Imademywayunobservedtothelanding，andsatdownonthestairstocomposemyselfwherenobodycouldseeme。InamomentmoreIfeltahandlaidgentlyonmyshoulder，anddiscoveredgoodBenjaminlookingatmeindismay。LadyClarindahadconsideratelyspokentohim，andhadassistedhiminquietlymakinghisretreatfromtheroom，whilehishost’sattentionwasstillabsorbedbythemusic。
　　"Mydearchild！"hewhispered，"whatisthematter？"
　　"Takemehome，andIwilltellyou，"wasallthatIcouldsay。
　　CHAPTERXXXII。
　　ASPECIMENOFMYWISDOM。
　　THEscenemustfollowmyerraticmovements——thescenemustcloseonLondonforawhile，andopeninEdinburgh。TwodayshadpassedsinceMajorFitz—David’sdinner—party。Iwasabletobreatheagainfreely，aftertheutterdestructionofallmyplansforthefuture，andofallthehopesthatIhadfoundedonthem。IcouldnowseethatIhadbeentreblyinthewrong——wronginhastilyandcruellysuspectinganinnocentwoman；wrongincommunicatingmysuspicions（withoutanattempttoverifythempreviously）toanotherperson；wronginacceptingtheflightyinferencesandconclusionsofMiserrimusDexterasiftheyhadbeensolidtruths。Iwassoashamedofmyfolly，whenIthoughtofthepast——socompletelydiscouraged，sorudelyshakeninmyconfidenceinmyself，whenIthoughtofthefuture，that，foronceinaway，Iacceptedsensibleadvicewhenitwasofferedtome。"Mydear，"saidgoodoldBenjamin，afterwehadthoroughlytalkedovermydiscomfitureonourreturnfromthedinner—party，"judgingbywhatyoutellmeofhim，Idon’tfancyMr。Dexter。
　　PromisemethatyouwillnotgobacktohimuntilyouhavefirstconsultedsomepersonwhoisfittertoguideyouthroughthisdangerousbusinessthanIam。
　　Igavehimmypromise，ononecondition。"IfIfailtofindtheperson，"Isaid，"willyouundertaketohelpme？"
　　Benjaminpledgedhimselftohelpme，cheerfully。
　　Thenextmorning，whenIwasbrushingmyhair，andthinkingovermyaffairs，IcalledtomindaforgottenresolutionofmineatthetimeIfirstreadtheReportofmyhusband’sTrial。Imeantheresolution——ifMiserrimusDexterfailedme——toapplytooneofthetwoagents（orsolicitors，asweshouldtermthem）whohadpreparedEustace’sdefense——namely，Mr。Playmore。Thisgentleman，itmayberemembered，hadespeciallyrecommendedhimselftomyconfidencebyhisfriendlyinterferencewhenthesheriff’sofficerswereinsearchofmyhusband’spapers。ReferringbacktotheevidenceOf"IsaiahSchoolcraft，"IfoundthatMr。PlaymorehadbeencalledintoassistandadviseEustacebyMiserrimusDexter。HewasthereforenotonlyafriendonwhomImightrely，butafriendwhowaspersonallyacquaintedwithDexteraswell。
　　Couldtherebeafittermantoapplytoforenlightenmentinthedarknessthathadnowgatheredaroundme？Benjamin，whenIputthequestiontohim，acknowledgedthatIhadmadeasensiblechoiceonthisoccasion，andatonceexertedhimselftohelpme。
　　Hediscovered（throughhisownlawyer）theaddressofMr。
　　Playmore’sLondonagents；andfromthesegentlemenheobtainedformealetterofintroductiontoMr。Playmorehimself。Ihadnothingtoconcealfrommynewadviser；andIwasproperlydescribedintheletterasEustaceMacallan’ssecondwife。
　　Thesameeveningwetwosetforth（Benjaminrefusedtoletmetravelalone）bythenightmailforEdinburgh。
　　IhadpreviouslywrittentoMiserrimusDexter（bymyoldfriend’sadvice），merelysayingthatIhadbeenunexpectedlycalledawayfromLondonforafewdays，andthatIwouldreporttohimtheresultofmyinterviewwithLadyClarindaonmyreturn。A
　　characteristicanswerwasbroughtbacktothecottagebyAriel：
