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but a friend who was personally acquainted with Dexter as well。
Could there be a fitter man to apply to for enlightenment in the
darkness that had now gathered around me？ Benjamin； when I put
the question to him； acknowledged that I had made a sensible
choice on this occasion； and at once exerted himself to help me。
He discovered （through his own lawyer） the address of Mr。
Playmore's London agents； and from these gentlemen he obtained
for me a letter of introduction to Mr。 Playmore himself。 I had
nothing to conceal from my new adviser； and I was properly
described in the letter as Eustace Macallan's second wife。
The same evening we two set forth （Benjamin refused to let me
travel alone） by the night mail for Edinburgh。
I had previously written to Miserrimus Dexter （by my old friend's
advice）； merely saying that I had been unexpectedly called away
from London for a few days； and that I would report to him the
result of my interview with Lady Clarinda on my return。 A
characteristic answer was brought back to the cottage by Ariel：
〃Mrs。 Valeria； I happen to be a man of quick perceptions； and I
can read the _unwritten_ part of your letter。 Lady Clarinda has
shaken your confidence in me。 Very good。 I pledge myself to shake
your confidence in Lady Clarinda。 In the meantime I am not
offended。 In serene composure I await the honor and the happiness
of your visit。 Send me word by telegraph whether you would like
Truffles again； or whether you would prefer something simpler and
lightersay that incomparable French dish； Pig's Eyelids and
Tamarinds。 Believe me always your ally and admirer； your poet and
cookDEXTER。〃
Arrived in Edinburgh； Benjamin and I had a little discussion。 The
question in dispute between us was whether I should go with hi m；
or go alone； to Mr。 Playmore。 I was all for going alone。
〃My experience of the world is not a very large one；〃 I said。
〃But I have observed that； in nine cases out of ten； a man will
make concessions to a woman； if she approaches him by her self；
which he would hesitate even to consider if another man was
within hearing。 I don't know how it isI only know that it is
so； If I find that I get on badly with Mr。 Playmore； I will ask
him for a second appointment； and； in that case； you shall
accompany me。 Don't think me self…willed。 Let me try my luck
alone； and let us see what comes of it。〃
Benjamin yielded； with his customary consideration for me。 I sent
my letter of introduction to Mr。 Playmore's officehis private
house being in the neighborhood of Gleninch。 My messenger brought
back a polite answer； inviting me to visit him at an early hour
in the afternoon。 At the appointed time； to the moment； I rang
the bell at the office door。
CHAPTER XXXIII。
A SPECIMEN OF MY FOLLY。
THE incomprehensible submission of Scotchmen to the
ecclesiastical tyranny of their Established Church has
producednot unnaturally； as I thinka very mistaken impression
of the national character in the popular mind。
Public opinion looks at the institution of 〃The Sabbath〃 in
Scotland； finds it unparalleled in Christendom for its senseless
and savage austerity； sees a nation content to be deprived by its
priesthood of every social privilege on one day in every
weekforbidden to travel； forbidden to telegraph； forbidden to
eat a hot dinner； forbidden to read a newspaper； in short；
allowed the use of two liberties only； the liberty of exhibiting
one's self at the Church and the liberty of secluding one's self
over the bottlepublic opinion sees this； and arrives at the not
unreasonable conclusion that the people who submit to such social
laws as these are the most stolid； stern and joyless people on
the face of the earth。 Such are Scotchmen supposed to be； when
viewed at a distance。 But how do Scotchmen appear when they are
seen under a closer light； and judged by the test of personal
experience？ There are no people more cheerful； more
companionable； more hospitable； more liberal in their ideas； to
be found on the face of the civilized globe than the very people
who submit to the Scotch Sunday！ On the six days of the week
there is an atmosphere of quiet humor； a radiation of genial
common…sense； about Scotchmen in general； which is simply
delightful to feel。 But on the seventh day these same men will
hear one of their ministers seriously tell them that he views
taking a walk on the Sabbath in the light of an act of profanity；
and will be the only people in existence who can let a man talk
downright nonsense without laughing at him。
