inister, stooping, and lifting something off the
carpet, "here's a bit of paper you've dropped out of the pocket-book, or
perhaps out of that bookie you're reading from."

The Squire eyed the paper, and then, stretching his arm over the table,
shook the detective warmly by the hand. "It was very foolish of me, Mr.
Bangs, not to have seen that at first. It gives notice of your arrival,
and describes you perfectly. There's a bit of Latin, Mr. Errol, you
might ask our friend. It seems to be a sort of watchword with a
countersign."

The minister took the paper and read, "quod quaeris?" whereupon the
detective smiled, and answered promptly, "molares ebrii."

"What in aa the warld's yon, Coristine?" enquired the Squire.

"Mr. Errol asked Mr. Bangs, 'What are you looking for?' and he answered,
'For full grindstones.'"

"When a man is _ebrius_, John," continued the minister, "he's no' just
sober. Weel, weel, the catechis is over, and ye can tak' puir Nash's
frien' into our plans. Thank Providence, there's the breakfast gong."

The ladies were astonished to see the new arrival enter the dining-room,
the breakfast-room table being too small, with his three inquisitors. He
was quite polite, however, though a little stiltedly so, as if not to
the manner born. Mr. Terry insisted on vacating his seat in Mr. Bangs
favour. He said: "There's a foine Oirishman from the narth by the name
av Hill Oi wud be plazed to have some conversation wid, so yeez 'll jist
koindly ekshcuse me all," and left for the kitchen. There were sixteen
people at the table, so when Squire Walker turned up, Marjorie, who had
been brought in to equalize the sides, had to yield her place to him,
and follow the veteran to the lower sphere, in one apartment of which
the children, under Tryphosa's rule, had a separate table. To this Mr.
Terry invited his countryman, the old schoolmaster, who, in spite of his
recent deipnosophistic repast with Mr. Maguffin, was ready for something
warm. He confidentially whispered to Mr. Terry that no doubt nagurs had
sowls and were human, but he wasn't pudden' fond of their society. In
the dining-room, Mr. Bangs and Squire Walker, in the centre of the
table, were in exile, for Wilkinson and the Captain flanked the former,
and Coristine and Mr. Perrowne the latter. Mrs. Du Plessis sat between
Carruthers and Mr. Thomas; Miss Halbert between the minister and Mr.
Perrowne; Miss Du Plessis between the dominie and the doctor; and Miss