insular provincialism, then. I don't care a cent. The
old man would have wrecked the Great Buchonian before breakfast for a
pipe-opener. My God, I'll do it in dead earnest! I'll show 'em that
they can't bulldoze a foreigner for flagging one of their little tinpot
trains, and--I've spent fifty thousand a year here, at least, for the
last four years."

I was glad I was not his lawyer. I re-read the correspondence, notably
the letter which recommended him--almost tenderly, I fancied--to build a
fourteen-foot brick wall at the end of his garden, and half-way through
it a thought struck me which filled me with pure joy.

The footman ushered in two men, frock-coated, grey-trousered,
smooth-shaven, heavy of speech and gait. It was nearly nine o'clock, but
they looked as newly come from a bath. I could not understand why
the elder and taller of the pair glanced at me as though we had an
understanding; nor why he shook hands with an unEnglish warmth.

"This simplifies the situation," he said in an undertone, and, as I
stared, he whispered to his companion: "I fear I shall be of very little
service at present. Perhaps Mr. Folsom had better talk over the affair
with Mr. Sargent."

"That is what I am here for," said Wilton.

The man of law smiled pleasantly, and said that he saw no reason why the
difficulty should not be arranged in two minutes' quiet talk. His air,
as he sat down opposite Wilton, was soothing to the last degree, and his
companion drew me up-stage. The mystery was deepening, but I followed
meekly, and heard Wilton say, with an uneasy laugh:

"I've had insomnia over this affair, Mr. Folsom. Let's settle it one way
or the other, for heaven's sake!"

"Ah! Has he suffered much from this lately?" said my man, with a
preliminary cough.

"I really can't say," I replied.

"Then I suppose you have only lately taken charge here?"

"I came this evening. I am not exactly in charge of anything."

"I see. Merely to observe the course of events in case--" He nodded.

"Exactly." Observation, after all, is my trade.

He coughed again slightly, and came to business.

"Now,--I am asking solely for information's sake,--do you find the
delusions persistent?"

"Which delusions?"

"They are variable, then? That is distinctly curious, because--but do
I understand that the type of the delusion varies? For example, Mr.
Sargent believes that he can buy the Great Buchonian."

"Did he write you that?"

"He made the offer