’ButthisspeaksofyourgoingnextMonday，Josiah，’saidMrsCrawley。
’IfinditmoresuitablethatIshouldgotoday，’saidhe。’SomedutyI
dooweinthismatter，bothtothebishop，andtoDrTempest，who，afterafashionis，asregardsmypresentbusiness，thebishop’srepresentative。ButIdonotperceivethatIoweitasadutytoeithertoobeyimplicitlytheirinjunctions，andIwillnotsubmitmyselftothecross—questioningofthemanThumble。AsIampurposedatpresentI
shallexpressmywillingnesstogiveuptheparish。’
’Giveuptheparishaltogether？’
’Yes，altogether。’Ashespokeheclaspedbothhishandstogether，andhavingheldthemforamomentonhigh，allowedthemtofallthusclaspedbeforehim。’Icannotgiveitupinpart；Icannotabandonthedutiesandreservethehonorarium。NorwouldIifIcould。’
’Ididnotmeanthat，Josiah。Butpraythinkofitbeforeyouspeak。’
’Ihavethoughtofit，andIwillthinkofit。Farewell，mydear。’
Thenhecameuptoherandkissedher，andstartedonhisjourneyonfoottoSilverbridge。
ItwasaboutnoonwhenhereachedSilverbridge，andhewastoldthatDoctorTempestwasathome。Theservantaskedhimforacard。’Ihavenocard，’saidMrCrawley，’butIwillwritemynameforyourbehoofifyourmaster’shospitalitywillallowmepaperandpencil。’Thenamewaswritten，andasCrawleywaitedinthedrawing—roomhespenthistimeinhatingDrTempestbecausethedoorhadbeenopenedbyaman—servantdressedinblack。HadthemanbeeninliveryhewouldhavehatedDrTempestallthesame。Andhewouldhavehatedhimalittlehadthedoorbeenopenedbyasmartmaid。
’Yourlettercametohandyesterdaymorning，DrTempest，’saidMrCrawley，stillstanding，thoughthedoctorhadpointedtoachairforhimaftershakinghandswithhim；’andhavinggivenyesterdaytotheconsiderationofit，withwhatjudgmentIhavebeenabletoexercise，I
havefeltittobeincumbentuponmetowaituponyouwithoutfurtherdelay，asbydoingsoImayperhapsassistyourviewsandsavelabourtothosegentlemenwhoarejoinedwithyouinthiscommissionofwhichyouhavespoken。TosomeofthemitmaypossiblybetroublesomethattheyshouldbebroughthereonnextMonday。
DrTempesthadbeenlookingathimduringthisspeech，andcouldseebyhisshoesandtrousersthathehadwalkedfromHogglestocktoSilverbridge。’MrCrawley，willyounotsitdown？’saidhe，andthenheranghisbell。MrCrawleysatdown，notonthechairindicated，butonthefurtherremovedandattheothersideofthetable。Whentheservantcame——theobjectionablebutlerinblackclothesthatweresomuchsmarterthanMrCrawley’sown——hismaster’sorderswerecommunicatedwithoutanyaudibleword，andthemanreturnedwithadecanterandwine—glasses。
’Afteryourwalk，MrCrawley，’saidDrTempest，gettingupfromhisseattopouroutwine。
’None，Ithankyou。’
’Prayletmepersuadeyou。Iknowthelengthofthemilessowell。’
’Iwilltakenoneifyouplease，sir，’saidMrCrawley。
’Now，MrCrawley，’saidDrTempest，’doletmespeaktoyouasafriend。
Youhavewalkedeightmiles，andaregoingtotalktomeonasubjectwhichisofvitalimportancetoyourself。Iwon’tdiscussitunlessyou’lltakeaglassofwineandabiscuit。’
’DrTempest！’
’I’mquiteinearnest。Iwon’t。IfyoudoasIask，youshalltalktometilldinner—time，ifyoulike。There。Nowyoumaybegin。’
