’Ishan’tgonearSirRaffleBuffletomorrow，noryetthenextday。Youmustn’tsupposethatIamafraidofSirRaffleBuffle。’
’YouareonlyafraidofLilyDale。’FromallwhichitmaybeseenthatMrsArabinandJohnEameshadbecomeveryintimateontheirwayhome。
ItwasthenarrangedthatheshouldcallonMrToogoodthatsamenightorearlynextmorning，andthatheshouldcometothehotelattwelveo’clockonthenextday。Goingalongoneofthepassageshepassedtwogentlemeninshovelhats，withveryblacknewcoatsandknee—breeches；
andJohnnycouldnotbuthearafewwordswhichoneclericalgentlemansaidtotheother。’Shewasawomanofgreatenergy，ofwonderfulspirit，butafirebrand，mylord——acompletefirebrand！’ThenJohnnyknewthattheDeanofAwastalkingtotheBishopofBaboutthelateMrsProudie。
CHAPTERLXXI
MRTOOGOODATSILVERBRIDGE
WewillnowgobacktoMrToogoodashestartedforSilverbridge，onthereceiptofMrsArabin’stelegramfromVenice。’IgavechequetoMrCrawley。Itwaspartofasumofmoney。WillwritetoArchdeaconGrantlytoday，andreturnhomeatonce。’ThatwasthetelegramwhichMrToogoodreceivedathisoffice，andonreceivingwhichheresolvedthathemuststarttoBarchesterimmediately。’Itisn’tcertainlywhatyouwouldcallapayingbusiness，’hesaidtohispartner，whocontinuedtogrumble；
’butitmustbedoneallthesame。Ifitdon’tgetintotheledgerinonewayitwillinanother。’SoMrToogoodstartedforSilverbridge，havingsenttohishouseinTavistockSquareforasmallbag，acleanshirt，andatoothbrush。Andashewentdowntotherailway—carriage，beforehewenttosleep，heturneditalloverinhismind。’Poordevil！
Iwonderwhetheranymansufferedsomuchbefore。Andasforthatwoman——it’stenthousandpitiesthatsheshouldhavediedbeforesheheardit。Talkofheart—complaint！；she’dhavehadatouchofheart—
complaintifshehadknownthis！’Then，ashewasspeculatinghowMrsArabincouldhavecomepossessedofthechequehewenttosleep。
HemadeuphismindthatthefirstpersontobeseenwasMrWalker，andafterthathewould，ifpossible，gotoArchdeaconGrantly。HewasatfirstmindedtogoatoncetoHogglestock；butwhenherememberedhowverystrangeMrCrawleywasinallhisways，andtoldhimselfprofessionallythattelegramswerebutbadsourcesofevidenceonwhichtodependfordetails，hethoughtthatitwouldbesaferifhewerefirsttoseeMrWalker。Therewouldbeverylittledelay。Inadayortwothearchdeaconwouldreceivehisletter，andinadayortwoafterthatMrsArabinwouldprobablybeathome。
ItwaslateintheeveningbeforeMrToogoodreachedthehouseoftheSilverbridgesolicitor，havingthetelegramcarefullyfoldedinhispocket；andhewasshownintothedining—roomwhiletheservanttookhisnameuptoMrWalker。Theclerksweregone，andtheofficewasclosed；
andpersonscomingonbusinessatsuchtimes——astheyoftendidcometothathouse——werealwaysshownintotheparlour。’Idon’tknowwhethermastercanseeyoutonight，’saidthegirl；’butifhecan，he’llcomedown。’
WhenthecardwasbroughtuptoMrWalkerhewassittingalonewithhiswife。’It’sToogood，’saidhe；’poorCrawley’scousin。’
