my dismissal for the evening.
My next proceeding was to go up-stairs, and see Clara. Upstairs, I give
you my word of honour, it was worse still. Clara was walking about the
room with your letter in her hand--just reach me the matches: my cigar's
out. Some men can talk and smoke in equal proportions--I never could.

"You know as well as I do," he continued when he had relit his cigar,
"that Clara is not usually demonstrative. I always thought her rather a
cold temperament--but the moment I put my head in at the door, I found
I'd been just as great a fool on that point as on most others. Basil,
the scream Clara gave when she first saw me, and the look in her eyes
when she talked about you, positively frightened me. I can't describe
anything; and I hate descriptions by other men (most likely on that very
account): so I won't describe what she said and did. I'll only tell you
that it ended in my promising to come here the first thing this morning;
promising to get you out of the scrape; promising, in short, everything
she asked me. So here I am, ready for your business before my own. The
fair partner of my existence is at the hotel, half-frantic because I
won't go lodging-hunting with her; but Clara is paramount, Clara is the
first thought. Somebody must be a good boy at home; and now you have
resigned, I'm going to try and succeed you, by way of a change!"

"Ralph! Ralph! can you mention Clara's name, and that woman's name, in
the same breath? Did you leave Clara quieter and better! For God's sake
be serious about that, though serious about nothing else!"

"Gently, Basil! _Doucement mon ami!_ I did leave her quieter: my promise
made her look almost like herself again. As for what you say about
mentioning Clara and Mrs. Ralph in the same breath, I've been talking
and smoking till I have no second breaths left to devote to second-rate
virtue. There is an unanswerable reason for you, if you want one! And
now let us get to the business that brings me here. I don't want to
worry you by raking up this miserable mess again, from beginning to end,
in your presence; but I must make sure at the same time that I have got
hold of the right story, or I can't be of any use to you. My father
was a little obscure on certain points. He talked enough, and more than
enough, about consequences to the family, about his own affliction,
about his giving you up for ever; and, in short, about everything but
the case itself as it really stands aga