MrCrawleydideatthebiscuitanddiddrinkthewine，andashedidso，heacknowledgedtohimselfthatDrTempestwasright。Hefeltthatthewinehadmadehimstrongertospeak。’IhardlyknowwhyyouhavepreferredtodaytonextMonday，’saidDrTempest；’butifanythingcanbedonebyyourpresenceheretoday，yourtimeshallnotbethrownaway。’
’IhavepreferredtodaytoMonday，’saidCrawley，’partlybecauseI
wouldsoonertalktoonemanthantofive。’
’Thereissomethinginthat，certainly，’saidDrTempest。
’AndasIhavemadeupmymindastothecourseofactionwhichitismydutytotakeinthemattertowhichyourletteroftheninthofthismonthrefers，therecanbenoreasonwhyIshouldpostponethedeclarationofmypurpose。DrTempest，IhavedeterminedtoresignmyprefermentatHogglestock，andshalltodaywritetotheDeanofBarchester，whoisthepatron，acquaintinghimofmypurpose。’
’Youmeanintheevent——intheevent——’
’Imean，sir，todothiswithoutreferencetoanyeventthatisfuture。
Thebishop，DrTempest，whenIshallhavebeenprovedtobeathief，shallhavenotroubleeitherincausingmysuspensionormydeprivation。
Thenameandfameofaparishclergymanshouldbeunstained。Minehavebecomefoulwithinfamy。Iwillnotwaittobedeprivedbyanycourt，byanybishop，orbyanycommission。Iwillbowmyheadtothatpublicopinionwhichhasreachedme，andIwilldeprivemyself。’
Hehadgotupfromhischair，andwasstandingashepronouncedthefinalsentenceagainsthimself。DrTempeststillremainedseatedinhischair，lookingathim，andforafewmomentstherewassilence。’Youmustnotdothat，MrCrawley，’saidDrTempest，atlast。
’ButIshalldoit。’
’Thenthedeanmustnottakeyourresignation。Speakingtoyoufrankly，Itellyouthatthereisnoprevailingopinionastotheverdictwhichthejurymaygive。’
’Mydecisionhasnothingtodowiththejury’sverdict。Mydecision——’
’Stopamoment，MrCrawley。Itispossiblethatyoumightsaythatwhichshouldnotbesaid。’
’Thereisnothingtobesaid——nothingwhichIcouldsay，whichIwouldnotsayattheTownCrossifitwerepossible。Astothismoney，IdonotknowwhetherIstoleitorwhetherIdidnot。’
’ThatisjustwhatIhavethought。’
’Itisso。’
’Thenyoudidnotstealit。Therecanbenodoubtaboutthat。’
’Thankyou，DrTempest。Ithankyouheartilyforsayingsomuch。But，sir，youarenotthejury。Nor，ifyouwere，couldyouwhitewashmefromtheinfamywhichhasbeencastuponme。Againsttheopinionexpressedatthebeginningoftheseproceedingsbythebishopofthisdiocese——orratheragainstthatexpressedbyhiswife——Ididventuretomakeastand。Neithertheopinionwhichcamefromthepalace，northevehiclebywhichitwasexpressed，commandedmyrespect。Sincethat，othershavespokentowhomIfeelmyselfboundtoyield——yourselfnottheleastamongthem，DrTempest——andtothemIshallyield。YoumaytelltheBishopofBarchester，thatIshallatonceresigntheperpetualcuracyofHogglestockintothehandsoftheDeanofBarchester，bywhomIwasappointed。’
’No，MrCrawley；Ishallnotdothat。Icannotcontrolyou，butthinkingyoutobewrong，Ishallnotmakethatcommunicationtothebishop。’
’ThenIshalldoitmyself。’
’Andyourwife，MrCrawley，andyourchildren？’
AtthatmomentMrCrawleycalledtomindtheadviceofhisfriendGilesHoggett。’It’ddoggedasdoesit。’Hecertainlywantedsomethingverystrongtosustainhiminthisdifficulty。Hefoundthatthisreferencetohiswifeandchildrenrequiredhimtobedoggedinaverymarkedmanner。’Icanonlytrustthatthewindmaybetemperedtothem，’hesaid。’Theywill，indeed，beshornlambs。’