’Iwonderwhetherhehasfoundanythingout，’saidMrsWalker。’Mayhenotcomeuphere？’ThenMrToogoodwassummonedintothedrawing—room，tothemaid’sastonishment；forMrToogoodhadmadenotoiletsacrificestothegoddessofgracewhopresidesovereveningsocietyinprovincialtowns——andpresentedhimselfwiththetelegraminhishand。’WehavefoundoutallaboutpoorCrawley’scheque，’hesaid，beforethemaid—servanthadclosedthedoor。’Lookatthat，’andhehandedthetelegramtoMrWalker。Thepoorgirlwasobligedtogo，thoughshewouldhavegivenoneherearstoknowtheexactcontentsofthatbitofpaper。
’Walker，whatisit？’saidhiswife，beforeWalkerhadhadtimetomakethecontentsofthedocumenthisown。
’HegotitfromMrsArabin，’saidToogood。
’No！’saidMrsWalker。’Ithoughtthatwasitallalong。’
’It’sapityyoudidn’tsaysobefore，’saidMrWalker。
’SoIdid；butalawyerthinksthatnobodycaneverseenanythingbuthimself；——beggingyourpardon，MrToogood，butIforgotyouwereoneofus。But，Walker，doreadit。’Thenthetelegramwasread；’IgavethechequetoMrCrawley。Itwaspartofasumofmoney’——withtherestofit。’Iknewitwouldcomeout，’saidMrsWalker。’Iwasquitesureofit。’
’Butwhythemischiefdidn’thesayso？’saidWalker。
’Hedidsayhegotitfromthedean，’saidToogood。
’Buthedidn’tgetitfromthedean；andthedeanclearlyknewnothingaboutit。’
’I’lltellyouwhatitis，’saidMrsWalker；’ithasbeensomeprivatetransactionbetweenMrCrawleyandMrsArabin，whichthedeanknewnothingabout；andsohewouldn’ttell。ImustsayIhonourhim。’
’Idon’tthinkithasbeenthat，’saidWalker。’HadheknownallthroughthatithadcomefromMrsArabin，hewouldneverhavesaidthatMrSoamesgaveittohim，andthenthatthedeangaveittohim。’
’Thetruthhasbeenthathehasknownnothingaboutit，’saidToogood；
’andweshallhavetotellhim。’
AtthatmomentMaryWalkercameintotheroom，andMrsWalkercouldnotconstrainherself。’Mary，MrCrawleyisallright。Hedidn’tstealthecheque。MrsArabingaveittohim。’
’Whosaysso？Howdoyouknow？Oh，dear；Iamsohappy，ifit’strue。’
ThenshesawMrToogoodandcurtseyed。
’Itisquitetrue，mydear，’saidMrWalker。’MrToogoodhashadamessagebythewiresfromMrsArabinatVenice。Sheiscominghomeatonce，andnodoubteverythingwillbeputright。Inthemeantime，itmaybeaquestionwhetherweshouldnotholdourtongues。MrCrawleyhimself，Isuppose，knowsnothingofityet？’
’Notaword，’saidToogood。
’Papa，ImusttellMissPrettyman，’saidMary。
’IshouldthinkthatprobablyallSilverbridgeknowsitbythistime，’
saidMrsWalker，’becauseJanewasintheroomwhentheannouncementwasmade。Youmaybesurethateveryservantinthehousehasbeentold。’
MaryWalker，notwaitingforanyfurthercommandfromherfather，hurriedoutoftheroomtoconveythesecrettoherspecialcircleoffriends。
ItwasknownthroughoutSilverbridgethatnight，andindeeditmadesomuchcommotionthatitkeptmanypeopleforanhouroutoftheirbeds。
Ladieswhowerenotinthehabitofgoingoutlateatnightwithouttheflyfromthe’GeorgeandVulture’，tiedtheirheadsupintheirhandkerchiefs，andhurriedupanddownthestreettotelleachotherthatthegreatsecrethadbeendiscovered，andthatintruthMrCrawleyhadnotstolenthecheque。Thesolutionofthemysterywasnotknowntoall——wasknownonthatnightonlytotheveryselectportionofthearistocracyofSilverbridgetowhomitwascommunicatedbyMaryWalkerorMissAnnePrettyman。ForMaryWalker，whenearnestlyentreatedbyJane，theparlour—maid，totellhersomethingmoreofthegreatnews，hadsofarrespectedherfather’scautionastosaynotawordaboutMrsArabin。’Isittrue，MissMary，thathedidn’tstealit？’Janeaskedimploringly。’Itistrue。Hedidnotstealit。’’Andwhodid，MissMary？
