Take somebody with you."

"Do you think I am in any danger, then?"

"Not in the ordinary sense of the word. I only think that a friend may
be useful in keeping Dexter's audacity (he is one of the most impudent
men living) within proper limits. Then, again, in case anything worth
remembering and acting on _should_ fall from him in his talk, a friend
may be valuable as witness. In your place, I should have a witness with
me who could take notes--but then I am a lawyer, and my business is to
make a fuss about trifles. Let me only say--go with a companion when you
next visit Dexter; and be on your guard against yourself when your talk
turns on Mrs. Beauly."

"On my guard against myself? What do you mean?"

"Practice, my dear Mrs. Eustace, has given me an eye for the little
weaknesses of human nature. You are (quite naturally) disposed to
be jealous of Mrs. Beauly; and you are, in consequence, not in full
possession of your excellent common-sense when Dexter uses that lady as
a means of blindfolding you. Am I speaking too freely?"

"Certainly not. It is very degrading to me to be jealous of Mrs. Beauly.
My vanity suffers dreadfully when I think of it. But my common-sense
yields to conviction. I dare say you are right."

"I am delighted to find that we agree on one point," he rejoined, dryly.
"I don't despair yet of convincing you in that far more serious matter
which is still in dispute between us. And, what is more, if you will
throw no obstacles in the way, I look to Dexter himself to help me."

This aroused my curiosity. How Miserrimus Dexter could help him, in that
or in any other way, was a riddle beyond my reading.

"You propose to repeat to Dexter all that Lady Clarinda told you about
Mrs. Beauly," he went on. "And you think it is likely that Dexter will
be overwhelmed, as you were overwhelmed, when he hears the story. I am
going to venture on a prophecy. I say that Dexter will disappoint you.
Far from showing any astonishment, he will boldly tell you that you have
been duped by a deliberately false statement of facts, invented and set
afloat, in her own guilty interests, by Mrs. Beauly. Now tell me--if
he really try, in that way, to renew your unfounded suspicion of an
innocent woman, will _that_ shake your confidence in your own opinion?"

"It will entirely destroy my confidence in my own opinion, Mr.
Playmore."

"Very good. I shall expect you to write to me, in any case; and I
believe we shall be of one