DrTempestgotupfromhischair，andtookacoupleofturnsabouttheroombeforehespokeagain。’Man，’hesaid，addressingMrCrawleywithallhisenergy，’ifyoudothisthing，youwillthenatleastbeverywicked。Ifthejuryfindaverdictinyourfavouryouaresafe，andthechancesarethattheverdictwillbeinyourfavour。’
’Icarenothingnowfortheverdict，’saidMrCrawley。
’Andyouwillturnyourwifeintothepoorhouseforanidea！’
’It’sdoggedasdoesit，’saidMrCrawleytohimself。’Ihavethoughtofthat，’hesaidaloud。’Thatmywifeisdeartome，andthatmychildrenaredear，Iwillnotdeny。Shewassoftlynurtured，DrTempest，andcamefromahouseinwhichwantwasneverknown。Sinceshehassharedmyboardshehashadsomeexperienceofthatnature。ThatI
shouldhavebroughthertoallthisisveryterribletome——soterrible，thatIoftenwonderhowitisthatIlive。But，sir，youwillagreewithme，thatmydutyasaclergymanisaboveeverything。Idonotdare，evenfortheirsake，toremainintheparish。Goodmorning，DrTempest。’DrTempest，findingthathecouldnotprevailwithhim，badehimadieu，feelingthatanyservicetotheCrawleyswithininhispowermightbebestdonebyintercessionwiththebishopandwiththedean。
ThenMrCrawleywalkedbacktoHogglestock，repeatingtohimselfGilesHoggett’swords，’It’sdoggedasdoesit。’
CHAPTERLXII
MRCRAWLEY’SLETTERTOTHEDEAN
MrCrawley，whenhegothomeafterhiswalktoSilverbridge，deniedthathewasatalltired。’ThemanatSilverbridge，whomIwenttoseeadministeredrefreshmenttome；——nay，headministereditwithsalutaryviolence，’hesaid，affectingeventolaugh。’AndIamboundtospeakwellofhimonbehalfofmerciesoverandbeyondthatexhibitedbythepersistenttenderofsomewine。ThatIshouldfindhimjudiciousIhadexpected。WhatlittleIhaveknownofhimtaughtmesotothinkofhim。
ButIfoundwithhimalsoasoftnessofheartforwhichIhadnotlooked。’
’Andyouwillnotgiveuptheliving，Josiah？’
’MostcertainlyIwill。Aduty，whenitisclearbeforeaman，shouldneverbemadelesssobyanytendernessinothers。’HewasstillthinkingofGilesHoggett。’It’sdoggedasdoesit。’Thepoorwomancouldnotanswerhim。Sheknewwellthatitwasvaintoarguewithhim。
Shecouldonlyhopethatintheeventofhisbeingacquittedatthetrial，thedean，whosefriendshipshedidnotdoubt，mightre—endowhimwiththesmallbeneficewhichwastheironlysourceofbread。
OnthefollowingmorningtherecamebypostashortnotefromDrTempest。’MydearMrCrawley，’thenoteran，’Iimploreyou，iftherebeyettime，todonothingrashly。Andeventhoughyoushouldhavewrittentothebishoportothedean，yourlettersneedhavenoeffect，ifyouwillallowmetomaketheminoperative。PermitmetosaythatIamamanmucholderthanyou，andonewhohasmixedmuchbothwithclergymenandwiththeworldatlarge。Itellyouwithabsoluteconfidence，thatitisnotyourdutyinyourpresentpositiontogiveupyourliving。Shouldyourconducteverbecalledinquestiononthismatteryouwillbeatperfectlibertytosaythatyouwereguidedbymyadvice。
Youshouldtakenosteptillafterthetrial。Then，iftheverdictbeagainstyou，youshouldsubmittothebishop’sjudgment。Iftheverdictbeinyourfavour，thebishop’sinterferencewillbeover。’