I am not clever enough to be able to account for this anomaly in
the national character； I can only notice it by way of necessary
preparation for the appearance in my little narrative of a
personage not frequently seen in writinga cheerful Scotchman。
In all other respects I found Mr。 Playmore only negatively
remarkable。 He was neither old nor young； neither handsome nor
ugly； he was personally not in the least like the popular idea of
a lawyer； and he spoke perfectly good English； touched with only
the slightest possible flavor of a Scotch accent。
〃I have the honor to be an old friend of Mr。 Macallan；〃 he said；
cordially shaking hands with me； 〃and I am honestly happy to
become acquainted with Mr。 Macallan's wife。 Where will you sit？
Near the light？ You are young enough not to be afraid of the
daylight just yet。 Is this your first visit to Edinburgh？ Pray
let me make it as pleasant to you as I can。 I shall be delighted
to present Mrs。 Playmore to you。 We are staying in Edinburgh for
a little while。 The Italian opera is here； and we have a box for
to…night。 Will you kindly waive all ceremony and dine with us and
go to the music afterward？〃
〃You are very kind；〃 I answered。 〃But I have some anxieties just
now which will make me a very poor companion for Mrs。 Playmore at
the opera。 My letter to you mentions； I think； that I have to ask
your advice on matters which are of very serious importance to
me。〃
〃Does it？〃 he rejoined。 〃To tell you the truth； I have not read
the letter through。 I saw your name in it； and I gathered from
your message that you wished to see me here。 I sent my note to
your hoteland then went on with something else。 Pray pardon me。
Is this a professional consultation？ For your own sake； I
sincerely hope not！〃
〃It is hardly a professional consultation； Mr。 Playmore。 I find
myself in a very painful position； and I come to you to advise
me； under very unusual circumstances。 I shall surprise you very
much when you hear what I have to say； and I am afraid I shall
occupy more than my fair share of your time。〃
〃I and my time are entirely at your disposal；〃 he said。 〃Tell me
what I can do for youand tell it in your own way。〃
The kindness of this language was more than matched by the
kindness of his manner。 I spoke to him freely and fullyI told
him my strange story without the slightest reserve。
He showed the varying impressions that I produced on his mind
without the slightest concealment。 My separation from Eustace
distressed him。 My resolution to dispute the Scotch Verdict； and
my unjust suspicions of Mrs。 Beauly； first amused； then surprised
him。 It was not； however； until I had described my extraordinary
interview with Miserrimus Dexter； and my hardly less remarkable
conversation with Lady Clarinda； that I produced my greatest
effect on the lawyer's mind。 I saw him change color for the first
time。 He started； and muttered to himself； as if he had
completely forgotten me。 〃Good God！〃 I heard him say〃can it be
possible？ Does the truth lie _that_ way after all？〃
I took the liberty of interrupting him。 I had no idea of allowing
him to keep his thoughts to himself。
〃I seem to have surprised you？〃 I said。
He started at the sound of my voice。
〃I beg ten thousand pardons！〃 he exclaimed。 〃You have not only
surprised meyou have opened an entirely new view to my mind。 I
see a possibility； a really startling possibility； in connection
with the poisoning at Gleninch； which never occurred to me until
the present moment。 This is a nice state of things；〃 he added；
falling back again into his ordinary humor。 〃Here is the client
leading the lawyer。 My dear Mrs。 Eustace； which is itdo you
want my advice？ or do I want yours？〃
〃May I hear the new idea？〃 I asked。
〃Not just yet； if you will excuse me；〃 he answered。 〃Make
allowances for my professional caution。 I don't want to be
professional with youmy great anxiety is to avoid it。 But the
lawyer gets the better of the man； and refuses to be suppressed。
I really hesitate to realize what is passing in my own mind
without some further inquiry。 Do me a great favor。 Let us go over
a part of the ground again； and let me ask you some questions as
we proceed。 Do you feel any objection to obliging me in this
matter？〃
〃Certainly not； Mr。 Playmore。 How far shall we go back？〃
〃To your visit to Dexter with your mother…in…law。 When you first
asked him if he had any ideas of his own on the subject of Mrs。
Eustace Macallan's death； did I understand you to say that he
looked at you suspiciously？〃
〃Very suspiciously。〃
〃And his face cleared up again when you told him that your
question was