This，naturallyenough，tookmecompletelybysurprise。IwaitedeagerlytohearwhyweweretosendtoAmerica。
\"Itrestswithyou，\"heproceeded，\"whenyouhearwhatIhavetotellyou，tosaywhetheryouwillgototheexpenseofsendingamantoNewYork，ornot。Icanfindtherightmanforthepurpose；andIestimatetheexpense（includingatelegram）——\"
\"Nevermindtheexpense！\"Iinterposed，losingallpatiencewiththeeminentlyScotchviewofthecasewhichputmypurseinthefirstplaceofimportance。\"Idon’tcarefortheexpense；Iwanttoknowwhatyouhavediscovered。\"
Hesmiled。\"Shedoesn’tcarefortheexpense，\"hesaidtohimself，pleasantly。\"Howlikeawoman！\"
Imighthaveretorted，\"Hethinksoftheexpensebeforehethinksofanythingelse。HowlikeaScotchman！\"Asitwas，Iwastooanxioustobewitty。Ionlydrummedimpatientlywithmyfingersonthetable，andsaid，\"Tellme！tellme！\"
HetookoutthefaircopyfromBenjamin’snote—bookwhichIhadsenttohim，andshowedmetheseamongDexter’sclosingwords：
\"Whatabouttheletter？Burnitnow。Nofireinthegrate。Nomatchesinthebox。Housetopsy—turvy。Servantsallgone。\"
\"Doyoureallyunderstandwhatthosewordsmean？\"Iasked。
\"Ilookbackintomyownexperience，\"heanswered，\"andI
understandperfectlywhatthewordsmean。\"
\"Andcanyoumakemeunderstandthemtoo？\"
\"Easily。InthoseincomprehensiblesentencesDexter’smemoryhascorrectlyrecalledcertainfacts。Ihaveonlytotellyouthefacts，andyouwillbeaswiseasIam。AtthetimeoftheTrial，yourhusbandsurprisedanddistressedmebyinsistingontheinstantdismissalofallthehouseholdservantsatGleninch。I
wasinstructedtopaythemaquarter’swagesinadvance，togivethemtheexcellentwrittencharacterswhichtheirgoodconductthoroughlydeserved，andtoseethehouseclearofthematanhour’snotice。Eustace’smotiveforthissummaryproceedingwasmuchthesamemotivewhichanimatedhisconducttowardyou。’IfI
amevertoreturntoGleninch，’hesaid，’Icannotfacemyhonestservantsaftertheinfamyofhavingstoodmytrialformurder。’
Therewashisreason。NothingthatIcouldsaytohim，poorfellow，shookhisresolution。Idismissedtheservantsaccordingly。Atanhour’snotice，theyquittedthehouse，leavingtheirworkforthedayallundone。TheonlypersonsplacedinchargeofGleninchwerepersonswholivedontheoutskirtsofthepark——thatistosay，thelodge—keeperandhiswifeanddaughter。
OnthelastdayoftheTrialIinstructedthedaughtertodoherbesttomaketheroomstidy。Shewasagoodgirlenough，butshehadnoexperienceasahousemaid：itwouldneverenterherheadtolaythebedroomfiresreadyforlighting，ortoreplenishtheemptymatch—boxes。ThosechancewordsthatdroppedfromDexterwould，nodoubt，exactlydescribethestateofhisroomwhenhereturnedtoGleninch，withtheprisonerandhismother，fromEdinburgh。Thathetoreupthemysteriousletterinhisbedroom，and（findingnomeansimmediatelyathandforburningit）thathethrewthefragmentsintotheemptygrate，orintothewaste—paperbasket，seemstobethemostreasonableconclusionthatwecandrawfromwhatweknow。Inanycase，hewouldnothavemuchtimetothinkaboutit。Everythingwasdoneinahurryonthatday。
