‘May I come in?’ he asked.

‘Certainly, certainly,’ I said cordially.  ‘But what is the matter?’

‘Good God!  Newall,’ he cried, ‘that MS. after all is a forgery.’

This expression I thought unbecoming in a ‘Disciple,’ but I only smiled and said, ‘Really, you think so?’ Monteagle then made reference to our old friendship, our unfortunate dissensions.  He asked for my help, and then really excited my pity.  Some member of the High Church party in Oxbridge had apparently been to Greece to attend a Conference on the Union of the Greek and Anglican Churches.  While there he met Sarpedon, Patriarch of Hermaphroditopolis, and in course of conversation told him of the renowned Dr. Groschen.  Sarpedon became distant at mention of the Doctor’s name.  He denied all knowledge of the famous letter of introduction, and said the only thing he knew of the Professor was, that he was usually supposed to have been the thief who had made off with a large chest of parchments from the monastery of St. Basil.

The Greek Patriarch refused to give any further information.  The English clergyman reported the incident privately to Girdelstone.

Dr. Groschen’s other letters were examined, and found to be fabrications.  The Book of Jasher and Aulus Gellius were submitted to a like scrutiny.  Girdelstone and Monteagle came reluctantly to the conclusion that they were also vulgar and palpable forgeries.  At the end of his story Monteagle almost burst into tears.  I endeavoured to cheer him, although I was shrieking with laughter at the whole story.

Of course it was dreadful for him.  If he exposed Dr. Groschen, his own reputation as an expert would be gone, and the Doctor was already paid half the purchase money.  Monteagle was so agitated that it was with difficulty I could get his story out of him, and to this day I have never quite learned the truth.  Controlling my laughter, I sent a note round to Professor Girdelstone, asking him to come to my rooms.  In about ten minutes he appeared, looking as draggled and sheepish as poor Monteagle.  In his bosom he carried the fateful MS., which I now saw for the first time.  If it was a forgery (and I have never been convinced) it was certainly a masterpiece.  From what Girdelstone said to me, then and since, I think that the Aulus Gellius portion was genuine enough, and the Book of Jasher possibly the invention of Groschen; however, it will never be discovered if one or neither was genuine.  Monteagle thought the ink used was a compound of tea and charcoal, but both he and Girdelstone were too suspicious to believe even each other by this time.