\"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？\"