Eustaceandhismother，accompaniedbyDexter，leftforEnglandthesameeveningbythenighttrain。Imyselflockedupthehouse，andgavethekeystothelodge—keeper。Itwasunderstoodthathewastolookafterthepreservationofthereception—roomsontheground—floor；andthathiswifeanddaughterweretoperformthesameservicebetweenthemintheroomsupstairs。Onreceivingyourletter，IdroveatoncetoGleninchtoquestiontheoldwomanonthesubjectofthebedrooms，andofDexter’sroomespecially。Sherememberedthetimewhenthehousewasshutupbyassociatingitwiththetimewhenshewasconfinedtoherbedbyanattackofsciatica。Shehadnotcrossedthelodgedoor，shewassure，foratleastaweek（ifnotlongerafterGleninchhadbeenleftinchargeofherhusbandandherself。Whateverwasdoneinthewayofkeepingthebedroomsairedandtidyduringherillnesswasdonebyherdaughter。She，andsheonly，musthavedisposedofanyletterwhichmighthavebeenlyingaboutinDexter’sroom。Notavestigeoftornpaper，asIcanmyselfcertify，istobediscoveredinanypartoftheroomnow。Wheredidthegirlfindthefragmentsoftheletter？andwhatdidshedowiththem？Thosearethequestions（ifyouapproveofit）
whichwemustsendthreethousandmilesawaytoask——forthissufficientreason，thatthelodge—keeper’sdaughterwasmarriedmorethanayearsince，andthatsheissettledwithherhusbandinbusinessatNewYork。Itrestswithyoutodecidewhatistobedone。Don’tletmemisleadyouwithfalsehopes！Don’tletmetemptyoutothrowawayyourmoney！Evenifthiswomandoesrememberwhatshedidwiththetornpaper，thechances，atthisdistanceoftime，areenormouslyagainstoureverrecoveringasinglemorselofit。Beinnohastetodecide。Ihavemyworktodointhecity——Icangiveyouthewholedaytothinkitover。\"
\"SendthemantoNewYorkbythenextsteamer，\"Isaid。\"Thereismydecision，Mr。Playmore，withoutkeepingyouwaitingforit！\"
Heshookhishead，ingravedisapprovalofmyimpetuosity。Inmyformerinterviewwithhimwehadneveroncetouchedonthequestionofmoney。Iwasnow，forthefirsttime，tomakeacquaintancewithMr。PlaymoreonthepurelyScotchsideofhischaracter。
\"Why，youdon’tevenknowwhatitwillcostyou！\"heexclaimed，takingouthispocket—bookwiththeairofamanwhowasequallystartledandscandalized。\"WaittillItotitup，\"hesaid，\"inEnglishandAmericanmoney。\"
\"Ican’twait！Iwanttomakemorediscoveries！\"
Hetooknonoticeofmyinterruption；hewentonimpenetrablywithhiscalculations。
\"Themanwillgosecond—class，andwilltakeareturn—ticket。
Verywell。Histicketincludeshisfood；and（being，thankGod，ateetotaler）hewon’twasteyourmoneyinbuyingliquoronboard。
ArrivedatNewYork，hewillgotoacheapGermanhouse，wherehewill，asIamcrediblyinformed，beboardedandlodgedattherate——\"
Bythistime（mypatiencebeingcompletelywornout）Ihadtakenmycheck—bookfromthetable—drawer，hadsignedmyname，andhadhandedtheblankcheckacrossthetabletomylegaladviser。
\"Fillitinwithwhateverthemanwants，\"Isaid。\"AndforHeaven’ssakeletusgetbacktoDexter！\"
Mr。Playmorefellbackinhischair，andliftedhishandsandeyestotheceiling。Iwasnotintheleastimpressedbythatsolemnappealtotheunseenpowersofarithmeticandmoney。I
insistedpositivelyonbeingfedwithmoreinformation。
\"Listentothis，\"Iwenton，readingfromBenjamin’snotes。\"WhatdidDextermeanwhenhesaid，’NumberNine，Caldershaws。AskforDandie。Youshan’thavetheDiary。Asecretinyourear。TheDiarywillhanghim？’HowcameDextertoknowwhatwasinmyhusband’sDiary？Andwhatdoeshemeanby’NumberNine，Caldershaws，’andtherestofit？Factsagain？\"
\"Factsagain！\"Mr。Playmoreanswered，\"muddleduptogether，asyoumaysay——butpositivefactsforallthat。Caldershaws，youmustknow，isoneofthemostdisreputabledistrictsinEdinburgh。Oneofmyclerks（whomIaminthehabitofemployingconfidentially）volunteeredtoinquirefor’Dandie’at’NumberNine。’Itwasaticklishbusinessineveryway；andmymanwiselytookapersonwithhimwhowasknownintheneighborhood。’NumberNine’turnedouttobe（ostensibly）ashopforthesaleofragsandoldiron；and’Dandie’wassuspectedoftradingnowandthen，additionally，asareceiverofstolengoods。Thankstotheinfluenceofhiscompanion，backedbyabank—note（whichcanberepaid，bytheway，outofthefundfortheAmericanexpenses），myclerksucceededismakingthefellowspeak。Nottotroubleyouwithneedlessdetails，theresultinsubstancewasthis：A