’Andyoumustrememberthatifitisnotyourdutyasaclergymantogiveupyourliving，youcanhavenoright，seeingthatyouhaveawifeandfamily，tothrowitawayasanindulgencetoyourpride。Consultanyotherfriendyouplease——MrRobarts，orthedeanhimself。IamquitesurethatanyfriendwhoknowsmanyofthecircumstancesasI
knowwilladviseyoutoholdtheliving，atanyratetillafterthetrial。Youcanreferanysuchfriendtome。——Believeme，tobeyoursverytruly，MORTIMERTEMPEST’
MrCrawleywalkedaboutagainwiththisletterinhispocket，butonthisoccasionhedidnotgointhedirectionofHoggleEnd。FromHoggleEndhecouldhardlyhopetopickupfurtherlessonsofwisdom。WhatcouldanyGilesHoggettsaytohimbeyondwhathehadsaidtohimalready？Ifheweretoreadthedoctor’slettertoHoggett，andtosucceedinmakingHoggettunderstandit，Hoggettcouldonlycautionhimtobedogged。ButitseemedtohimthatHoggettandhisnewfriendatSilverbridgedidnotagreeintheirdoctrines，anditmightbewellthatheshouldendeavourtofindoutwhichofthemhadmostofjusticeonhisside。HewasquitesurethatHoggettwouldadvisehimtoadheretohisprojectofgivinguptheliving——ifonlyHoggettcouldmemadetounderstandthecircumstances。
’Hehadwritten，buthadnotasyetsentawayhislettertothedean。
Hislettertothebishopwouldbebutanote，andhehadpostponedthewritingofthattilltheothershouldbecopiedandmadecomplete。
Hehadsatuplateintothenightcomposingandalteringhislettertohisoldfriend，andnowthatthecompositionwasfinishedhewaslothtothrowitaway。Earlyinthismorning，beforethepostmanhadbroughttohimDrTempest’surgentremonstrance，hehadshowntohiswifethedraftofhislettertothedean。’Icannotsaythatitisnottrue，’shehadsaid。
’Itiscertainlytrue。’
’ButIwish，mydear，youwouldnotsendit。Whyshouldyoutakeanysteptillthetrialbeover？’
’Ishallassuredlysendit，’hehadreplied。’Ifyouwillperuseitagain，youwillseethattheepistlewouldbefutilewereitkepttillI
shallhavebeenprovedtobeathief。’
’Oh，Josiah，suchwordskillme。’
’Theyarenotpleasant，butitwillbewellthatyoushouldbecomeusedtothem。Asfortheletter，Ihavetakensometroubletoexpressmyselfwithperspicuity，andItrustthatImayhavesucceeded。’AtthattimeHoggettwasaltogetherintheascendant；butnow，ashestartedonhiswalk，hismindwassomewhatperturbedbythecontraryadviceofone，whoafterall，mightbeaswiseasHoggett。TherewouldbenothingdoggedintheconductrecommendedtohimbyDrTempest。Werehetofollowthedoctor’sadvice，hewouldbetrimminghissails，soastocatchanyslantofabreezethatmightbefavourabletohim。Therecouldbenodoggednessinacharacterthatwouldsubmittosuchtrimming。
ThepostmancametoHogglestockbutonceaday，sothathecouldnotdespatchhislettertillthenextmorning——unless，indeed，hechosetosenditadistanceoffourmilestothenearestpost—office。Astherewasnothingtojustifythis，therewasanothernightforthecopyingofhisletter——shouldheatlastdeterminetosendit。Hehadsworntohiswifethatitshouldgo。Hehadtakenmuchtroublewithit。HebelievedinHoggett。But，nevertheless，thisincumbencyofHogglestockwashisallintheworld。Itmightbethathecouldstillholdit，andhavebreadatleastforhiswifetoeat。DrTempesthadtoldhimthathewouldbeprobablyacquitted。DrTempestknewasmuchofallthecircumstancesashedidhimself，andhadtoldhimthathewasnotguilty。Afterall，DrTempestknewmoreaboutitthatHoggettknew。
