of a guilty conscience.

I had been warned by Felicia to keep what had passed between us a secret
from her husband for the present; so we had (superficially speaking) a
merry end to the evening. My son-in-law was nearly as good company as
ever, and wonderfully fertile in suggestions and expedients when he saw
they were wanted. Hearing from his wife, to whom I had mentioned it,
that I purposed representing the decayed condition of the kirk and manse
to the owner of Cauldkirk and the country round about, he strongly urged
me to draw up a list of repairs that were most needful, before I waited
on my lord. This advice, vicious and degraded as the man who offered it
may be, is sound advice nevertheless. I shall assuredly take it.

So far I had written in my Diary, in the forenoon. Returning to my daily
record, after a lapse of some hours, I have a new mystery of iniquity to
chronicle. My abominable son-in-law now appears (I blush to write it) to
be nothing less than an associate of thieves!

After the meal they call luncheon, I thought it well before recreating
myself with the sights of London, to attend first to the crying
necessities of the kirk and the manse. Furnished with my written list, I
presented myself at his lordship's residence. I was immediately informed
that he was otherwise engaged, and could not possibly receive me. If
I wished to see my lord's secretary, Mr. Helmsley, I could do so.
Consenting to this, rather than fail entirely in my errand, I was shown
into the secretary's room.

Mr. Helmsley heard what I had to say civilly enough; expressing,
however, grave doubts whether his lordship would do anything for me, the
demands on his purse being insupportably numerous already. However, he
undertook to place my list before his employer, and to let me know the
result. "Where are you staying in London?" he asked. I answered: "With
my son-in-law, Mr. Marmaduke Falmer." Before I could add the address,
the secretary started to his feet and tossed my list back to me across
the table in the most uncivil manner.

"Upon my word," says he, "your assurance exceeds anything I ever heard
of. Your son-in-law is concerned in the robbery of her ladyship's
diamond bracelet--the discovery was made not an hour ago. Leave the
house, sir, and consider yourself lucky that I have no instructions to
give you in charge to the police." I protested against this unprovoked
outrage, with a violence of language which I would rather not r