fortnightormorebeforethedateofMrs。Eustace’sdeath，’Dandie’madetwokeysfromwaxmodelssuppliedtohimbyanewcustomer。ThemysteryobservedinthematterbytheagentwhomanageditexcitedDandie’sdistrust。Hehadthemanprivatelywatchedbeforehedeliveredthekeys；andheendedindiscoveringthathiscustomerwas——MiserrimusDexter。Waitalittle！Ihavenotdoneyet。AddtothisinformationDexter’sincomprehensibleknowledgeofthecontentsofyourhusband’sdiary，andtheproductis——thatthewaxmodelssenttotheold—ironshopinCaldershawsweremodelstakenbytheftfromthekeyoftheDiaryandthekeyofthetable—drawerinwhichitwaskept。Ihavemyownideaoftherevelationsthatarestilltocomeifthismatterisproperlyfollowedup。Nevermindgoingintothatatpresent。
Dexter（Itellyouagain）isanswerableforthelateMrs。
Eustace’sdeath。_How_heisanswerableIbelieveyouareinafairwayoffindingout。And，morethanthat，Isaynow，whatI
couldnotventuretosaybefore——itisadutytowardJustice，aswellasadutytowardyourhusband，tobringthetruthtolight。
Asforthedifficultiestobeencountered，Idon’tthinktheyneeddauntyou。Thegreatestdifficultiesgivewayintheend，whentheyareattackedbytheunitedallianceofpatienceresolution——_and_economy。\"
Withastrongemphasisonthelastwords，myworthyadviser，mindfuloftheflightoftimeandtheclaimsofbusiness，rosetotakehisleave。
\"Onewordmore，\"Isaid，asheheldouthishand。\"CanyoumanagetoseeMiserrimusDexterbeforeyougobacktoEdinburgh？Fromwhatthegardenertoldme，hisbrothermustbewithhimbythistime。Itwouldbearelieftometohearthelatestnewsofhim，andtohearitfromyou。\"
\"ItispartofmybusinessinLondontoseehim，\"saidMr。
Playmore。\"Butmind！Ihavenohopeofhisrecovery；Ionlywishtosatisfymyselfthathisbrotherisableandwillingtotakecareofhim。Sofaras_we_areconcerned，Mrs。Eustace，thatunhappymanhassaidhislastwords。\"
Heopenedthedoor——stopped——considered——andcomebacktome。
\"WithregardtothatmatterofsendingtheagenttoAmerica，\"heresumed——\"Iproposetohavethehonorofsubmittingtoyouabriefabstract——\"
\"Oh，Mr。Playmore！\"
\"Abriefabstractinwriting，Mrs。Eustace，oftheestimatedexpensesofthewholeproceeding。Youwillbegoodenoughmaturelytoconsiderthesame，makinganyremarksonit，tendingtoeconomy，whichmaysuggestthemselvestoyourmindatthetime。Andyouwillfurtherobligeme，ifyouapproveoftheabstract，byyourselffillingintheblankspaceonyourcheckwiththeneedfulamountinwordsandfigures。No，madam！Ireallycannotjustifyittomyconsciencetocarryaboutmypersonanysuchlooseandrecklessdocumentasablankcheck。There’satotaldisregardofthefirstclaimsofprudenceandeconomyimpliedinthissmallslipofpaperwhichisnothinglessthanaflatcontradictionoftheprinciplesthathavegovernedmywholelife。Ican’tsubmittoflatcontradiction。Good—morning，Mrs。
Eustace——good—morning。\"
Helaidmycheckonthetablewithalowbow，andleftme。Amongthecuriousdevelopmentsofhumanstupiditywhichoccasionallypresentthemselvestoview，surelytheleastexcusableisthestupiditywhich，tothisday，persistsinwonderingwhytheScotchsucceedsowellinlife！
CHAPTERXLII。
MORESURPRISES。
ThesameeveningIreceivedmy\"abstract\"bythehandsofaclerk。
Itwasanintenselycharacteristicdocument。Myexpenseswereremorselesslycalculateddownwardtoshillingsandeventopence；
