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but　a　friend　who　was　personally　acquainted　with　Dexter　as　well。
Could　there　be　a　fitter　man　to　apply　to　for　enlightenment　in　the
darkness　that　had　now　gathered　around　me？　Benjamin；　when　I　put
the　question　to　him；　acknowledged　that　I　had　made　a　sensible
choice　on　this　occasion；　and　at　once　exerted　himself　to　help　me。
He　discovered　（through　his　own　lawyer）　the　address　of　Mr。
Playmore's　London　agents；　and　from　these　gentlemen　he　obtained
for　me　a　letter　of　introduction　to　Mr。　Playmore　himself。　I　had
nothing　to　conceal　from　my　new　adviser；　and　I　was　properly
described　in　the　letter　as　Eustace　Macallan's　second　wife。

The　same　evening　we　two　set　forth　（Benjamin　refused　to　let　me
travel　alone）　by　the　night　mail　for　Edinburgh。

I　had　previously　written　to　Miserrimus　Dexter　（by　my　old　friend's
advice）；　merely　saying　that　I　had　been　unexpectedly　called　away
from　London　for　a　few　days；　and　that　I　would　report　to　him　the
result　of　my　interview　with　Lady　Clarinda　on　my　return。　A
characteristic　answer　was　brought　back　to　the　cottage　by　Ariel：
〃Mrs。　Valeria；　I　happen　to　be　a　man　of　quick　perceptions；　and　I
can　read　the　_unwritten_　part　of　your　letter。　Lady　Clarinda　has
shaken　your　confidence　in　me。　Very　good。　I　pledge　myself　to　shake
your　confidence　in　Lady　Clarinda。　In　the　meantime　I　am　not
offended。　In　serene　composure　I　await　the　honor　and　the　happiness
of　your　visit。　Send　me　word　by　telegraph　whether　you　would　like
Truffles　again；　or　whether　you　would　prefer　something　simpler　and
lightersay　that　incomparable　French　dish；　Pig's　Eyelids　and
Tamarinds。　Believe　me　always　your　ally　and　admirer；　your　poet　and
cookDEXTER。〃

Arrived　in　Edinburgh；　Benjamin　and　I　had　a　little　discussion。　The
question　in　dispute　between　us　was　whether　I　should　go　with　hi　m；
or　go　alone；　to　Mr。　Playmore。　I　was　all　for　going　alone。

〃My　experience　of　the　world　is　not　a　very　large　one；〃　I　said。
〃But　I　have　observed　that；　in　nine　cases　out　of　ten；　a　man　will
make　concessions　to　a　woman；　if　she　approaches　him　by　her　self；
which　he　would　hesitate　even　to　consider　if　another　man　was
within　hearing。　I　don't　know　how　it　isI　only　know　that　it　is
so；　If　I　find　that　I　get　on　badly　with　Mr。　Playmore；　I　will　ask
him　for　a　second　appointment；　and；　in　that　case；　you　shall
accompany　me。　Don't　think　me　self…willed。　Let　me　try　my　luck
alone；　and　let　us　see　what　comes　of　it。〃

Benjamin　yielded；　with　his　customary　consideration　for　me。　I　sent
my　letter　of　introduction　to　Mr。　Playmore's　officehis　private
house　being　in　the　neighborhood　of　Gleninch。　My　messenger　brought
back　a　polite　answer；　inviting　me　to　visit　him　at　an　early　hour
in　the　afternoon。　At　the　appointed　time；　to　the　moment；　I　rang
the　bell　at　the　office　door。


CHAPTER　XXXIII。

A　SPECIMEN　OF　MY　FOLLY。

　THE　incomprehensible　submission　of　Scotchmen　to　the
ecclesiastical　tyranny　of　their　Established　Church　has
producednot　unnaturally；　as　I　thinka　very　mistaken　impression
of　the　national　character　in　the　popular　mind。