IndeedIwon’ttellanybody。’’Nobody。Butdon’taskanymorequestions，forIwon’tanswerthem。Getmemyhatatonce，forIwanttogouptoMissPrettyman’s。’ThenJanegotMissWalker’shat，andimmediatelyafterwardsscamperedintothekitchenwiththenews。’Oh，law，cook，it’sallcomeout！MrCrawley’sasinnocentastheunbornbabe。Thegentlemanupstairswhat’sjustcome，andwashereoncebefore——forI
know’dhimimmediate——Iheardhimsayso。Andmastersaidsotoo。’
’Didmastersaysohisownself？’askedthecook。
’Indeedhedid；andMissMarytoldmethesamethismoment。’
’Ifmastersaidso，thenthereain’tadoubtasthey’llfindhiminnocent。Andwhotook’d，Jane？’
’MissMarysaysasnobodydidn’tstealit。’
’That’snonsense，Jane。Itstandstoreasonassomebodyhaditashadn’toughttohavehadit。ButI’mgladasanythingashowthepoorreverendgent’llcomeoff；——Iam。Theytellsmeit’sweekssometimesbeforeabitofbutcher’smeatfindsitswayintohishouse。’Thenthegroomandthehousemaidandthecook，oneafteranother，tookoccasiontoslipoutoftheback—door，andpoorJane，whohadreallybeentheownerofthenews，waslefttoanswerthebell。
MissWalkerfoundthetwoMissPrettymanssittingtogetherovertheiraccountsintheelderMissPrettyman’sprivateroom。AndshecouldseeatoncebysignswhichwerenotunfamiliartoherthatMissAnnePrettymanwasbeingscolded。ItoftenhappenedthatMissAnnePrettymanwasscolded，especiallywhentheaccountswerebroughtoutuponthetable。’Sister，theyareillegible，’MaryWalkerheard，astheservantopenedthedoorforher。
’Idon’tthinkit’squitesobadasthat，’saidMissAnne，unabletorestrainherdefence。Then，asMaryenteredtheroom，MissPrettymantheelderlaidherhandsdownoncertainbooksandpapersasthoughtohidethemfromprofaneeyes。
’Iamgladtoseeyou，Mary，’saidMissPrettymangravely。
’I’vebroughtsuchapieceofnews，’saidMary。’Iknewyou’dbegladtohearit，soIventuredtodisturbyou。’
’Isitgoodnews？’saidAnnePrettyman。
’Verygoodnews。MrCrawleyisinnocent。’
Boththeladiessprangontotheirlegs。EvenMissPrettymanherselfjumpedupontoherlegs。’No！’saidAnne。’Yourfatherhasdiscoveredit？’saidMissPrettyman。
’Notexactlythat。MrToogoodhascomedownfromLondontotellhim。
MrToogood，youknow，isMrCrawley’scousin；andheisalawyer，likepapa。’Itmaybeobservedthatladiesbelongingtothefamiliesofsolicitorsalwaystalkaboutlawyers，andneveraboutattorneysorbarristers。
’AnddoesMrToogoodsaythatMrCrawleyisinnocent？’askedMissPrettyman。
’HehashearditbyamessagefromMrsArabin。Butyoumustn’tmentionthis。Youwon’t，please，becausepapaaskedmenot。ItoldhimthatI
shouldtellyou。’Then，forthefirsttime，thefrownpassedawayentirelyfromMissPrettyman’sface，andthepapersandaccountbookswerepushedaside，asbeingofnomoment。Marycontinuedherstoryalmostinawhisper。’ItwasMrsArabinwhosentthechequetoMrCrawley。Shesayssoherself。SothatmakesMrCrawleyquiteinnocent。I
amsoglad。’
’Butisn’titoddhedidn’tsayso？’saidMissPrettyman。
’Nevertheless，it’strue。’saidMary。
’Perhapsheforgot，’saidAnnePrettyman。
’Mendon’tforgetsuchthingsasthat，’saidtheeldersister。
’IreallydothinkthatMrCrawleycouldforgetanything，’saidtheyoungersister。
’Youmaybesureit’strue，’saidMaryWalker，’becausepapasaidso。’