andourunfortunatemessenger’sinstructionsinrespecttohisexpenditurewerereducedtoanicetywhichmusthavemadehislifeinAmericanothinglessthanaburdentohim。Inmercytotheman，Itooktheliberty，whenIwrotebacktoMr。Playmore，ofslightlyincreasingtheindicatedamountofthefigureswhichweretoappearonthecheck。IoughttohavebetterknownthecorrespondentwhomIhadtodealwith。Mr。Playmore’sreply（informingmethatouremissaryhadstartedonhisvoyage）
returnedareceiptindueform，andthewholeofthesurplusmoney，tothelastfarthing！
Afewhurriedlinesaccompaniedthe\"abstract，\"andstatedtheresultofthelawyer’svisittoMiserrimusDexter。
Therewasnochangeforthebetter——therewasnochangeatall。
Mr。Dexter，thebrother，hadarrivedatthehouseaccompaniedbyamedicalmanaccustomedtothechargeoftheinsane。Thenewdoctordeclinedtogiveanydefiniteopiniononthecaseuntilhehadstudieditcarefullywithplentyoftimeathisdisposal。IthadbeenaccordinglyarrangedthatheshouldremoveMiserrimusDextertotheasylumofwhichhewastheproprietorassoonasthepreparationsforreceivingthepatientcouldbecompleted。
Theonedifficultythatstillremainedtobemetrelatedtothedisposalofthefaithfulcreaturewhohadneverlefthermaster，nightorday，sincethecatastrophehadhappened。Arielhadnofriendsandnomoney。Theproprietoroftheasylumcouldnotbeexpectedtoreceiveherwithoutthecustomarypayment；andMr。
Dexter’sbrother\"regrettedtosaythathewasnotrichenoughtofindthemoney。\"Aforcibleseparationfromtheonehumanbeingwhomsheloved，andaremovalinthecharacterofapaupertoapublicasylum——suchwastheprospectwhichawaitedtheunfortunatecreatureunlesssomeoneinterferedinherfavorbeforetheendoftheweek。
Underthesesadcircumstances，goodMr。Playmore——passingovertheclaimsofeconomyinfavoroftheclaimsofhumanity——suggestedthatweshouldprivatelystartasubscription，andofferedtoheadthelistliberallyhimself。
ImusthavewrittenallthesepagestoverylittlepurposeifitisnecessaryformetoaddthatIinstantlysentalettertoMr。
Dexter，thebrother，undertakingtobeanswerableforwhatevermoneywastoberequiredwhilethesubscriptionswerebeingcollected，andonlystipulatingthatwhenMiserrimusDexterwasremovedtotheasylum，Arielshouldaccompanyhim。Thiswasreadilyconceded。ButseriousobjectionswereraisedwhenI
furtherrequestedthatshemightbepermittedtoattendonhermasterintheasylumasshehadattendedonhiminthehouse。Therulesoftheestablishmentforbadeit，andtheuniversalpracticeinsuchcasesforbadeit，andsoon，andsoon。However，bydintofperseveranceandpersuasion，Isofarcarriedmypointastogainareasonableconcession。Duringcertainhoursintheday，andundercertainwiserestrictions，ArielwastobeallowedtheprivilegeofwaitingontheMasterinhisroom，aswellasofaccompanyinghimwhenhewasbroughtoutinhischairtotaketheairinthegarden。Forthehonorofhumanity，letmeaddthattheliabilitywhichIhadundertakenmadenoveryseriousdemandsonmyresources。PlacedinBenjamin’scharge，oursubscription—listprospered。Friends，andevenstrangerssometimes，openedtheirheartsandtheirpurseswhentheyheardAriel’smelancholystory。
ThedaywhichfollowedthedayofMr。Playmore’svisitbroughtmenewsfromSpain，inaletterfrommymother—in—law。TodescribewhatIfeltwhenIbrokethesealandreadthefirstlinesissimplyimpossible。LetMrs。Macallanbeheardonthisoccasioninmyplace。
Thusshewrote：
\"Prepareyourself，mydearestValeria，foradelightfulsurprise。Eustacehasjustifiedmyconfidenceinhim。WhenhereturnstoEngland，hereturns——ifyouwilllethim——tohiswife。
\"Thisresolution，letmehastentoassureyou，hasnotbeenbroughtaboutbyanypersuasionsofmine。Itisthenaturaloutgrowthofyourhusband’sgratitudeandyourhusband’slove。
