47454    He helps to keep our lives from being monotonous and gives a little comic relief where it is badly, needed.

47455    And now, having brought you up to date on the escaped convict, the Stapletons, Dr Mortimer, and Frankland of Lafter Hall, let me end on that which is most important and tell you more about the Barrymores, and especially about the surprising development of last night.

47456    First of all about the test telegram, which you sent from London in order to make sure that Barrymore was really here.

47457    I have already explained that the testimony of the postmaster shows that the test was worthless and that we have no proof one way or the other.

47458    I told Sir Henry how the matter stood, and he at once, in his downright fashion, had Barrymore up and asked him whether he had received the telegram himself.

47459    Barrymore said that he had.

47460    'Did the boy deliver it into your own hands?' asked Sir Henry.

47461    Barrymore looked surprised, and considered for a little time.

47462    'No,' said he, 'I was in the box-room at the time, and my wife brought it up to me.'

47463    'Did you answer it yourself ?'

47464    'No, I told my wife what to answer, and she went down to write it.'

47465    In the evening he returned to the subject of his own accord.

47466    'I could not quite understand the object of your questions this morning, Sir Henry,' said he.

47467    'I trust that they do not mean that I have done anything to forfeit your confidence?'

47468    Sir Henry had to assure him that it was not so and pacify him by giving him a considerable part of his old wardrobe, the London outfit having now all arrived.