CHAPTER XXI 



THE BUNDLE OF LETTERS 



Mr Dashwood's chambers in the Albany were 

 furnished according to the taste of that gentleman, 

 high art giving place in the decorations to the 

 art of physical culture. Some old Rowlandson 

 prints decorated the walls, together with boxing- 

 gloves, single-sticks and foils; the few books 

 visible were not of the meditative or devotional 

 order of literature — Ruff, Surtees and Pitcher 

 being the authors most affected by Mr Dashwood. 

 He had spent a very miserable Sunday. Having 

 written and posted his letters to Miss Grimshaw 

 and French, he had fallen back on gloomy medi- 

 tation and tobacco. He had spent Monday in 

 trying to imagine in what manner Miss Grimshaw 

 had taken his letter; he had taken refuge from 

 his thoughts at the Bridge Club, and had risen 

 from play with twelve pounds to the good and a 

 feeling that things had taken a turn for the better ; 

 and on Tuesday morning, as he was sitting at 

 breakfast, a telegram was brought to him. 



" Come at once, most important. — Grimshaw, 

 Crowsnest." 



22^ 