Public　opinion　looks　at　the　institution　of　〃The　Sabbath〃　in
Scotland；　finds　it　unparalleled　in　Christendom　for　its　senseless
and　savage　austerity；　sees　a　nation　content　to　be　deprived　by　its
priesthood　of　every　social　privilege　on　one　day　in　every
weekforbidden　to　travel；　forbidden　to　telegraph；　forbidden　to
eat　a　hot　dinner；　forbidden　to　read　a　newspaper；　in　short；
allowed　the　use　of　two　liberties　only；　the　liberty　of　exhibiting
one's　self　at　the　Church　and　the　liberty　of　secluding　one's　self
over　the　bottlepublic　opinion　sees　this；　and　arrives　at　the　not
unreasonable　conclusion　that　the　people　who　submit　to　such　social
laws　as　these　are　the　most　stolid；　stern　and　joyless　people　on
the　face　of　the　earth。　Such　are　Scotchmen　supposed　to　be；　when
viewed　at　a　distance。　But　how　do　Scotchmen　appear　when　they　are
seen　under　a　closer　light；　and　judged　by　the　test　of　personal
experience？　There　are　no　people　more　cheerful；　more
companionable；　more　hospitable；　more　liberal　in　their　ideas；　to
be　found　on　the　face　of　the　civilized　globe　than　the　very　people
who　submit　to　the　Scotch　Sunday！　On　the　six　days　of　the　week
there　is　an　atmosphere　of　quiet　humor；　a　radiation　of　genial
common…sense；　about　Scotchmen　in　general；　which　is　simply
delightful　to　feel。　But　on　the　seventh　day　these　same　men　will
hear　one　of　their　ministers　seriously　tell　them　that　he　views
taking　a　walk　on　the　Sabbath　in　the　light　of　an　act　of　profanity；
and　will　be　the　only　people　in　existence　who　can　let　a　man　talk
downright　nonsense　without　laughing　at　him。

I　am　not　clever　enough　to　be　able　to　account　for　this　anomaly　in
the　national　character；　I　can　only　notice　it　by　way　of　necessary
preparation　for　the　appearance　in　my　little　narrative　of　a
personage　not　frequently　seen　in　writinga　cheerful　Scotchman。

In　all　other　respects　I　found　Mr。　Playmore　only　negatively
remarkable。　He　was　neither　old　nor　young；　neither　handsome　nor
ugly；　he　was　personally　not　in　the　least　like　the　popular　idea　of
a　lawyer；　and　he　spoke　perfectly　good　English；　touched　with　only
the　slightest　possible　flavor　of　a　Scotch　accent。

〃I　have　the　honor　to　be　an　old　friend　of　Mr。　Macallan；〃　he　said；
cordially　shaking　hands　with　me；　〃and　I　am　honestly　happy　to
become　acquainted　with　Mr。　Macallan's　wife。　Where　will　you　sit？
Near　the　light？　You　are　young　enough　not　to　be　afraid　of　the
daylight　just　yet。　Is　this　your　first　visit　to　Edinburgh？　Pray
let　me　make　it　as　pleasant　to　you　as　I　can。　I　shall　be　delighted
to　present　Mrs。　Playmore　to　you。　We　are　staying　in　Edinburgh　for
a　little　while。　The　Italian　opera　is　here；　and　we　have　a　box　for
to…night。　Will　you　kindly　waive　all　ceremony　and　dine　with　us　and
go　to　the　music　afterward？〃

〃You　are　very　kind；〃　I　answered。　〃But　I　have　some　anxieties　just
now　which　will　make　me　a　very　poor　companion　for　Mrs。　Playmore　at
the　opera。　My　letter　to　you　mentions；　I　think；　that　I　have　to　ask
your　advice　on　matters　which　are　of　very　serious　importance　to
me。〃

〃Does　it？〃　he　rejoined。　〃To　tell　you　the　truth；　I　have　not　read
the　letter　through。　I　saw　your　name　in　it；　and　I　gathered　from
your　message　that　you　wished　to　see　me　here。　I　sent　my　note　to
your　hoteland　then　went　on　with　something　else。　Pray　pardon　me。
Is　this　a　professional　consultation？　For　your　own　sake；　I
sincerely　hope　not！〃

