I received a few lines then, yesterday, from Miss Verinder. She has

arranged to travel by the afternoon train, as I recommended. Mrs.

Merridew has insisted on accompanying her. The note hints that the old

lady's generally excellent temper is a little ruffled, and requests all

due indulgence for her, in consideration of her age and her habits.

I will endeavour, in my relations with Mrs. Merridew, to emulate the

moderation which Betteredge displays in his relations with me. He

received us to-day, portentously arrayed in his best black suit, and

his stiffest white cravat. Whenever he looks my way, he remembers that

I have not read ROBINSON CRUSOE since I was a child, and he respectfully

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pities me.

Yesterday, also, Mr. Blake had the lawyer's answer. Mr. Bruff accepts

the invitation--under protest. It is, he thinks, clearly necessary that

a gentleman possessed of the average allowance of common sense, should

accompany Miss Verinder to the scene of, what we will venture to call,

the proposed exhibition. For want of a better escort, Mr. Bruff himself

will be that gentleman.--So here is poor Miss Verinder provided with two

"chaperones." It is a relief to think that the opinion of the world must

surely be satisfied with this!

Nothing has been heard of Sergeant Cuff. He is no doubt still in

Ireland. We must not expect to see him to-night.

Betteredge has just come in, to say that Mr. Blake has asked for me. I

must lay down my pen for the present.

* * * * * Seven o'clock.--We have been all over the refurnished rooms and

staircases again; and we have had a pleasant stroll in the shrubbery,

which was Mr. Blake's favourite walk when he was here last. In this way,

I hope to revive the old impressions of places and things as vividly as

possible in his mind.

We are now going to dine, exactly at the hour at which the birthday

dinner was given last year. My object, of course, is a purely medical

one in this case. The laudanum must find the process of digestion, as

nearly as may be, where the laudanum found it last year.

At a reasonable time after dinner I propose to lead the conversation

back again--as inartificially as I can--to the subject of the Diamond,

and of the Indian conspiracy to steal it. When I have filled his mind

with these topics, I shall have done all that it is in my power to do,

before the time comes for giving him the second dose.

* * * * * Half-past eight.--I have only this moment found an opportunity of

attending to the most important duty of all; the duty of looking in the

family medicine chest, for the laudanum which Mr. Candy used last year.




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