I fortified myself, however, as my training had taught me to do, by the conviction that nothing could be more advantageous for my article than to be written in the very atmosphere.

I said nothing to Mr.Paraday about it, but in the morning, after my remove from the inn, while he was occupied in his study, as he had notified me he should need to be, I committed to paper the main heads of my impression.

Then thinking to commend myself to Mr.Pinhorn by my celerity, I walked out and posted my little packet before luncheon.

Once my paper was written I was free to stay on, and if it was calculated to divert attention from my levity in so doing I could reflect with satisfaction that I had never been so clever.

I don't mean to deny of course that I was aware it was much too good for Mr.Pinhorn; but I was equally conscious that Mr.Pinhorn had the supreme shrewdness of recognising from time to time the cases in which an article was not too bad only because it was too good.