　　"Mrs。Valeria，Ihappentobeamanofquickperceptions；andI
　　canreadthe_unwritten_partofyourletter。LadyClarindahasshakenyourconfidenceinme。Verygood。IpledgemyselftoshakeyourconfidenceinLadyClarinda。InthemeantimeIamnotoffended。InserenecomposureIawaitthehonorandthehappinessofyourvisit。SendmewordbytelegraphwhetheryouwouldlikeTrufflesagain，orwhetheryouwouldprefersomethingsimplerandlighter——saythatincomparableFrenchdish，Pig’sEyelidsandTamarinds。Believemealwaysyourallyandadmirer，yourpoetandcook——DEXTER。"
　　ArrivedinEdinburgh，BenjaminandIhadalittlediscussion。ThequestionindisputebetweenuswaswhetherIshouldgowithhim，orgoalone，toMr。Playmore。Iwasallforgoingalone。
　　"Myexperienceoftheworldisnotaverylargeone，"Isaid。
　　"ButIhaveobservedthat，inninecasesoutoften，amanwillmakeconcessionstoawoman，ifsheapproacheshimbyherself，whichhewouldhesitateeventoconsiderifanothermanwaswithinhearing。Idon’tknowhowitis——Ionlyknowthatitisso；IfIfindthatIgetonbadlywithMr。Playmore，Iwillaskhimforasecondappointment，and，inthatcase，youshallaccompanyme。Don’tthinkmeself—willed。Letmetrymyluckalone，andletusseewhatcomesofit。"
　　Benjaminyielded，withhiscustomaryconsiderationforme。IsentmyletterofintroductiontoMr。Playmore’soffice——hisprivatehousebeingintheneighborhoodofGleninch。Mymessengerbroughtbackapoliteanswer，invitingmetovisithimatanearlyhourintheafternoon。Attheappointedtime，tothemoment，Irangthebellattheofficedoor。
　　CHAPTERXXXIII。
　　ASPECIMENOFMYFOLLY。
　　THEincomprehensiblesubmissionofScotchmentotheecclesiasticaltyrannyoftheirEstablishedChurchhasproduced——notunnaturally，asIthink——averymistakenimpressionofthenationalcharacterinthepopularmind。
　　Publicopinionlooksattheinstitutionof"TheSabbath"inScotland；findsitunparalleledinChristendomforitssenselessandsavageausterity；seesanationcontenttobedeprivedbyitspriesthoodofeverysocialprivilegeononedayineveryweek——forbiddentotravel；forbiddentotelegraph；forbiddentoeatahotdinner；forbiddentoreadanewspaper；inshort，allowedtheuseoftwolibertiesonly，thelibertyofexhibitingone’sselfattheChurchandthelibertyofsecludingone’sselfoverthebottle——publicopinionseesthis，andarrivesatthenotunreasonableconclusionthatthepeoplewhosubmittosuchsociallawsasthesearethemoststolid，sternandjoylesspeopleonthefaceoftheearth。SuchareScotchmensupposedtobe，whenviewedatadistance。ButhowdoScotchmenappearwhentheyareseenunderacloserlight，andjudgedbythetestofpersonalexperience？Therearenopeoplemorecheerful，morecompanionable，morehospitable，moreliberalintheirideas，tobefoundonthefaceofthecivilizedglobethantheverypeoplewhosubmittotheScotchSunday！Onthesixdaysoftheweekthereisanatmosphereofquiethumor，aradiationofgenialcommon—sense，aboutScotchmeningeneral，whichissimplydelightfultofeel。ButontheseventhdaythesesamemenwillhearoneoftheirministersseriouslytellthemthatheviewstakingawalkontheSabbathinthelightofanactofprofanity，andwillbetheonlypeopleinexistencewhocanletamantalkdownrightnonsensewithoutlaughingathim。
　　Iamnotcleverenoughtobeabletoaccountforthisanomalyinthenationalcharacter；Icanonlynoticeitbywayofnecessarypreparationfortheappearanceinmylittlenarrativeofapersonagenotfrequentlyseeninwriting——acheerfulScotchman。
