turk tells me, in Mrs. Strafford's
carriage. Well, when you return this evening, put down in writing what
you think Charles can do for you, and I'll take care he considers it.'

'I thank you, Sir,' said Sturk, solemnly.

'And hark ye, you'd better go about your business in town--do you
see--just as usual; 'twill excite enquiry if you don't; so you must in
this and other things proceed exactly as I direct you,' said
Dangerfield.

'Exactly, Sir, depend on't,' answered Sturk.

'Good-day,' said Dangerfield.

'Adieu,' said the doctor; and they shook hands, gravely.

On the lobby Dangerfield encountered Mrs. Sturk, and had a few pleasant
words with her, patting the bull-heads of the children, and went down
stairs smiling and nodding; and Mrs. Sturk popped quietly into the
study, and found her husband leaning on the chimney piece, and swabbing
his face with his handkerchief--strangely pale--and looking, as the good
lady afterwards said, for all the world as if he had seen a ghost.

CHAPTER XLVI.

THE CLOSET SCENE, WITH THE PART OF POLONIUS OMITTED.

When Magnolia and the major had gone out, each on their several devices,
poor Mrs. Macnamara called Biddy, their maid, and told her, in a
vehement, wheezy, confidential whisper in her ear, though there was
nobody by but themselves, and the door was shut.

'Biddy, now mind--d'ye see--the lady that came to me in the end of
July--do you remember?--in the black satin--you know?--she'll be here
to-day, and we're going down together in her coach to Mrs. Nutter's; but
that does not signify. As soon as she comes, bring her in here, into
this room--d'ye mind?--and go across that instant minute--d'ye see
now?--straight to Dr. Toole, and ask him to send me the peppermint drops
he promised me.'

Then she cross-questioned Biddy, to ascertain that she perfectly
understood and clearly remembered; and, finally, she promised her
half-a-crown if she peformed this very simple commission to her
mistress's satisfaction and held her tongue religiously on the subject.
She had apprised Toole the evening before, and now poor 'Mrs. Mack's
sufferings, she hoped, were about to be brought to a happy termination
by the doctor's ingenuity. She was, however, very nervous indeed, as the
crisis approached; for such a beast as Mary Matchwell at bay was a
spectacle to excite a little tremor even in a person of more nerve than
fat Mrs. Macnamara.

And what could Mary Matchwell want of a conjurin