e them. And as to details of what
little'--he called it little!--'I possess in the world, I want no notes
to aid my memory.' The doctor, however, positively prevented anything
being done to-day, and strictly interdicted him from hearing any matters
of business whatsoever. And it is strange enough, that if not brought up
before him, he will not advert to these topics at all, but continue to
wander on about his past life, and whether he had done wisely in this,
or that, or the other, mixing very worldly thoughts and motives very
oddly at times with those that belong to more serious considerations.
Poor Mr. Augustus," continued he, after a short breathing moment. "He
does not know what to do! He was never permitted to take any part in
business, and he knows no more of Bramleigh and Underwood than you do.
And now he is obliged to open all letters marked immediate or urgent,
and to make the best replies he can, to give directions, and to come to
decisions, in fact, on things he never so much as heard of. And all this
while he is well aware that if his father should recover, he 'll not
forgive him the liberty he has taken to open his correspondence. Can you
imagine a more difficult or painful situation?"

"I think much of the embarrassment might be diminished, Mr. Harding, by
his taking you into his counsels."

"Ah! and that 's the very thing I'll not suffer him to do. No, no, sir;
I know the Colonel too well for that. He may, when he is well and about
again, he may forgive his son, his son and heir, for having possessed
himself with a knowledge of many important details; but he 'd not
forgive the agent, Mr. Harding. I think I can hear the very words he 'd
use. He said once on a time to me, 'I want no Grand Vizier, Harding; I
'm Sultan and Grand Vizier too.' So I said to Mr. Augustus, 'I 've no
head for business after dinner, and particularly when I have tasted your
father's prime Madeira.' And it is true, sir; true as you stand there.
The doctor and I had finished the second decanter before we took our
coffee."

L'Estrange now looked the speaker fully in the face; and to his
astonishment saw that signs of his having drank freely--which, strangely
enough, had hitherto escaped his notice--were now plainly to be seen
there.

"No, sir, not a bit tipsy," said Harding, interpreting his glance; "not
even what Mr. Cutbill calls 'tight'! I won't go so far as to say I 'd
like to make up a complicated account; but for an off-hand q