　　InallotherrespectsIfoundMr。Playmoreonlynegativelyremarkable。Hewasneitheroldnoryoung，neitherhandsomenorugly；hewaspersonallynotintheleastlikethepopularideaofalawyer；andhespokeperfectlygoodEnglish，touchedwithonlytheslightestpossibleflavorofaScotchaccent。
　　"IhavethehonortobeanoldfriendofMr。Macallan，"hesaid，cordiallyshakinghandswithme；"andIamhonestlyhappytobecomeacquaintedwithMr。Macallan’swife。Wherewillyousit？
　　Nearthelight？Youareyoungenoughnottobeafraidofthedaylightjustyet。IsthisyourfirstvisittoEdinburgh？PrayletmemakeitaspleasanttoyouasIcan。IshallbedelightedtopresentMrs。Playmoretoyou。WearestayinginEdinburghforalittlewhile。TheItalianoperaishere，andwehaveaboxforto—night。Willyoukindlywaiveallceremonyanddinewithusandgotothemusicafterward？"
　　"Youareverykind，"Ianswered。"ButIhavesomeanxietiesjustnowwhichwillmakemeaverypoorcompanionforMrs。Playmoreattheopera。Mylettertoyoumentions，Ithink，thatIhavetoaskyouradviceonmatterswhichareofveryseriousimportancetome。"
　　"Doesit？"herejoined。"Totellyouthetruth，Ihavenotreadtheletterthrough。Isawyournameinit，andIgatheredfromyourmessagethatyouwishedtoseemehere。Isentmynotetoyourhotel——andthenwentonwithsomethingelse。Praypardonme。
　　Isthisaprofessionalconsultation？Foryourownsake，I
　　sincerelyhopenot！"
　　"Itishardlyaprofessionalconsultation，Mr。Playmore。Ifindmyselfinaverypainfulposition；andIcometoyoutoadviseme，underveryunusualcircumstances。IshallsurpriseyouverymuchwhenyouhearwhatIhavetosay；andIamafraidIshalloccupymorethanmyfairshareofyourtime。"
　　"Iandmytimeareentirelyatyourdisposal，"hesaid。"TellmewhatIcandoforyou——andtellitinyourownway。"
　　Thekindnessofthislanguagewasmorethanmatchedbythekindnessofhismanner。Ispoketohimfreelyandfully——Itoldhimmystrangestorywithouttheslightestreserve。
　　HeshowedthevaryingimpressionsthatIproducedonhismindwithouttheslightestconcealment。MyseparationfromEustacedistressedhim。MyresolutiontodisputetheScotchVerdict，andmyunjustsuspicionsofMrs。Beauly，firstamused，thensurprisedhim。Itwasnot，however，untilIhaddescribedmyextraordinaryinterviewwithMiserrimusDexter，andmyhardlylessremarkableconversationwithLadyClarinda，thatIproducedmygreatesteffectonthelawyer’smind。Isawhimchangecolorforthefirsttime。Hestarted，andmutteredtohimself，asifhehadcompletelyforgottenme。"GoodGod！"Iheardhimsay——"canitbepossible？Doesthetruthlie_that_wayafterall？"
　　Itookthelibertyofinterruptinghim。Ihadnoideaofallowinghimtokeephisthoughtstohimself。
　　"Iseemtohavesurprisedyou？"Isaid。
　　Hestartedatthesoundofmyvoice。
　　"Ibegtenthousandpardons！"heexclaimed。"Youhavenotonlysurprisedme——youhaveopenedanentirelynewviewtomymind。I
　　seeapossibility，areallystartlingpossibility，inconnectionwiththepoisoningatGleninch，whichneveroccurredtomeuntilthepresentmoment。Thisisanicestateofthings，"headded，fallingbackagainintohisordinaryhumor。"Hereistheclientleadingthelawyer。MydearMrs。Eustace，whichisit——doyouwantmyadvice？ordoIwantyours？"
　　"MayIhearthenewidea？"Iasked。
　　"Notjustyet，ifyouwillexcuseme，"heanswered。"Makeallowancesformyprofessionalcaution。Idon’twanttobeprofessionalwithyou——mygreatanxietyistoavoidit。Butthelawyergetsthebetteroftheman，andrefusestobesuppressed。