Thefirstwordshesaidtome，whenhewasabletospeak，werethese：’IfIlivetoreturntoEngland，andifIgotoValeria，doyouthinkshewillforgiveme？’Wecanonlyleaveittoyou，mydear，togivetheanswer。Ifyouloveus，answerusbyreturnofpost。
\"HavingnowtoldyouwhathesaidwhenIfirstinformedhimthatyouhadbeenhisnurse——andremember，ifitseemverylittle，thatheisstilltooweaktospeakexceptwithdifficulty——I
shallpurposelykeepmyletterbackforafewdays。Myobjectistogivehimtimetothink，andtofranklytellyouofitiftheintervalproduceanychangeinhisresolution。
\"Threedayshavepassed，andthereisnochange。Hehasbutonefeelingnow——helongsforthedaywhichistounitehimagaintohiswife。
\"ButthereissomethingelseconnectedwithEustacethatyououghttoknow，andthatIoughttotellyou。
\"Greatlyastimeandsufferinghavealteredhiminmanyrespects，thereisnochange，Valeria，intheaversion——thehorrorImayevensay——withwhichheviewsyourideaofinquiringanewintothecircumstanceswhichattendedthelamentabledeathofhisfirstwife。Itmakesnodifferencetohimthatyouareonlyanimatedbyadesiretoservehisinterests。’Hasshegivenupthatidea？Areyoupositivelysureshehasgivenupthatidea？’
Overandoveragainhehasputthesequestionstome。Ihaveanswered——whatelsecouldIdointhemiserablyfeeblestateinwhichhestilllies？——Ihaveansweredinsuchamannerastosootheandsatisfyhim。Ihavesaid，’Relieveyourmindofallanxietyonthatsubject：Valeriahasnochoicebuttogiveuptheidea；theobstaclesinherwayhaveprovedtobeinsurmountable——theobstacleshaveconqueredher。’This，ifyouremember，waswhatIreallybelievedwouldhappenwhenyouandI
spokeofthatpainfultopic；andIhaveheardnothingfromyousincewhichhastendedtoshakemyopinioninthesmallestdegree。IfIamright（asIprayGodImaybe）intheviewthatI
take，youhaveonlytoconfirmmeinyourreply，andallwillbewell。Intheotherevent——thatistosay，ifyouarestilldeterminedtopersevereinyourhopelessproject——thenmakeupyourmindtofacetheresult。SetEustace’sprejudicesatdefianceinthisparticular，andyouloseyourholdonhisgratitude，hispenitence，andhislove——youwill，inmybelief，neverseehimagain。
\"Iexpressmyselfstrongly，inyourowninterests，mydear，andforyourownsake。Whenyoureply，writeafewlinestoEustace，inclosedinyourlettertome。
\"Asforthedateofourdeparture，itisstillimpossibleformetogiveyouanydefiniteinformation。Eustacerecoversveryslowly；thedoctorhasnotyetallowedhimtoleavehisbed；andwhenwedotravelwemustjourneybyeasystages。Itwillbeatleastsixweeks，attheearliest，beforewecanhopetobebackagainindearOldEngland。
\"Affectionatelyyours，\"CATHERINEMACALLAN。\"
Ilaiddowntheletter，anddidmybest（vainlyenoughforsometime）tocomposemyspirits。TounderstandthepositioninwhichInowfoundmyself，itisonlynecessarytorememberonecircumstance：themessengertowhomwehadcommittedourinquirieswasatthatmomentcrossingtheAtlanticonhiswaytoNewYork。
Whatwastobedone？
Ihesitated。Shockingasitmayseemtosomepeople，Ihesitated。
Therewasreallynoneedtohurrymydecision。Ihadthewholedaybeforeme。
Iwentoutandtookawretched，lonelywalk，andturnedthematteroverinmymind。Icamehomeagain，andturnedthematteroveroncemorebythefireside。Tooffendandrepelmydarlingwhenhewasreturningtome，penitentlyreturningofhisownfreewill，waswhatnowomaninmyposition，andfeelingasIdid，couldunderanyearthlycircumstanceshavebroughtherselftodo。
