”’”So！”saidI。”Thisishowyourepaythetrustwhichwehavereposedinyou。Youwillleavemyserviceto-morrow。””’Hebowedwiththelookofamanwhoisutterlycrushed，andslunkpastmewithoutaword。Thetaperwasstillonthetable，andbyitslightIglancedtoseewhatthepaperwaswhichBruntonhadtakenfromthebureau。Tomysurpriseitwasnothingofanyimportanceatall，butsimplyacopyofthequestionsandanswersinthesingularoldobservancecalledtheMusgraveRitual。Itisasortofceremonypeculiartoourfamily，whicheachMusgraveforcenturiespasthasgonethroughonhiscomingofage——athingofprivateinterest，andperhapsofsomelittleimportancetothearchaeologist，likeourownblazoningsandcharges，butofnopracticalusewhatever。’”’Wehadbettercomebacktothepaperafterwards，’saidI。”’Ifyouthinkitreallynecessary，’heanswered，withsomehesitation。’Tocontinuemystatement，however：
Irelockedthebureau，usingthekeywhichBruntonhadleft，andIhadturnedtogowhenIwassurprisedtofindthatthebutlerhadreturned，andwasstandingbeforeme。”’”Mr。Musgrave，sir，”hecried，inavoicewhichwashoarsewithemotion，”Ican’tbeardisgrace，sir。
I’vealwaysbeenproudabovemystationinlife，anddisgracewouldkillme。Mybloodwillbeonyourhead，sir——itwill，indeed——ifyoudrivemetodespair。Ifyoucannotkeepmeafterwhathaspassed，thenforGod’ssakeletmegiveyounoticeandleaveinamonth，asifofmyownfreewill。Icouldstandthat，Mr。Musgrave，butnottobecastoutbeforeallthefolkthatIknowsowell。””’”Youdon’tdeservemuchconsideration，Brunton，”I
answered。”Yourconducthasbeenmostinfamous。
However，asyouhavebeenalongtimeinthefamily，I