　　Ireallyhesitatetorealizewhatispassinginmyownmindwithoutsomefurtherinquiry。Domeagreatfavor。Letusgooverapartofthegroundagain，andletmeaskyousomequestionsasweproceed。Doyoufeelanyobjectiontoobligingmeinthismatter？"
　　"Certainlynot，Mr。Playmore。Howfarshallwegoback？"
　　"ToyourvisittoDexterwithyourmother—in—law。WhenyoufirstaskedhimifhehadanyideasofhisownonthesubjectofMrs。
　　EustaceMacallan’sdeath，didIunderstandyoutosaythathelookedatyoususpiciously？"
　　"Verysuspiciously。"
　　"AndhisfaceclearedupagainwhenyoutoldhimthatyourquestionwasonlysuggestedbywhatyouhadreadintheReportoftheTrial？"
　　"Yes。"
　　Hedrewaslipofpaperoutofthedrawerinhisdesk，dippedhispenintheink，consideredalittle，andplacedachairformecloseathisside。
　　"Thelawyerdisappears，"hesaid，"andthemanresumeshisproperplace。Thereshallbenoprofessionalmysteriesbetweenyouandme。Asyourhusband’soldfriend，Mrs。Eustace，Ifeelnocommoninterestinyou。Iseeaseriousnecessityforwarningyoubeforeitistoolate；andIcanonlydosotoanygoodpurposebyrunningariskonwhichfewmeninmyplacewouldventure。
　　Personallyandprofessionally，Iamgoingtotrustyou——thoughI
　　_am_aScotchmanandalawyer。Sithere，andlookovermyshoulderwhileImakemynotes。YouwillseewhatispassinginmymindifyouseewhatIwrite。"
　　Isatdownbyhim，andlookedoverhisshoulder，withoutthesmallestpretenseofhesitation。
　　Hebegantowriteasfollows：
　　"ThepoisoningatGleninch。Queries：InwhatpositiondoesMiserrimusDexterstandtowardthepoisoning？Andwhatdoeshe（presumably）knowaboutthatmatter？
　　"Hehasideaswhicharesecrets。Hesuspectsthathehasbetrayedthem，orthattheyhavebeendiscoveredinsomewayinconceivabletohimself。Heispalpablyrelievedwhenhefindsthatthisisnotthecase。"
　　Thepenstopped；andthequestionswenton。
　　"Letusadvancetoyoursecondvisit，"saidMr。Playmore，"whenyousawDexteralone。Tellmeagainwhathedid，andhowhelookedwhenyouinformedhimthatyouwerenotsatisfiedwiththeScotchVerdict。"
　　IrepeatedwhatIhavealreadywritteninthesepages。Thepenwentbacktothepaperagain，andaddedtheselines：
　　"Hehearsnothingmoreremarkablethanthatapersonvisitinghim，whoisinterestedinthecase，refusestoaccepttheverdictattheMacallanTrialasafinalverdict，andproposestoreopentheinquiry。Whatdoeshedouponthat？
　　"Heexhibitsallthesymptomsofapanicofterror；heseeshimselfinsomeincomprehensibledanger；heisfranticatonemomentandservileatthenext；hemustandwillknowwhatthisdisturbingpersonreallymeans。Andwhenheisinformedonthatpoint，hefirstturnspaleanddoubtstheevidenceofhisownsenses；andnext，withnothingsaidtojustifyit，gratuitouslyaccuseshisvisitorofsuspectingsomebody。Queryhere：Whenasmallsumofmoneyismissinginahousehold，andtheservantsingeneralarecalledtogethertobeinformedofthecircumstance，whatdowethinkoftheoneservantinparticularwhospeaksfirst，andwhosays，’Doyoususpect_me？_’"
　　Helaiddownthepenagain。"Isthatright？"heasked。
　　Ibegantoseetheendtowhichthenotesweredrifting。Insteadofansweringhisquestion，Ientreatedhimtoenterintotheexplanationsthatwerestillwantingtoconvincemyownmind。Heheldupawarningforefinger，andstoppedme。
　　"Notyet，"hesaid。"Onceagain，amIright——sofar？"
　　"Quiteright。"
　　"Verywell。Nowtellmewhathappenednext。Don’tmindrepeatingyourself。Givemeallthedetails，oneafteranother，totheend。"
　　ImentionedallthedetailsexactlyasIrememberedthem。Mr。
