectedwithmyvisittoGleninch。Hesawthatmymindstoodinneedofrelief；andhemostgood—naturedly，andsuccessfully，exertedhimselftoamuseme。ItwasnotuntilwewereclosetothecitythathetouchedonthesubjectofmyreturntoLondon。
　　"HaveyoudecidedyetonthedaywhenyouleaveEdinburgh？"heasked。
　　"WeleaveEdinburgh，"Ireplied，"bythetrainofto—morrowmorning。"
　　"Doyoustillseenoreasontoaltertheopinionswhichyouexpressedyesterday？Doesyourspeedydeparturemeanthat？"
　　"Iamafraiditdoes，Mr。Playmore。WhenIamanolderwoman，I
　　maybeawiserwoman。Inthemeantime，IcanonlytrusttoyourindulgenceifIstillblindlyblunderoninmyownway。"
　　Hesmiledpleasantly，andpattedmyhand——thenchangedonasudden，andlookedatmegravelyandattentivelybeforeheopenedhislipsagain。
　　"Thisismylastopportunityofspeakingtoyoubeforeyougo，"
　　hesaid。"MayIspeakfreely？"
　　"Asfreelyasyouplease，Mr。Playmore。Whateveryoumaysaytomewillonlyaddtomygratefulsenseofyourkindness。"
　　"Ihaveverylittletosay，Mrs。Eustace——andthatlittlebeginswithawordofcaution。Youtoldmeyesterdaythat，whenyoupaidyourlastvisittoMiserrimusDexter，youwenttohimalone。
　　Don’tdothatagain。Takesomebodywithyou。"
　　"DoyouthinkIaminanydanger，then？"
　　"Notintheordinarysenseoftheword。IonlythinkthatafriendmaybeusefulinkeepingDexter’saudacity（heisoneofthemostimpudentmenliving）withinproperlimits。Then，again，incaseanythingworthrememberingandactingon_should_fallfromhiminhistalk，afriendmaybevaluableaswitness。Inyourplace，Ishouldhaveawitnesswithmewhocouldtakenotes——butthenIamalawyer，andmybusinessistomakeafussabouttrifles。Letmeonlysay——gowithacompanionwhenyounextvisitDexter；andbeonyourguardagainstyourselfwhenyourtalkturnsonMrs。Beauly。"
　　"Onmyguardagainstmyself？Whatdoyoumean？"
　　"Practice，mydearMrs。Eustace，hasgivenmeaneyeforthelittleweaknessesofhumannature。Youare（quitenaturally）
　　disposedtobejealousofMrs。Beauly；andyouare，inconsequence，notinfullpossessionofyourexcellentcommon—sensewhenDexterusesthatladyasameansofblindfoldingyou。AmIspeakingtoofreely？"
　　"Certainlynot。ItisverydegradingtometobejealousofMrs。
　　Beauly。MyvanitysuffersdreadfullywhenIthinkofit。Butmycommon—senseyieldstoconviction。Idaresayyouareright。"
　　"Iamdelightedtofindthatweagreeononepoint，"herejoined，dryly。"Idon’tdespairyetofconvincingyouinthatfarmoreseriousmatterwhichisstillindisputebetweenus。And，whatismore，ifyouwillthrownoobstaclesintheway，IlooktoDexterhimselftohelpme。"
　　Thisarousedmycuriosity。HowMiserrimusDextercouldhelphim，inthatorinanyotherway，wasariddlebeyondmyreading。
　　"YouproposetorepeattoDexterallthatLadyClarindatoldyouaboutMrs。Beauly，"hewenton。"AndyouthinkitislikelythatDexterwillbeoverwhelmed，asyouwereoverwhelmed，whenhehearsthestory。Iamgoingtoventureonaprophecy。IsaythatDexterwilldisappointyou。Farfromshowinganyastonishment，hewillboldlytellyouthatyouhavebeendupedbyadeliberatelyfalsestatementoffacts，inventedandsetafloat，inherownguiltyinterests，byMrs。Beauly。Nowtellme——ifhereallytry，inthatway，torenewyourunfoundedsuspicionofaninnocentwoman，will_that_shakeyourconfidenceinyourownopinion？"