’Ifhesaidso，itmustbetrue，’saidMissPrettyman；’andIamrejoiced。Ireallyamrejoiced。Poorman！Poorill—usedman！Andnobodyhaseverbelievedthathehasreallybeenguilty，eventhoughtheymayhavethoughtthathespentthemoneywithoutanyproperrighttoit。Andnowhewillgetoff。But，dearme，Mary，MrSmithetoldmeyesterdaythathehadalreadygivenuphisliving，andthatMrSpooner，theminorcanon，wastryingtogetitfromthedean。ButthatwasbecauseMrSpoonerandMrsProudiehadquarrelled；andasMrsProudieisgone，MrSpoonerverylikelywon’twanttomovenow。’
’They’llnevergoandputanybodyinHogglestock，Annabella，overMrCrawley’shead，’saidAnne。
’Ididn’tsaythattheywould。SurelyImaybeallowedtorepeatwhatI
hear，likeanotherperson，withoutbeingsnappedup。’
’Ididn’tmeantosnapyouup，Annabella。’
’You’realwayssnappingmeup。Butifthisistrue，IcannotsayhowgladIam。MypoorGrace！Now，Isuppose，therewillbenodifficulty，andGracewillbecomeagreatlady。’ThentheydiscussedveryminutelythechancesofGraceCrawley’spromotion。
JohnWalker，MrWinthrop，andseveralothersofthechosenspiritsofSilverbridge，wereplayingwhistataprovincialclub，whichhadestablisheditselfinthetown，whenthenewswasbroughttothem。
ThoughMrWinthropwasthepartnerofthegreatWalker，andthoughJohnWalkerwasthegreatman’sson，Ifearthatthenewsreachedtheirearsinbutanunderhandsortofway。Asforthegreatmanhimself，heneverwentneartheclub，preferringhisslippersandteaathome。TheWalkeriangroom，rushingupthestreettothe’GeorgeandVulture’，pausedamomenttotellhistidingstotheclubporter；fromtheclubporteritwaswhisperedrespectfullytotheSilverbridgeapothecary，who，byspecialgrace，wasamemberoftheclub——andwasbyhimrepeatedwithmuchcautioussolemnityoverthecard—table。’Whotoldyouthat，Balsam？’saidJohnWalker，throwingdownhiscards。
’I’vejustheardit，’saidBalsam。
’Idon’tbelieveit，’saidJohn。
’Ishouldn’twonderifit’strue，’saidWinthrop。’Ialwayssaidthatsomethingwouldturnup。’
’Willyoubetthreetooneheisnotfoundguilty？’saidJohnWalker。
’Done，’saidWinthrop；’inpounds。’Thatmorningtheoddsintheclubagainsttheeventhadbeenonlytwotoone。Butasthematterwasdiscussed，themenintheclubbegantobelievethetidings，andbeforehewenthome，JohnWalkerwouldhavebeengladtohedgehisbetonanyterms。Afterhehadspokentohisfather，hegavehismoneyupforlost。
ButMrWalker——thegreatWalker——hadmoretodothatnightbeforehissoncamehomefromtheclub。HeandMrToogoodagreedthatitwouldberightthattheyshouldseeDrTempestatonce，andtheywentovertogethertotherectory。Itwaspasttenatthistime，andtheyfoundthedoctoralmostintheactofputtingoutthecandlesforthenight。
’Icouldnotbutcometoyou，doctor，’saidMrWalker，’withthenewsthatmyfriendhasbrought。MrsArabingavethechequetoCrawley。Hereisatelegramfromhersayingso。’Andthetelegramwashandedtothedoctor。
Hestoodperfectlysilentforafewminutes，readingitoverandoveragain。’Iseeitall，’hesaid，whenhespokeatlast。’Iseeitallnow；andImustownIwasneverbeforesomuchpuzzledinmylife。’
’IownIcan’tseewhysheshouldhavegivenhimMrSoames’scheque，’
saidMrWalker。
’Ican’tsaywhereshegotit，andIownIdon’tmuchcare，’saidDrTempest。’ButIdon’tdoubtbutwhatshegavehimwithouttellingthedean，andthatCrawleythoughtitcamefromthedean。I’mveryglad。I
