A new difficulty had arisen.

Elsley, under the excitement of expectation, had gone out and deigned to buy laudanum--so will an unhealthy craving degrade a man!--of old Bolus himself, who luckily did not recognise him.

He had taken his fullest dose, and was now unable to go anywhere or do anything.

Tom did not disturb him: but went away, sorely perplexed, and very much minded to tell a white lie to Armsworth, in whose eyes this would be an offence--not unpardonable, for nothing with him was unpardonable, save lying or cruelty--but very grievous.

If a man had drunk too much wine in his house, he would have simply kept his eye on him afterwards, as a fool who did not know when he had his "quotum;" but laudanum drinking,--involving, too, the breaking of an engagement, which, well managed, might have been of immense use to Elsley,--was a very different matter.