Ifheresignedtheliving，whatwouldbecomeofhim——ofhim——ofhimandhiswife？Whitherwouldtheyfirstgowhentheyturnedtheirbackuponthedoorinsidewhichtherehadatanyratebeenshelterforthemforsomanyyears？Hecalculatedeverythingthathehad，andfoundthatattheendofApril，evenwhenheshouldhavereceivedhisrent—charge，therewouldnotbefivepoundsinhandamongthem。Asforhisfurniture，hestillowedenoughtomakeitimpossiblethatheshouldgetanythingoutofthat。Andthesethoughtsallhadreferencetohispositionifheshouldbeacquitted。Whatwouldbecomeofhiswifeifheshouldbeconvicted？Andasforhimself，whitherwouldhegowhenhecameoutofprison？
HehadcompletelyrealisedtheideathatHoggett’scounselwasopposedtothatgiventohimbyDrTempest；butthenitmightcertainlybethecasethatHoggetthadnotknownallthefacts。Amanshould，nodoubt，bedoggedwhentheevilsoflifeareinsuperable；butneedhebesowhentheevilscanbeovercome？WouldnotHoggetthimselfundergoanytreatmentwhichhebelievedtobespecificforrheumatism？Yes；Hoggettwouldundergoanytreatmentthatwasnotinitselfopposedtohisduty。
Thebesttreatmentforrheumatismmightbetostayawayfromthebrick—
fieldonarainyday；butifso，therewouldbenomoneytokeepthepotboiling，andHoggettwouldcertainlygotothebrick—field，rheumatismandall，aslongashislimbswouldcarryhimthere。Yes；hewouldsendhisletter。Itwashisduty，andhewoulddoit。Menlookedaskanceathim，andpointedathimasathief。Hewouldsendtheletter，inspiteofDrTempest。Letjusticebedone，thoughtheheavenmayfall。
HehadheardofLadyLufton’stohiswife。TheoffersoftheLadyLuftonsoftheworldhadbeensorelydistressingtohisspirit，sinceithadfirstcometopassthatsuchoffershadreachedhiminconsequenceofhispoverty。ButnowtherewassomethingalmostofrelieftohiminthethoughtthattheLadyLuftonswould，aftersomefashion，savehiswifeandchildrenfromstarvation——wouldsavehiswifefromthepoorhouse，andenablehischildrentohaveastartintheworld。Foroneofhischildrenabrilliantmarriagemightbeprovided——ifonlyhehimselfwereoutoftheway。Howcouldhetakehimselfoutoftheway？
Ithadbeenwhisperedtohimthathemightbeimprisonedfortwomonths——orfortwoyears。Woulditnotbeagrandthingifthejudgewouldcondemnhimtobeimprisonedforlife？Wastheeeveramanwhoseexistencewassopurposeless，souseless，sodeleterious，ashisown？
AndyetheknewHebrewwell，whereasthedeanknewbutverylittleHebrew。HecouldmakeGreekiambics，anddoubtedwhetherthebishopknewthedifferencebetweenaniambusandatrochee。Hecoulddisporthimselfwithtrigonometry，feelingconfidentthatDrTempesthadforgottenhiswayovertheasses’bridge。Heknew’Lycidas’byheart；andasforThumble，hefeltquitesurethatThumblewasincompetentofunderstandingasingleallusioninthatdivinepoem。Nevertheless，thoughallhiswealthofacquirementwashis，itwouldbebetterforhimself，betterforthosewhobelongedtohim，betterfortheworldatlarge，thatheshouldbeputanendto。Asentenceofpenalservitudeforlife，withoutanytrial，wouldbeofallthingsthemostdesirable。
ThentherewouldbeampleroomforthepracticeofthevirtuethatHoggetthadtaughthim。