　　"Itwillentirelydestroymyconfidenceinmyownopinion，Mr。
　　Playmore。"
　　"Verygood。Ishallexpectyoutowritetome，inanycase；andI
　　believeweshallbeofonemindbeforetheweekisout。KeepstrictlysecretallthatIsaidtoyouyesterdayaboutDexter。
　　Don’tevenmentionmynamewhenyouseehim。ThinkingofhimasI
　　thinknow，Iwouldassoontouchthehandofthehangmanasthehandofthatmonster！Godblessyou！Good—by。"
　　Sohesaidhisfarewellwords，atthedoorofthehotel。Kind，genial，clever——butoh，howeasilyprejudiced，howshockinglyobstinateinholdingtohisownopinion！And_what_anopinion！I
　　shudderedasIthoughtofit。
　　CHAPTERXXXV。
　　MR。PLAYMORE’SPROPHECY。
　　WEreachedLondonbetweeneightandnineintheevening。
　　Strictlymethodicalinallhishabits，Benjaminhadtelegraphedtohishousekeeper，fromEdinburgh，tohavesupperreadyorusbyteno’clock，andtosendthecabmanwhomhealwaysemployedtomeetusatthestation。
　　Arrivingatthevilla，wewereobligedtowaitforamomenttoletapony—chaisegetbyusbeforewecoulddrawupatBenjamin’sdoor。Thechaisepassedveryslowly，drivenbyarough—lookingman，withapipeinhismouth。Butfortheman，Imighthavedoubtedwhethertheponywasquiteastrangertome。Asthingswere，Ithoughtnomoreofthematter。
　　Benjamin’srespectableoldhousekeeperopenedthegardengate，andstartledmebyburstingintoadevoutejaculationofgratitudeatthesightofhermaster。"TheLordbepraised，sir！"
　　shecried；"Ithoughtyouwouldnevercomeback！"
　　"Anythingwrong？"askedBenjamin，inhisownimpenetrablyquietway。
　　Thehousekeepertrembledatthequestion，andansweredintheseenigmaticalwords：
　　"Mymind’supset，sir；andwhetherthingsarewrongorwhetherthingsarerightismorethanIcansay。Hoursago，astrangemancameinandasked"——shestopped，asifshewerecompletelybewildered——lookedforamomentvacantlyathermaster——andsuddenlyaddressedherselftome。"Andasked，"sheproceeded，"when_you_wasexpectedback，ma’am。Itoldhimwhatmymasterhadtelegraphed，andthemansaysuponthat，’Waitabit，’hesays；’I’mcomingback。’Hecamebackinaminuteorless；andhecarriedaThinginhisarmswhichcurdledmyblood——itdid！——andsetmeshakingfromthecrownofmyheadtothesoleofmyfoot。
　　IknowIoughttohavestoppedit；butIcouldn’tstanduponmylegs，muchlessputthemanoutofthehouse。Inhewent，without’_with_yourleave，’or’_by_yourleave，’Mr。Benjamin，sir——inhewent，withtheThinginhisarms，straightthroughtoyourlibrary。AndthereIthasbeenallthesehours。AndthereItisnow。I’vespokentothepolice；buttheywouldn’tinterfere；andwhattodonextismorethanmypoorheadcantell。Don’tyougoinbyyourself，ma’am！You’llbefrightenedoutofyourwits——youwill！"
　　Ipersistedinenteringthehouse，forallthat。Aidedbythepony，Ieasilysolvedthemysteryofthehousekeeper’sotherwiseunintelligiblenarrative。Passingthroughthedining—room（wherethesupper—tablewasalreadylaidforus），Ilookedthroughthehalf—openedlibrarydoor。