　　Playmorereturnedtohiswritingforthethirdandlasttime。
　　Thusthenotesended：
　　"Heisindirectlyassuredthatheatleastisnotthepersonsuspected。Hesinksbackinhischair；hedrawsalongbreath；heaskstobeleftawhilebyhimself，underthepretensethatthesubjectexciteshim。Whenthevisitorreturns，Dexterhasbeendrinkingintheinterval。Thevisitorresumesthesubject——notDexter。ThevisitorisconvincedthatMrs。EustaceMacallandiedbythehandofapoisoner，andopenlysaysso。Dextersinksbackinhischairlikeamanfainting。Whatisthehorrorthathasgotpossessionofhim？Itiseasytounderstandifwecallitguiltyhorror；itisbeyondallunderstandingifwecallitanythingelse。Andhowdoesitleavehim？Hefliesfromoneextreme，toanother；heisindescribablydelightedwhenhediscoversthatthevisitor’ssuspicionsareallfixedonanabsentperson。Andthen，andthenonly，hetakesrefugeinthedeclarationthathehasbeenofonemindwithhisvisitor，inthematterofsuspicion，fromthefirst。Thesearefacts。Towhatplainconclusiondotheypoint？"
　　Heshutuphisnotes，and，steadilywatchingmyface，waitedformetospeakfirst。
　　"Iunderstandyou，Mr。Playmore，"Ibegimpetuously。"YoubelievethatMr。Dexter——"
　　Hiswarningforefingerstoppedmethere。
　　Tellme，"heinterposed，"whatDextersaidtoyouwhenhewassogoodastoconfirmyouropinionofpoorMrs。Beauly。"
　　"Hesaid，’Thereisn’tadoubtaboutit。Mrs。Beaulypoisonedher。’"
　　"Ican’tdobetterthanfollowsogoodanexample——withonetriflingdifference。Isaytoo，Thereisn’tadoubtaboutit。
　　Dexterpoisonedher。
　　"Areyoujoking，Mr。Playmore？"
　　"Ineverwasmoreinearnestinmylife。YourrashvisittoDexter，andyourextraordinaryimprudenceintakinghimintoyourconfidencehaveledtoastonishingresults。ThelightwhichthewholemachineryoftheLawwasunabletothrowonthepoisoningcaseatGleninchhasbeenaccidentallyletinonitbyaLadywhorefusestolistentoreasonandwhoinsistsonhavingherownway。Quiteincredible，andneverthelessquitetrue。"
　　"Impossible！"Iexclaimed。
　　"Whatisimpossible？"heasked，coolly"ThatDexterpoisonedmyhusband’sfirstwife。"
　　"Andwhyisthatimpossible，ifyouplease？"IbegantobealmostenragedwithMr。Playmore。
　　"Canyouaskthequestion？"Ireplied，indignantly。"IhavetoldyouthatIheardhimspeakofherintermsofrespectandaffectionofwhichanywomanmightbeproud。Helivesinthememoryofher。Iowehisfriendlyreceptionofmetosomeresemblancewhichhefanciesheseesbetweenmyfigureandhers。
　　Ihaveseentearsinhiseyes，Ihaveheardhisvoicefalterandfailhim，whenhespokeofher。Hemaybethefalsestofmeninallbesides，butheistrueto_her_——hehasnotmisledmeinthatonething。Therearesignsthatneverdeceiveawomanwhenamanistalkingtoherofwhatisreallynearhisheart：Isawthosesigns。ItisastruethatIpoisonedherasthathedid。I
　　amashamedtosetmyopinionagainstyours，Mr。Playmore；butI
　　reallycannothelpit。IdeclareIamalmostangrywithyou。"
　　Heseemedtobepleased，insteadofoffendedbytheboldmannerinwhichIexpressedmyself。
　　"MydearMrs。Eustace，youhavenoreasontobeangrywithme。Inonerespect，Ientirelyshareyourview——withthisdifference，thatIgoalittlefurtherthanyoudo。"
　　"Idon’tunderstandyou。"
　　"Youwillunderstandmedirectly。YoudescribeDexter’sfeelingforthelateMrs。Eustaceasahappymixtureofrespectandaffection。Icantellyouitwasamuchwarmerfeelingtowardherthanthat。Ihavemyinformationfromthepoorladyherself——whohonoredmewithherconfidenceandfriendshipforthebestpartofherlife。BeforeshemarriedMr。Macallan——shekeptitasecretfromhim，andyouhadbetterkeepitasecrettoo——MiserrimusDexterwasinlovewithher。MiserrimusDexteraskedher——deformedashewas，seriouslyaskedher——tobehiswife。"