WhenhereturnedhometheHoggethandoctrineprevailed，andhepreparedtocopyhisletter。Butbeforehecommencedhistask，hesatdownwithhisyoungestdaughter，andread——ormadeherreadtohim——apassageofaGreekpoem，inwhicharedescribedthetroublesandagoniesofablindgiant。Nogiantwouldhavebeenmorepowerful——onlythathewasblind，andcouldnotseetoavengehimselfonthosewhohadinjuredhim。’Thesamestoryisalwayscomingup，’hesaid，stoppingthegirlinherreading。’Wehaveitinvariousversions，becauseitistruetolife。
\"Askforthisgreatdeliverernow，andfindhimEyelessinGaza，atthemillwithslaves。\"
Itisthesamestory。Greatpowerreducedtoimpotence，greatglorytomisery，bythehandofFate——Necessity，astheGreekscalledher；togoddessthatwillnotbeshunned。Atthemillwithslaves！People，whentheyreadit，donotappreciatethehorrorofthepicture。Goonmydear。ItmaybeaquestionwhetherPolyphemushadmindenoughtosuffer；
but，fromthedescriptionofhispower，Ishouldthinkhehad。\"Atthemillwithslaves！\"Cananypicturebemoredreadfulthanthat？Goon，mydear。OfcourseyourememberMilton’sSamsonAgonistes。Agonistesindeed！’Hiswifewassittingstitchingattheothersideoftheroom；
butsheheardhiswords——heardandunderstoodthem；andbeforeJanecouldagaingetherselfintotheswingoftheGreekverse，shewasoveratherhusband’sside，withherarmsroundhisneck。’Mylove！’shesaid。’Mylove！’
Heturnedtoher，andsmiledashespoketoher。’Theseareoldthoughtswithme。PolyphemusandBelisarius，andSamsonandMilton，havealwaysbeenpetsofmine。Themindofthestrongblindcreaturemustbesensibleoftheinjurythathehasbeendonetohim！Theimpotency，combinedwiththestrength，orrathertheimpotencywiththemiseryofformerstrengthandformeraspirations，issoessentiallytragic！’
Shelookedintohiseyesashespoke，andtherewassomethingoftheflashofolddays，whentheworldwasyoungtothem，andwhenhewouldtellherofhishopes，andrepeattoherlongpassagesofpoetry，andwouldcriticiseforheradvantagetheworksoftheoldwriters。’ThankGod，’shesaid，’thatyouarenotblind。Itmayyetbeallrightwithyou。’
’Yes——itmaybe，’hesaid。
’Andyoushallnotbeatthemillwithslaves。’
’Or，atanyrate，noteyelessinGaza，iftheLordisgoodtome。Come，Jane，wewillgoon。’Thenhetookupthepassagehimself，andreaditonwithclear，sonorousvoice，everynowandthenexplainingsomepassageorexpressinghisownideasuponit，asthoughhewerereallyhappywithhispoetry。
Itwaslateintheeveningbeforehegotouthissmallstockofbestletter—paper，andsatdowntoworkathisletter。Hefirstaddressedhimselftothebishop；andwhathewrotedowntothebishopwasasfollows：—
’HOGGLESTOCKPARSONAGE，April11，186—
’MYLORDBISHOP，’IhavebeenincommunicationwithDrTempest，ofSilverbridge，fromwhomIhavelearnedthatyourlordshiphasbeenpleasedtoappointacommissionofinquiry——ofwhichcommissionheisthechairman——withreferencetotheproceedingswhichitmaybenecessarythatyoushouldtake，asbishopofthediocese，aftermyforthcomingtrialattheapproachingBarchesterassizes。Mylord，Ithinkitrighttoinformyou，partlywithaviewtothecomfortofthegentlemennamedonthatcommission，andpartlywiththepurportofgivingyoutheinformationwhichIthinkthatabishopshouldpossessinregardtotheclericalaffairsofhisowndiocese，thatIhavebythispostresignedmyprefermentatHogglestockintothehandsoftheDeanofBarchester，bywhomitwasgiventome。Inthesecircumstances，itwill，Isuppose，beunnecessaryforyoutocontinuethecommissionwhichyouhavesetinforce；butastothat，yourlordshipwill，ofcourse，betheonlyjudge。——Ihavethehonourtobe，myLordBishop，yourmostobedientandveryhumbleservant，’JOSIAHCRAWLEY