〃It　is　hardly　a　professional　consultation；　Mr。　Playmore。　I　find
myself　in　a　very　painful　position；　and　I　come　to　you　to　advise
me；　under　very　unusual　circumstances。　I　shall　surprise　you　very
much　when　you　hear　what　I　have　to　say；　and　I　am　afraid　I　shall
occupy　more　than　my　fair　share　of　your　time。〃

〃I　and　my　time　are　entirely　at　your　disposal；〃　he　said。　〃Tell　me
what　I　can　do　for　youand　tell　it　in　your　own　way。〃

The　kindness　of　this　language　was　more　than　matched　by　the
kindness　of　his　manner。　I　spoke　to　him　freely　and　fullyI　told
him　my　strange　story　without　the　slightest　reserve。

He　showed　the　varying　impressions　that　I　produced　on　his　mind
without　the　slightest　concealment。　My　separation　from　Eustace
distressed　him。　My　resolution　to　dispute　the　Scotch　Verdict；　and
my　unjust　suspicions　of　Mrs。　Beauly；　first　amused；　then　surprised
him。　It　was　not；　however；　until　I　had　described　my　extraordinary
interview　with　Miserrimus　Dexter；　and　my　hardly　less　remarkable
conversation　with　Lady　Clarinda；　that　I　produced　my　greatest
effect　on　the　lawyer's　mind。　I　saw　him　change　color　for　the　first
time。　He　started；　and　muttered　to　himself；　as　if　he　had
completely　forgotten　me。　〃Good　God！〃　I　heard　him　say〃can　it　be
possible？　Does　the　truth　lie　_that_　way　after　all？〃

I　took　the　liberty　of　interrupting　him。　I　had　no　idea　of　allowing
him　to　keep　his　thoughts　to　himself。

〃I　seem　to　have　surprised　you？〃　I　said。

He　started　at　the　sound　of　my　voice。

〃I　beg　ten　thousand　pardons！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃You　have　not　only
surprised　meyou　have　opened　an　entirely　new　view　to　my　mind。　I
see　a　possibility；　a　really　startling　possibility；　in　connection
with　the　poisoning　at　Gleninch；　which　never　occurred　to　me　until
the　present　moment。　This　is　a　nice　state　of　things；〃　he　added；
falling　back　again　into　his　ordinary　humor。　〃Here　is　the　client
leading　the　lawyer。　My　dear　Mrs。　Eustace；　which　is　itdo　you
want　my　advice？　or　do　I　want　yours？〃

〃May　I　hear　the　new　idea？〃　I　asked。

〃Not　just　yet；　if　you　will　excuse　me；〃　he　answered。　〃Make
allowances　for　my　professional　caution。　I　don't　want　to　be
professional　with　youmy　great　anxiety　is　to　avoid　it。　But　the
lawyer　gets　the　better　of　the　man；　and　refuses　to　be　suppressed。
I　really　hesitate　to　realize　what　is　passing　in　my　own　mind
without　some　further　inquiry。　Do　me　a　great　favor。　Let　us　go　over
a　part　of　the　ground　again；　and　let　me　ask　you　some　questions　as
we　proceed。　Do　you　feel　any　objection　to　obliging　me　in　this
matter？〃

〃Certainly　not；　Mr。　Playmore。　How　far　shall　we　go　back？〃

〃To　your　visit　to　Dexter　with　your　mother…in…law。　When　you　first
asked　him　if　he　had　any　ideas　of　his　own　on　the　subject　of　Mrs。
Eustace　Macallan's　death；　did　I　understand　you　to　say　that　he
looked　at　you　suspiciously？〃

〃Very　suspiciously。〃

〃And　his　face　cleared　up　again　when　you　told　him　that　your
question　was