The Story Resumed by FRANKLIN BLAKE But few words are needed, on my part, to complete the narrative that has

been presented in the Journal of Ezra Jennings.

Of myself, I have only to say that I awoke on the morning of the

twenty-sixth, perfectly ignorant of all that I had said and done under

the influence of the opium--from the time when the drug first laid its

hold on me, to the time when I opened my eyes, in Rachel's sitting-room.

Of what happened after my waking, I do not feel called upon to render an

account in detail. Confining myself merely to results, I have to report

that Rachel and I thoroughly understood each other, before a single

word of explanation had passed on either side. I decline to account,

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and Rachel declines to account, for the extraordinary rapidity of our

reconciliation. Sir and Madam, look back at the time when you were

passionately attached to each other--and you will know what happened,

after Ezra Jennings had shut the door of the sitting-room, as well as I

know it myself.

I have, however, no objection to add, that we should have been certainly

discovered by Mrs. Merridew, but for Rachel's presence of mind. She

heard the sound of the old lady's dress in the corridor, and instantly

ran out to meet her; I heard Mrs. Merridew say, "What is the matter?"

and I heard Rachel answer, "The explosion!" Mrs. Merridew instantly

permitted herself to be taken by the arm, and led into the garden, out

of the way of the impending shock. On her return to the house, she met

me in the hall, and expressed herself as greatly struck by the vast

improvement in Science, since the time when she was a girl at school.

"Explosions, Mr. Blake, are infinitely milder than they were. I assure

you, I barely heard Mr. Jennings's explosion from the garden. And no

smell afterwards, that I can detect, now we have come back to the house!

I must really apologise to your medical friend. It is only due to him to

say that he has managed it beautifully!"

So, after vanquishing Betteredge and Mr. Bruff, Ezra Jennings vanquished

Mrs. Merridew herself. There is a great deal of undeveloped liberal

feeling in the world, after all!

At breakfast, Mr. Bruff made no secret of his reasons for wishing that

I should accompany him to London by the morning train. The watch kept

at the bank, and the result which might yet come of it, appealed so

irresistibly to Rachel's curiosity, that she at once decided (if Mrs.

Merridew had no objection) on accompanying us back to town--so as to be

within reach of the earliest news of our proceedings.




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