Andyet。ontheotherhand，howinHeaven’snamecouldIgiveupmygrandenterpriseattheverytimewhenevenwiseandprudentMr。Playmoresawsuchaprospectofsucceedinginitthathehadactuallyvolunteeredtohelpme？Placedbetweenthosetwocruelalternatives，whichcouldIchoose？Thinkofyourownfrailties，andhavesomemercyonmine。Iturnedmybackonboththealternatives。Thosetwoagreeablefiends，PrevaricationandDeceit，tookme，asitwere，softlybythehand：\"Don’tcommityourselfeitherway，mydear，\"theysaid，intheirmostpersuasivemanner。\"Writejustenoughtocomposeyourmother—in—lawandtosatisfyyourhusband。Youhavegottimebeforeyou。WaitandseeifTimedoesn’tstandyourfriend，andgetyououtofthedifficulty。\"
Infamousadvice！AndyetItookit——I，whohadbeenwellbroughtup，andwhooughttohaveknownbetter。Youwhoreadthisshamefulconfessionwouldhaveknownbetter，Iamsure。_You_arenotincluded，inthePrayer—bookcategory，amongthe\"miserablesinners。\"
Well！well！letmehavevirtueenoughtotellthetruth。Inwritingtomymother—in—law，IinformedherthatithadbeenfoundnecessarytoremoveMiserrimusDextertoanasylum——andI
lefthertodrawherownconclusionsfromthatfact，unenlightenedbysomuchasonewordofadditionalinformation。
Inthesameway，Itoldmyhusbandapartofthetruth，andnomore。IsaidIforgavehimwithallmyheart——andIdid！Isaidhehadonlytocometome，andIwouldreceivehimwithopenarms——andsoIwould！Asfortherest，letmesaywithHamlet——\"Therestissilence。\"
Havingdispatchedmyunworthyletters，Ifoundmyselfgrowingrestless，andfeelingthewantofachange。ItwouldbenecessarytowaitatleasteightorninedaysbeforewecouldhopetohearbytelegraphfromNewYork。IbadefarewellforatimetomydearandadmirableBenjamin，andbetookmyselftomyoldhomeintheNorth，atthevicarageofmyuncleStarkweather。MyjourneytoSpaintonurseEustacehadmademypeacewithmyworthyrelatives；wehadexchangedfriendlyletters；andIhadpromisedtobetheirguestassoonasitwaspossibleformetoleaveLondon。
Ipassedaquietand（allthingsconsidered）ahappytimeamongtheoldscenes。Ivisitedoncemorethebankbytheriver—side，whereEustaceandIhadfirstmet。Iwalkedagainonthelawnandloiteredthroughtheshrubbery——thosefavoritehauntsinwhichwehadsooftentalkedoverourtroubles，andsooftenforgottentheminakiss。Howsadlyandstrangelyhadourlivesbeenpartedsincethattime！Howuncertainstillwasthefortunewhichthefuturehadinstoreforus！
TheassociationsamidwhichIwasnowlivinghadtheirsofteningeffectonmyheart，theirelevatinginfluenceovermymind。I
reproachedmyself，bitterlyreproachedmyself，fornothavingwrittenmorefullyandfranklytoEustace。WhyhadIhesitatedtosacrificetohimmyhopesandmyinterestsinthecominginvestigation？_He_hadnothesitated，poorfellow——_his_firstthoughtwasthethoughtofhiswife！
IhadpassedafortnightwithmyuncleandauntbeforeIheardagainfromMr。Playmore。Whenaletterfromhimarrivedatlast，itdisappointedmeindescribably。Atelegramfromourmessengerinformedusthatthelodge—keeper’sdaughterandherhusbandhadleftNewYork，andthathewasstillinsearchofatraceofthem。
Therewasnothingtobedonebuttowaitaspatientlyaswecould，onthechanceofhearingbetternews。IremainedintheNorth，byMr。Playmore’sadvice，soastobewithinaneasyjourneytoEdinburgh——incaseitmightbenecessaryformetoconsulthimpersonally。Threemoreweeksofwearyexpectationpassedbeforeasecondletterreachedme。Thistimeitwasimpossibletosaywhetherthenewsweregoodorbad。Itmighthavebeeneither——itwassimplybewildering。EvenMr。Playmorehimselfwastakenbysurprise。Thesewerethelastwonderfulwords——limitedofcoursebyconsiderationsofeconomy——whichreachedus（bytelegram）fromouragentinAmerica：
\"Openthedust—heapatGleninch。\"