首页 >出版文学> The Law and the Lady>第26章
  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。"