　　Yes，therewasMiserrimusDexter，arrayedinhispinkjacket，fastasleepinBenjamin’sfavoritearm—chair！Nocoverlethidhishorribledeformity。Nothingwassacrificedtoconventionalideasofproprietyinhisextraordinarydress。Icouldhardlywonderthatthepooroldhousekeepertrembledfromheadtofootwhenshespokeofhim。
　　"Valeria，"saidBenjamin，pointingtothePortentinthechair。
　　"Whichisit——anIndianidol，oraman？"
　　IhavealreadydescribedMiserrimusDexteraspossessingthesensitiveearofadog：henowallowedthathealsosleptthelightsleepofadog。QuietlyasBenjaminhadspoken，thestrangevoicearousedhimontheinstant。Herubbedhiseyes，andsmiledasinnocentlyasawakingchild。
　　"Howdoyoudo，Mrs。Valeria？"hesaid。"Ihavehadanicelittlesleep。Youdon’tknowhowhappyIamtoseeyouagain。Whoisthis？"）
　　Herubbedhiseyesoncemore！andlookedatBenjamin。Notknowingwhatelsetodointhisextraordinaryemergency，Ipresentedmyvisitortothemasterofthehouse。
　　"Excusemygettingup，sir，"saidMiserrimusDexter。"Ican’tgetup——Ihavenolegs。YoulookasifyouthoughtIwasoccupyingyourchair？IfIamcommittinganintrusion，besogoodastoputyourumbrellaunderme，andgivemeajerk。Ishallfallonmyhands，andIshan’tbeoffendedwithyou。Iwillsubmittoatumbleandascolding——butpleasedon’tbreakmyheartbysendingmeaway。Thatbeautifulwomantherecanbeverycruelsometimes，sir，whenthefittakesher。ShewentawaywhenIstoodinthesorestneedofalittletalkwithher——shewentaway，andleftmetomylonelinessandmysuspense。Iamapoordeformedwretch，withawarmheart，and，perhaps，aninsatiablecuriosityaswell。
　　Insatiablecuriosity（haveyoueverfeltit？）isacurse。Iboreituntilmybrainsbegantoboilinmyhead；andthenIsentformygardener，andmadehimdrivemehere。Ilikebeinghere。Theairofyourlibrarysoothesme；thesightofMrs。Valeriaisbalmtomywoundedheart。Shehassomethingtotellme——somethingthatIamdyingtohear。Ifsheisnottootiredafterherjourney，andifyouwilllethertellit，Ipromisetohavemyselftakenawaywhenshehasdone。DearMr。Benjamin，youlookliketherefugeoftheafflicted。Iamafflicted。ShakehandslikeagoodChristian，andtakemein。"
　　Heheldouthishand。Hissoftblueeyesmeltedintoanexpressionofpiteousentreaty。Completelystupefiedbytheamazingharangueofwhichhehadbeenmadetheobject，Benjamintooktheofferedhand，withtheairofamaninadream。"IhopeIseeyouwell，sir，"hesaid，mechanically——andthenlookedaroundatme，toknowwhathewastodonext。
　　"IunderstandMr。Dexter，"Iwhispered。"Leavehimtome。"
　　Benjaminstolealastbewilderedlookattheobjectinthechair；
　　bowedtoit，withtheinstinctofpolitenesswhichneverfailedhim；and（stillwiththeairofamaninadream）withdrewintothenextroom。
　　Lefttogether，welookedateachother，forthefirstmoment，insilence。
　　WhetherIunconsciouslydrewonthatinexhaustiblestoreofindulgencewhichawomanalwayskeepsinreserveforamanwhoownsthathehasneedofher，orwhether，resentingasIdidMr。
　　Playmore’shorriblesuspicionofhim，myheartwasespeciallyaccessibletofeelingsofcompassioninhisunhappycase，I
　　cannottell。IonlyknowthatIpitiedMiserrimusDexteratthatmomentasIhadneverpitiedhimyet；andthatIsparedhimthereproofwhichIshouldcertainlyhaveadministeredtoanyothermanwhohadtakenthelibertyofestablishinghimself，uninvited，inBenjamin’shouse。