am，indeed，veryglad。IdonotknowthatIeverpitiedamansomuchinmylifeasIhavepitiedMrCrawley。’
’Itmusthavebeenahardcasewhenithasmovedhim，’saidMrWalkertoToogoodastheylefttheclergyman’shouse；andthentheSilverbridgeattorneysawtheattorneyfromLondonhometotheinn。
ItwasthegeneralopinionatSilverbridgethatthenewsfromVeniceoughttobecommunicatedtotheCrawleysbyMajorGrantly。MaryWalkerhadexpressedthisopinionverystrongly，andhermotherhadagreedwithher。MissPrettymanalsofeltthatpoeticaljustice，or，atleast，theromanceofjustice，demandedthis；and，asshetoldhersisterAnneafterMaryWalkerlefther，shewasoftheopinionthatsuchanarrangementmighttendtomakethingssafe。’Idothinkheisanhonestmanandafinefellow，’saidMissPrettyman；’but，mydear，youknowwhattheproverbsays，\"There’smanyaslip’twixtcupandlip\"。’MissPrettymanthoughtthananythingwhichmightbedonetopreventaslipoughttobedone。TheideathatthepleasanttaskoftakingthenewsouttoHogglestockoughttobeconfidedtoMajorGrantlywasverygeneral；
butthenMrWalkerwasoftheopinionthatthenewsoughtnottobetakentoHogglestockatalltillsomethingmorecertainthanthetelegramhadreachedthem。EarlyonthefollowingmorningthetwolawyersshouldgooveratoncetoBarchester，andthattheSilverbridgelawyershouldseeMajorGrantly。MrToogoodwasstilloftheopinionthatwithduediligencesomethingmightyetbelearnedastothechequebyinquiryamongthedenizensof’TheDragonofWantly’；andhisopiniontothiseffectwasstrongerthaneverwhenhelearnedfromMrWalkerthatthe’DragonofWantly’belongedtoMrsArabin。
MrWalker，afterbreakfast，hadhimselfdrivenupinhisopencarriagetoCosbyLodge，and，asheenteredthegates，observedthattheauctioneer’sbillsastothesalehadbeenpulleddown。TheMrWalkersoftheworldknoweverything，andourMrWalkerhadquiteunderstoodthatthemajorwasleavingCosbyLodgebecauseofsomemisunderstandingwithhisfather。Theexactnatureofthemisunderstandinghedidnotknow，eventhoughhewasMrWalker，buthadlittledoubtthatitreferredinsometoGraceCrawley。Itthearchdeacon’sobjectiontoGracearosefromtheimputationagainstthefather，thatobjectionwouldnowberemoved，buttheabolitionoftheposterscouldnotasyethavebeenowingtoanysuchcauseasthat。MrWalkerfoundthemajoratthegateofthefarmyardattachedtoCosbyLodge，andperceivedthatatthatverymomenthewasengagedinsuperintendingtheabolitionofsundryotherauctioneer’sbillsfromsundryposts。’Whatisallthisabout？’
saidMrWalker，greetingthemajor。’Istheretobenosaleafterall？’
’Ithasbeenpostponed，’saidthemajor。
’Postponedforgood，Ihope？Billtobereadagainthisdaysixmonths！’saidMrWalker。
’Iratherthinknot。Butcircumstanceshaveinducedmetohavetoputitoff。’
MrWalkerhadgotoutofthecarriage，andhadtakenMajorGrantlyaside。’Justcomealittlefurther，’hesaid；’I’vesomethingspecialtotellyou。NewsreachedmelastnightwhichwillclearMrCrawleyaltogether。Weknownowwherehegotthecheque。’
’Youdon’ttellmeso！’
’Yes，Ido。Andthoughthenewshadreachedusinsuchawaythatwecannotactuponittillit’sconfirmed，Idonotintheleastdoubtit。’
’Andhowdidhegetit？’
’Youcannotguess？’
’Notintheleast，’saidthemajor；’unless，afterall，Soamesgaveittohim。’
