Sturk glanced at the door, to see it was shut, and then said—­

‘Mr. Dangerfield, I’ve recollected a—­something.’

‘You have? ho!  Well, my good Sir?’

‘You, I know, were acquainted with—­with Charles Archer?’

Sturk looked for a moment on the spectacles, and then dropped his eyes.

‘Charles Archer,’ answered Dangerfield promptly, ’yes, to be sure.  But, Charles, you know, got into trouble, and ’tis not an acquaintance you or I can boast of; and, in fact, we must not mention him; and I have long ceased to know anything of him.’

’But, I’ve just remembered his address; and there’s something about his private history which I very well know, and which gives me a claim upon his kind feeling, and he’s now in a position to do me a material service; and there’s no man living, Mr. Dangerfield, has so powerful an influence with him as yourself.  Will you use it in my behalf, and attach me to you by lasting gratitude?’

Sturk looked straight at Dangerfield; and Dangerfield looked at him, quizzically, perhaps a little ashamed, in return; after a short pause—­

‘I will,’ said Dangerfield, with a sprightly decision. ’But, you know, Charles is not a fellow to be trifled with—­hey? and we must not mention his name—­you understand—­or hint where he lives, or anything about him, in short.’

‘That’s plain,’ answered Sturk.

’You’re going into town, Mrs. Sturk tells me, in Mrs. Strafford’s carriage.  Well, when you return this evening, put down in writing what you think Charles can do for you, and I’ll take care he considers it.’

‘I thank you, Sir,’ said Sturk, solemnly.

’And hark ye, you’d better go about your business in town—­do you see—­just as usual; ’twill excite enquiry if you don’t; so you must in this and other things proceed exactly as I direct you,’ said Dangerfield.

‘Exactly, Sir, depend on’t,’ answered Sturk.

‘Good-day,’ said Dangerfield.

‘Adieu,’ said the doctor; and they shook hands, gravely.

On the lobby Dangerfield encountered Mrs. Sturk, and had a few pleasant words with her, patting the bull-heads of the children, and went down stairs smiling and nodding; and Mrs. Sturk popped quietly into the study, and found her husband leaning on the chimney piece, and swabbing his face with his handkerchief—­strangely pale—­and looking, as the good lady afterwards said, for all the world as if he had seen a ghost.

CHAPTER XLVI.

THE CLOSET SCENE, WITH THE PART OF POLONIUS OMITTED.

When Magnolia and the major had gone out, each on their several devices, poor Mrs. Macnamara called Biddy, their maid, and told her, in a vehement, wheezy, confidential whisper in her ear, though there was nobody by but themselves, and the door was shut.