　　"Andinthefaceofthat，"Icried，"yousaythathepoisonedher！"
　　"Ido。Iseenootherconclusionpossible，afterwhathappenedduringyourvisittohim。Youallbutfrightenedhimintoafaintingfit。Whatwasheafraidof？"
　　Itriedhardtofindananswertothat。Ievenembarkedonananswerwithoutquiteknowingwheremyownwordsmightleadme。
　　Mr。Dexterisanoldandtruefriendofmyhusband，Ibegan。
　　"WhenheheardmesayIwasnotsatisfiedwiththeVerdict，hemighthavefeltalarmed——"
　　"Hemighthavefeltalarmedatthepossibleconsequencestoyourhusbandofreopeningtheinquiry，"saidMr。Playmore，ironicallyfinishingthesentenceforme。"Ratherfar—fetched，Mrs。Eustace；
　　andnotveryconsistentwithyourfaithinyourhusband’sinnocence。Clearyourmindofonemistake，"hecontinued，seriously，"whichmayfatallymisleadyouifyoupersistinpursuingyourpresentcourse。MiserrimusDexter，youmaytakemywordforit，ceasedtobeyourhusband’sfriendonthedaywhenyourhusbandmarriedhisfirstwife。Dexterhaskeptupappearances，Igrantyou，bothinpublicandinprivate。Hisevidenceinhisfriend’sfavorattheTrialwasgivenwiththedeepfeelingwhicheverybodyexpectedfromhim。Nevertheless，I
　　firmlybelieve，lookingunderthesurface，thatMr。MacallanhasnobittererenemylivingthanMiserrimusDexter。"
　　Heturnedmecold。Ifeltthathere，atleast，hewasright。MyhusbandhadwooedandwonthewomanwhohadrefusedDexter’sofferofmarriage。WasDexterthemantoforgivethat？Myownexperienceansweredme，andsaid，No。"BearinmindwhatIhavetoldyou，"Mr。Playmoreproceeded。"Andnowletusgetontoyourownpositioninthismatter，andtotheintereststhatyouhaveatstake。Trytoadoptmypointofviewforthemoment；andletusinquirewhatchancewehaveofmakinganyfurtheradvancetowardadiscoveryofthetruth。Itisonethingtobemorallyconvinced（asIam）thatMiserrimusDexteristhemanwhooughttohavebeentriedforthemurderatGleninch；anditisanotherthing，atthisdistanceoftime，tolayourhandsontheplainevidencewhichcanalonejustifyanythinglikeapublicassertionofhisguilt。There，asIseeit，istheinsuperabledifficultyinthecase。UnlessIamcompletelymistaken，thequestionisnownarrowedtothisplainissue：Thepublicassertionofyourhusband’sinnocencedependsentirelyonthepublicassertionofDexter’sguilt。Howareyoutoarriveatthatresult？Thereisnotaparticleofevidenceagainsthim。YoucanonlyconvictDexteronDexter’sownconfession。Areyoulisteningtome？"
　　Iwaslistening，mostunwillingly。Ifhewereright，thingshadindeedcometothatterriblepass。ButIcouldnot——withallmyrespectforhissuperiorknowledgeandexperience——Icouldnotpersuademyselfthathe_was_right。AndIownedit，withthehumilitywhichIreallyfelt。
　　Hesmiledgood—humoredly。
　　"Atanyrate，"hesaid，"youwilladmitthatDexterhasnotfreelyopenedhismindtoyouthusfar？Heisstillkeepingsomethingfromyourknowledgewhichyouareinterestedindiscovering？"
　　"Yes。Iadmitthat。"
　　"Verygood。Whatappliestoyourviewofthecaseappliestomine。Isay，heiskeepingfromyoutheconfessionofhisguilt。
　　Yousay，heiskeepingfromyouinformationwhichmayfastentheguiltonsomeotherperson。Letusstartfromthatpoint。
　　Confession，orinformation，howareyoutogetatwhatheisnowwithholdingfromyou？Whatinfluencecanyoubringtobearonhimwhenyouseehimagain？"