’Soamesdidnotgiveittohim，butMrsArabindid。’
’MrsArabin？’
’Yes，MrsArabin。’
’Notthedean？’
’No，notthedean。Whatweknowisthis，thatyouraunthastelegraphedtoCrawley’scousin，Toogood，tosaythatshegaveCrawleythecheque，andthatshehaswrittentoyourfatheraboutitatlength。WedonotliketotellCrawleytillthatletterhasbeenreceived。Itissoeasy，youknow，tomisunderstandatelegram，andthewrongcopyingofawordmaymakesuchamistake！’
’Whenwasitreceived？’
’ToogoodreceiveditinLondononlyyesterdaymorning。Yourfatherwillnotgethisletter，asIcalculate，tillthedayaftertomorrow。But，perhaps，youhadbettergoovertoseehim，andpreparehimforit。
ToogoodhasgonetoBarchesterthismorning。’TothispropositionGrantlymadenoimmediateanswer。Hecouldnotbutrememberthetermsonwhichhehadlefthisfather；andthoughhehad，mostunwillingly，pulleddowntheauctioneer’sbills，incompliancewithhismother’slastprayertohim——and，indeed，hadangrilytoldtheauctioneertosendhimhisbillwhentheauctioneerhaddemurredtotheseproceedings——
neverthelesshewashardlypreparedtodiscussthematterofMrCrawleywithhisfatherinpleasantwords——inwordswhichshouldbefullofrejoicing。Itwasagreatthingforhim，HenryGrantly，thatMrCrawleyshouldbeinnocent，andhedidrejoice；buthehadintendedhisfathertounderstandthathemeanttopersevere，whetherMrCrawleywereinnocentorguilty，andthushewouldnowloseanopportunityforestablishinghisobstinacy——anopportunitywhichhadnotbeenwithoutacharmforhim。Hemustconsolehimselfasbesthemightwiththereturningprospectofassuredprosperity，andwithhisrenewedhopesastothePlumsteadfoxes！’Wethink，major，thatwhenthetimecomesyououghttobethebearerofthenewstoHogglestock，’saidMrWalker。ThenthemajordidundertaketoconveythenewstoHogglestock，buthemadenopromiseastogoingovertoPlumstead。
CHAPTERLXXII
MRTOOGOODAT’THEDRAGONOFWANTLY’
InaccordancewithhisarrangementwithMrWalker，MrToogoodwentovertoBarchesterearlyinthemorningandputhimselfupat’TheDragonofWantly’。Henowknewthefollowingfacts：thatMrSoames，whenhelostthecheque，hadhadwithhimoneoftheservantsfromthatinn——thatthemanwhohadbeenwithMrSoameshadgonetoNewZealand——thatthechequehadfounditswayintothehandsofMrsArabin，andthatMrsArabinwastheowneroftheinninquestion。Somuchhebelievedtobewithinhisknowledge，andifhisknowledgeshouldprovetobecorrect，hisworkwouldbedoneasfarasMrCrawleywasconcerned。IfMrCrawleyhadnotstolenthecheque，andifthatcouldbeproved，itwouldbeaquestionofnogreatmomenttoMrToogoodwhohadstolenit。Buthewasasportsmaninhisownlinewholikedtoaccountforhisownfox。AshewasdownatBarchester，hethoughtthathemightaswelllearnhowthechequehadgotintoMrsArabin’shands。Nodoubtthatforherownpossessionofitshewouldbeabletoaccountonherreturn。Butitmightbewellthatheshouldbepreparedwithanysmallcircumstantialdetailswhichhemightbeabletopickupattheinn。
HereachedBarchesterbeforebreakfast，andinorderinghisteaandtoast，remindedtheoldwaiterwiththedirtytowelofhisformeracquaintancewithhim。’Irememberyou，sir，’saidtheoldwaiter。’I
