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the exertionI wrote to Mr。 Playmore； to tell him what had taken
place； and to beg for his earliest assistance and advice。
The notes in Benjamin's book were partly written in shorthand；
and were； on that account； of no use to me in their existing
condition。 At my request； he made two fair copies。 One of the
copies I inclosed in my letter to Mr。 Playmore。 The other I laid
by me； on my bedside table； when I went to rest。
Over and over again； through the long hours of the wakeful night；
I read and re…read the last words which had dropped from
Miserrimus Dexter's lips。 Was it possible to interpret them to
any useful purpose？ At the very outset they seemed to set
interpretation at defiance。 After trying vainly to solve the
hopeless problem； I did at last what I might as well have done at
firstI threw down the paper in despair。 Where were my bright
visions of discovery and success now？ Scattered to the winds！ Was
there the faintest chance of the stricken man's return to reason？
I remembered too well what I had seen to hope for it。 The closing
lines of the medical report which I had read in Mr。 Playmore's
office recurred to my memory in the stillness of the night〃When
the catastrophe has happened； his friends can entertain no hope
of his cure： the balance once lost； will be lost for life。〃
The confirmation of that terrible sentence was not long in
reaching me。 On the next morning the gardener brought a note
containing the information which the doctor had promised to give
me on the previous day。
Miserrimus Dexter and Ariel were still where Benjamin and I had
left them togetherin the long room。 They were watched by
skilled attendants； waiting the decision of Dexter's nearest
relative （a younger brother； who lived in the country； and who
had been communicated with by telegraph。 It had been found
impossible to part the faithful Ariel from her master without
using the bodily restraints adopted in cases of raging insanity。
The doctor and the gardener （both unusually strong men） had
failed to hold the poor creature when they first attempted to
remove her on entering the room。 Directly they permitted her to
return to her master the frenzy vanished： she was perfectly quiet
and contented so long as they let her sit at his feet and look at
him。
Sad as this was； the report of Miserrimus Dexter's condition was
more melancholy still。
〃My patient is in a state of absolute imbecility〃those were the
words in the doctor's letter； and the gardener's simple narrative
confirmed them as the truest words that could have been used。 He
was utterly unconscious of poor Ariel's devotion to himhe did
not even appear to know that she was present in the room。 For
hours together he remained in a state of utter lethargy in his
chair。 He showed an animal interest in his meals； and a greedy
animal enjoyment of eating and drinking as much as he could
getand that was all。 〃This morning；〃 the honest gardener said
to me at parting； 〃we thought he seemed to wake up a bit。 Looked
about him； you know； and made queer signs with his hands。 I
couldn't make out what he meant； no more could the doctor。 _She_
knew； poor thingShe did。 Went and got him his harp； and put his
hand up to it。 Lord bless you！ no use。 He couldn't play no more
than I can。 Twanged at it anyhow； and grinned and gabbled to
himself。 No： he'll never come right again。 Any person can see
that； without the doctor to help 'em。 Enjoys his meals； as I told
you； and that's all。 It would be the best thing that could happen
if it would please God to take him。 There's no more to be said。 I
wish you good…morning； ma'am。〃
He went away with the tears in his eyes； and he left me； I own
it； with the tears in mine。
An hour later there came some news which revived me。 I received a
telegram from Mr。 Playmore； expressed in these welcome words：
〃Obliged to go to London by to…night's mail train。 Expect me to
breakfast to…morrow morning。〃
The appearance of the lawyer at our breakfast…table duly
followed the appearance of his telegram。 His first words cheered
me。 To my infinite surprise and relief； he was far from sharing
the despondent view which I took of my position。
〃I don't deny；〃 he said； 〃that there are some serious obstacles
in your way。 But I should never have called here before attending
to my professional business in London if Mr。 Benjamin's notes had
not produced a very strong impression on my mind。 For the first
time； as _I_ think； you really have a prospect of success。 For
the first time； I feel justified in offering （under certain
restrictions） to help you。 That miserable wretch； in the collapse
of his intelligence； has done what he would never have done in
the possession of his sense and his cunninghe has let us see
the first precious glimmerings of the light of truth。〃
〃Are you sure it _is_ the truth？〃 I asked。
〃In two important particulars；〃 he answered； 〃I know it to be the
truth。 Your idea about him is the right one。 His memory （as you
suppose） was the least injured of his faculties； and was the last
to give way under the strain of trying to tell that story。 I
believe his memory to have been speaking to you （unconsciously to
himself） in all that he said from the moment when the first
reference to 'the letter' escaped him to the end。〃
〃But what does the reference to the letter mean？〃 I asked。 〃For
my part； I am entirely in the dark about it。〃
〃So am I；〃 he answered； frankly。 〃The chief one among the
obstacles which I mentioned just now is the obstacle presented by
that same 'letter。' The late Mrs。 Eustace must have been
connected with it in some way； or Dexter would never have spoken
of it as 'a dagger in his heart'； Dexter would never have coupled
her name with the words which describe the tearing up of the
letter and the throwing of it away。 I can arrive with some
certainty at this result； and I can get no further。 I have no
more idea than you have of who wrote the letter； or of what was
written in it。 If we are ever to make that discoveryprobably
the most important discovery of allwe must dispatch our first
inquiries a distance of three thousand miles。 In plain English；
my dear lady； we must send to America。〃
This； naturally enough； took me completely by surprise。 I waited
eagerly to hear why we were to send to America。
〃It rests with you；〃 he proceeded； 〃when you hear what I have to
tell you； to say whether you will go to the expense of sending a
man to New York； or not。 I can find the right man for the
purpose； and I estimate the expense （including a telegram）〃
〃Never mind the expense！〃 I interposed； losing all patience with
the eminently Scotch view of the case which put my purse in the
first place of importance。 〃I don't care for the expense； I want
to know what you have discovered。〃
He smiled。 〃She doesn't care for the expense；〃 he said to
himself； pleasantly。 〃How like a woman！〃
I might have retorted； 〃He thinks of the expense before he thinks
of anything else。 How like a Scotchman！〃 As it was； I was too
anxious to be witty。 I only drummed impatiently with my fingers
on the table； and said； 〃Tell me！ tell me！〃
He took out the fair copy from Benjamin's no