　　"SurelyImightpersuadehim？"
　　"Certainly。Andifpersuasionfail——whatthen？Doyouthinkyoucanentraphimintospeakingout？orterrifyhimintospeakingout？"
　　"Ifyouwilllookatyournotes，Mr。Playmore，youwillseethatIhavealreadysucceededinterrifyinghim——thoughIamonlyawomanandthoughIdidn’tmeantodoit。"
　　"Verywellanswered。Youmarkthetrick。Whatyouhavedoneonceyouthinkyoucandoagain。Well，asyouaredeterminedtotrytheexperiment，itcandoyounoharmtoknowalittlemoreofDexter’scharacterandtemperamentthanyouknownow。Supposeweapplyforinformationtosomebodywhocanhelpus？"
　　Istarted，andlookedroundtheroom。Hemademedoit——hespokeasifthepersonwhowastohelpuswascloseatourelbows。
　　"Don’tbealarmed，"hesaid。"Theoracleissilent；andtheoracleishere。"
　　Heunlockedoneofthedrawersofhisdesk；producedabundleofletters，andpickedoutone。
　　"Whenwewerearrangingyourhusband’sdefense，"hesaid，"wefeltsomedifficultyaboutincludingMiserrimusDexteramongourwitnesses。Wehadnottheslightestsuspicionofhim，Ineedhardlytellyou。Butwewereallafraidofhiseccentricity；andsomeamongusevenfearedthattheexcitementofappearingattheTrialmightdrivehimcompletelyoutofhismind。Inthisemergencyweappliedtoadoctortohelpus。Undersomepretext，whichIforgetnow，weintroducedhimtoDexter。Andinduecourseoftimewereceivedhisreport。Hereitis。"
　　Heopenedtheletter，andmarkingacertainpassageinitwithapencil，handedittome。
　　"ReadthelineswhichIhavemarked，"hesaid；"theywillbequitesufficientforourpurpose。"
　　Ireadthesewords：
　　"Summinguptheresultsofmyobservation，Imaygiveitasmyopinionthatthereisundoubtedlylatentinsanityinthiscase，butthatnoactivesymptomsofmadnesshavepresentedthemselvesasyet。Youmay，Ithink，producehimattheTrial，withoutfearofconsequences。Hemaysayanddoallsortsofoddthings；buthehashismindunderthecontrolofhiswill，andyoumaytrusthisself—esteemtoexhibithiminthecharacterofasubstantiallyintelligentwitness。
　　"Astothefuture，Iam，ofcourse，notabletospeakpositively。
　　Icanonlystatemyviews。
　　"Thathewillendinmadness（ifhelive），Ientertainlittleornodoubt。Thequestionof_when_themadnesswillshowitselfdependsentirelyonthestateofhishealth。Hisnervoussystemishighlysensitive，andtherearesignsthathiswayoflifehasalreadydamagedit。IfheconquerthebadhabitstowhichIhavealludedinanearlierpartofmyreport，andifhepassmanyhoursofeverydayquietlyintheopenair，hemaylastasasanemanforyearstocome。Ifhepersistinhispresentwayoflife——or，inotherwords，iffurthermischiefoccurtothatsensitivenervoussystem——hislapseintoinsanitymustinfalliblytakeplacewhenthemischiefhasreacheditsculminatingpoint。
　　Withoutwarningtohimselfortoothers，thewholementalstructurewillgiveway；and，atamoment’snotice，whileheisactingasquietlyorspeakingasintelligentlyasathisbesttime，themanwilldrop（ifImayusetheexpression）intomadnessoridiocy。Ineithercase，whenthecatastrophehashappened，itisonlyduetohisfriendstoaddthattheycan（asIbelieve）entertainnohopeofhiscure。Thebalanceoncelost，willbelostforlife。"
　　Thereitended。Mr。Playmoreputtheletterbackinhisdrawer。
　　"Youhavejustreadtheopinionofoneofourhighestlivingauthorities，"hesaid。"DoesDexterstrikeyouasalikelymantogivehisnervoussystemachanceofrecovery？Doyouseenoobstaclesandnoperilsinyourway？"
　　Mysilenceansweredhim。