With those words he took his copy of Joyce’s Scientific Dialogues out of his pocket.  “You’re done with already, my friend!” said the captain, giving his useful information a farewell smack with his hand, and locking it up in the cupboard.  “Such is human popularity!” continued the indomitable vagabond, putting the key cheerfully in his pocket.  “Yesterday Joyce was my all-in-all.  To-day I don’t care that for him!” He snapped his fingers and sat down to breakfast.

“I don’t understand you,” said Magdalen, looking at him angrily.  “Are you leaving me to my own resources for the future?”

“My dear girl!” cried Captain Wragge, “can’t you accustom yourself to my dash of humor yet?  I have done with my ready-made science simply because I am quite sure that Mrs. Lecount has done believing in me.  Haven’t I accepted the invitation to Dunwich?  Make your mind easy.  The help I have given you already counts for nothing compared with the help I am going to give you now.  My honor is concerned in bowling out Mrs. Lecount.  This last move of hers has made it a personal matter between us. The woman actually thinks she can take me in!!!” cried the captain, striking his knife-handle on the table in a transport of virtuous indignation.  “By heavens, I never was so insulted before in my life!  Draw your chair in to the table, my dear, and give me half a minute’s attention to what I have to say next.”

Magdalen obeyed him.  Captain Wragge cautiously lowered his voice before he went on.

“I have told you all along,” he said, “the one thing needful is never to let Mrs. Lecount catch you with your wits wool-gathering.  I say the same after what has happened this morning.  Let her suspect you!  I defy her to find a fragment of foundation for her suspicions, unless we help her.  We shall see to-day if she has been foolish enough to betray herself to her master before she has any facts to support her.  I doubt it.  If she has told him, we will rain down proofs of our identity with the Bygraves on his feeble little head till it absolutely aches with conviction.  You have two things to do on this excursion.  First, to distrust every word Mrs. Lecount says to you.  Secondly, to exert all your fascinations, and make sure of Mr. Noel Vanstone, dating from to-day.  I will give you the opportunity when we leave the carriage and take our walk at Dunwich.  Wear your hat, wear your smile; do your figure justice, lace tight; put on your neatest boots and brightest gloves; tie the miserable little wretch to your apron-string—­tie him fast; and leave the whole management of the matter after that to me.  Steady! here is Mrs. Wragge:  we must be doubly careful in looking after her now.  Show me your cap, Mrs. Wragge! show me your shoes!  What do I see on your apron?  A spot?  I won’t have spots!  Take it off after breakfast, and put on another.  Pull your chair to the middle of the table—­more to the left—­more still.  Make the breakfast.”