rememberyouverywell。YouwasaskingquestionsaboutthechequewhichMrSoameslostbeforeChristmas。’MrToogoodcertainlyhadaskedonequestiononthesubject。HehadinquiredwhetheracertainmanwhohadgonetoNewZealandhadbeenthepost—boywhoaccompaniedMrSoameswhenthechequewaslost；andthewaiterhadprofessedtoknownothingaboutMrSoamesorthecheque。Henowperceivedatoncethatthegistofthequestionhadremainedintheoldman’smind，andthathewasrecognisedasbeinginsomewayconnectedwiththelostmoney。
’DidI？Ah，yes；IthinkIdid。AndIthinkyoutoldmethathewastheman？’
’No，sir；Inevertoldyouthat。’
’Thenyoutoldmehewasn’t。’
’NorIdidn’ttellyouthatneither，’saidthewaiterangrily。
’Thenwhatthedevildidyoutellme？’Tothisfurtherquestionthewaitersulkilydeclinedtogiveanyanswer，andsoonafterwardslefttheroom。Toogood，assoonashehaddonehisbreakfast，rangthebell，andthesamemanappeared。’WillyoutellMrStringerthatIshouldbegladtoseehimifhe’sdisengaged，’saidMrToogood。’Iknowhe’sbadwiththegout，andthereforeifhe’llallowme，I’llgotohiminsteadofhiscomingtome。’MrStringerwasthelandlordoftheinn。Thewaiterhesitatedamoment，andthendeclaredthattothebestofhisbeliefhismasterwasnotdown。Hewouldgoandsee。Toogood，however，wouldnotwaitforthat；butrisingquicklyandpassingthewaiter，crossedthehallfromthecoffee—room，andenteredwhatwascalledthebar。Thebarwasasmallroomconnectedwiththehallbyalargeopenwindow，atwhichordersforroomsweregivenandcashwaspaid，andglassesofbeerwereconsumed——andagooddealofmiscellaneousconversationwascarriedon。Thebarmaidwashereatthewindow，andtherewasalso，inthecorneroftheroom，amanatadeskwitharednose。ToogoodknewthatthemanatthedeskwiththerednosewasMrStringer’sclerk。Somuchhehadlearnedinhisformerrummagingabouttheinn。Andhealsorememberedatthismomentthathehadobservedthemanwiththerednosestandingunderanarrowarchwayinthecloseashewascomingoutofthedeanery，ontheoccasionofhisvisittoMrHarding。Ithadnotoccurredtohimthenthatthemanwiththerednosewaswatchinghim，butitdidoccurtohimnowthatthemanwiththerednosehadbeenthere，underthearch，withtheexpresspurposeofwatchinghimonthatoccasion。MrToogoodpassedquicklythroughthebarintotheinnerparlour，inwhichwassittingMrStringer，thelandlord，proppedamonghiscushions。
Toogood，asheenteredthehotel，hadseenMrStringersoplaced，throughthetwodoors，whichatthatmomenthadbothhappenedtobeopen。Heknewthereforethathisoldfriendthewaiterhadnotbeenquitetruetohiminsuggestingthathismasterwasnotasyetdown。AsToogoodcastaglanceofhiseyeonthemanwiththerednose，hetoldhimselftheoldstoryoftheapparitionunderthearchway。
’MrStringer，’saidMrToogoodtothelandlord，’IhopeI’mnotintruding。’
’Ohdear，nosir，’saidtheforlornman。’Nobodyeverintrudescominginhere。I’malwayshappytoseegentlemen——only，mostly，I’msobadwiththegout。’
’Haveyougotasharptouchofitnow，MrStringer？’
’Notjusttoday，sir。I’vebeenalittleeasiersinceSaturday。Theworstofthisburstisover。ButLordblessyou，sir，itdon’tleaveme——notforasinglefortnightatatime，now；itdon’t。Anditain’twhatIdrink，noritain’twhatIeat。’
’Constitutional，Isuppose？’saidToogood。
’Lookhere，sir’；andStringershowedhisvisitorthechalkstonesinallhisknuckles。’TheysayI’mamassofchalk。Isometimesthinkthey’llbreakmeuptomarkthescoresbehindmyowndoorwith。’AndMrStringerlaughedathisownwit。