PerpetualCurateofHogglestock’TheRightReverend’TheBishopofBarchester，’&c，&c，&cThePalace，Barchester’
Buttheletterwhichwasofrealimportance——whichwasintendedtosaysomething——wasthattothedean，andthatalsoshallbegiventothereader。MrCrawleyhadbeenforawhileindoubthowheshouldaddresshisoldfriendincommencingthisletter，understandingthatitstonethroughoutmustbe，inagreatdegree，bemadconformablewithitsfirstwords。Hewouldfain，inhispride，havebegun’Sir’。Thequestionwasbetweenthatand’MydearArabin’。Ithadoncebetweenthemalwaysbeen’DearFrank，’andDearJoe’’buttheoccasionsfor’DearFrank’and’DearJoe’betweenthemhadlongbeenpast。CrawleywouldhavebeenveryangryhadhenowbeencalledJoebythedean，andwouldhavebittenhistongueoutbeforehewouldhavecalledthedeanFrank。Hisbetternature，however，nowprevailed，andhebeganhisletter，andcompleteditasfollows：—
’MYDEARARABIN，’Circumstances，ofwhichyouhaveprobablyheardsomething，compelmetowritetoyou，asIfear，atsomelength。Iamsorrythatthetroubleofsuchalettershouldbeforceduponyouduringyourholidays’；——MrCrawley，ashewrotethis，didnotforgettoremindhimselfthatheneverhadanyholidays；——’butIthinkyouwilladmit，ifyouwillbearwithmetotheend，thatIhavenoalternative。
’Ihavebeenaccusedofstealingachequefortwentypounds，whichchequewasdrawnbyLordLuftononhisLondonbankers，andwaslostoutofhispocketbyMrSoames，hislordship’sagent，andwassolost，asMrSoamesstates——butwithanabsoluteassertion——duringavisitwhichhemadetomyparsonagehereatHogglestock。OfthefactthatIpaidthechequetoatradesmaninSilverbridgethereisnodoubt。
Whenquestionedaboutit，IfirstgaveananswerwhichwassomanifestlyincorrectthatithasseemedoddtomethatI
shouldnothavehadcreditforamistakefromthosewhomusthaveseenthatdetectionwassoevident。Theblunderwasundoubtedlystupid，anditnowbearsheavilyonme。Ithen，asIhavelearned，madeanothererror——ofwhichIamawarethatyouhavebeeninformed。Isaidthatthechequehadcomefromyou，andinsayingso，Ithoughtthatithadformedaportionofthatalmswhichyouropen—handedbenevolencebestoweduponmewhenIattendedonyou，notlongbeforeyourdeparture，inyourlibrary。Ihavestriventorememberthefacts。Itmaybe——nay，itprobablyisthecase——thatsuchstrugglestocatchsomeaccurateglimpseofbygonethingsdonottroubleyou。Youmindis，nodoubt，clearerandstrongerthanmine，havingbeenkepttoitspropertunebygreaterandfitterwork。Withme，memoryisallbutgone，andthepowerofthinkingisonthewane！Istruggledtoremember，andIthoughtthatthechequehadbeeninanenvelopewhichyouhandedtome——andIsaidso。Ihavesincelearned，fromtidingsreceived，asIamtold，directfromyourself，thatIwaswronginthesecondstatementasIhadbeeninthefirst。Thedoubleblunderhas，ofcourse，beenveryheavyonme。