　　Hewasthefirsttospeak。
　　"LadyClarindahasdestroyedyourconfidenceinme！"hebegan，wildly。
　　"LadyClarindahasdonenothingofthesort，"Ireplied。"Shehasnotattemptedtoinfluencemyopinion。IwasreallyobligedtoleaveLondon，asItoldyou。"
　　Hesighed，andclosedhiseyescontentedly，asifIhadrelievedhimofaheavyweightofanxiety。
　　"Bemercifultome，"hesaid，"andtellmesomethingmore。Ihavebeensomiserableinyourabsence。"Hesuddenlyopenedhiseyesagain，andlookedatmewithanappearanceofthegreatestinterest。"Areyouverymuchfatiguedbytraveling？"heproceeded。"IamhungryfornewsofwhathappenedattheMajor’sdinnerparty。Isitcruelofmetotellyouso，whenyouhavenotrestedafteryourjourney？Onlyonequestionto—night，andIwillleavetheresttillto—morrow。WhatdidLadyClarindasayaboutMrs。Beauly？Allthatyouwantedtohear？"
　　"All，andmore，"Ianswered。
　　"What？what？what？"hecriedwildwithimpatienceinamoment。
　　Mr。Playmore’slastpropheticwordswerevividlypresenttomymind。Hehaddeclared，inthemostpositivemanner，thatDexterwouldpersistinmisleadingme，andwouldshownosignsofastonishmentwhenIrepeatedwhatLadyClarindahadtoldmeofMrs。Beauly。Iresolvedtoputthelawyer’sprophecy——sofarasthequestionofastonishmentwasconcerned——tothesharpestattainabletest。IsaidnotawordtoMiserrimusDexterinthewayofprefaceorpreparation：Iburstonhimwithmynewsasabruptlyaspossible。
　　"ThepersonyousawinthecorridorwasnotMrs。Beauly，"Isaid。
　　"Itwasthemaid，dressedinhermistress’scloakandhat。Mrs。
　　Beaulyherselfwasnotinthehouseatall。Mrs。BeaulyherselfwasdancingatamaskedballinEdinburgh。ThereiswhatthemaidtoldLadyClarinda；andthereiswhatLadyClarindatold_me。_"
　　Intheabsorbinginterestofthemoment，Ipouredoutthosewordsoneafteranotherasfastastheywouldpassmylips。MiserrimusDextercompletelyfalsifiedthelawyer’sprediction。Heshudderedundertheshock。Hiseyesopenedwidewithamazement。"Sayitagain！"hecried。"Ican’ttakeitallinatonce。Youstunme。"
　　Iwasmorethancontentedwiththisresult——Itriumphedinmyvictory。Foronce，Ihadreallysomereasontofeelsatisfiedwithmyself。IhadtakentheChristianandmercifulsideinmydiscussionwithMr。Playmore；andIhadwonmyreward。IcouldsitinthesameroomwithMiserrimusDexter，andfeeltheblessedconvictionthatIwasnotbreathingthesameairwithapoisoner。
　　WasitnotworththevisittoEdinburghtohavemadesureofthat？
　　Inrepeating，athisowndesire，whatIhadalreadysaidtohim，ItookcaretoaddthedetailswhichmadeLadyClarinda’snarrativecoherentandcredible。Helistenedthroughoutwithbreathlessattention——hereandthererepeatingthewordsafterme，toimpressthemthemoresurelyandthemoredeeplyonhismind。
　　"Whatistobesaid？whatistobedone？"heasked，withalookofblankdespair。"Ican’tdisbelieveit。Fromfirsttolast，strangeasitis，itsoundstrue。"
　　（HowwouldMr。Playmorehavefeltifhehadheardthosewords？I
　　didhimthejusticetobelievethathewouldhavefeltheartilyashamedofhimself。）
　　"Thereisnothingtobesaid，"Irejoined，"exceptthatMrs。
　　Beaulyisinnocent，andthatyouandIhavedoneheragrievouswrong。Don’tyouagreewithme？"