ightest
change in my conduct in consequence. At all events, if you feel
constrained to display any sudden accession of reserve toward
Douglas, tell him the reason; because if you dont, he will ascribe
the change to coquetry.

"I have turned the spare room on the first floor into a laboratory,
and am sitting in it now. I'm thinking of fitting it up like a
studio, and having private views of my inventions, as Scott has of
his pictures. Parson's man came with some flowers the other day,
and informed me that three balls, to the first of which he was
invited, took place in the house while I was away. One or two
trifling dilapidations, and the fact that somebody has been
tampering with the locks of the organ and piano, dispose me to
believe this tale. Parson's man declares that he was too virtuous
to come to the two last entertainments after finding out that the
first was a clandestine one; but I believe he made himself
disagreeable, and was not invited. Probably he quarrelled with some
military follower of Armande's; for he was particularly bitter on
the subject of a common soldier making free in a gentleman's house.
I have not said anything to the two culprits; but I have contrived
to make them suspect that I know all; and they now do their duty
with trembling diligence. Some man sat on the little walnut table
and broke it; but no other damage worth mentioning has been done.
The table was absurdly repaired with a piece of twine, and pushed
into the recess between the organ and the front window, whence I
sometimes amuse myself by the experiment of pulling it into broad
daylight. It is always pushed back again before I return in the
evening.

"How are you off for money? I have plenty of loose cash just now.
Madame called last Monday, and asked Matilda, who opened the door,
when you would be back. Thereupon I interviewed her. I must say she
is loyal to her clients; for I had great difficulty in extracting
her bill, which was, of course, what she called about. She
evidently recognizes the necessity of keeping husbands in the dark
in such matters. One of the items was for the lace on your
maccaroni-colored body, which, as I chanced to remember, you
supplied yourself. After a brief struggle she deducted it; so I
paid her the balance: only 35L 13s. 9d.

"When are you coming back to me? After Sark I
fear you will find home a little dull. Nevertheless