reader of all kinds of literature （and never at all apologetic for that
weakness）； he sat down fortably to read。
The clock upon his study table pointed to a few minutes short of twelve；
when his attention was called to it by a ringing at the door bell。 A man
of plain habits； he had sent his servants to bed and must needs go down
to open the door。 He went down； and there found a man without hat or
coat； whose shirt sleeves were rolled up tight to his shoulders。 For a
moment； he thought the man had been fighting： the rather； as he was much
agitated and out of breath。 A second look； however； showed him that
the man was particularly clean； and not otherwise disposed as to his
dress than as it answered this description。
'I e from the warm…baths； sir； round in the neighbouring street。'
'And what is the matter at the warm…baths？'
'Would you please to e directly； sir。 We found that； lying on the
table。'
He put into the physician's hand a scrap of paper。 Physician looked at
it； and read his own name and address written in pencil； nothing more。
He looked closer at the writing； looked at the man； took his hat from
its peg； put the key of his door in his pocket； and they hurried away
together。
When they came to the warm…baths； all the other people belonging to that
establishment were looking out for them at the door； and running up and
down the passages。 'Request everybody else to keep back； if you please；'
said the physician aloud to the master； 'and do you take me straight to
the place； my friend；' to the messenger。
The messenger hurried before him； along a grove of little rooms；
and turning into one at the end of the grove； looked round the door。
Physician was close upon him； and looked round the door too。
There was a bath in that corner； from which the water had been hastily
drained off。 Lying in it； as in a grave or sarcophagus； with a hurried
drapery of sheet and blanket thrown across it； was the body of a
heavily…made man； with an obtuse head； and coarse； mean； mon
features。 A sky…light had been opened to release the steam with which
the room had been filled； but it hung； condensed into water…drops；
heavily upon the walls； and heavily upon the face and figure in the
bath。 The room was still hot； and the marble of the bath still warm； but
the face and figure were clammy to the touch。 The white marble at the
bottom of the bath was veined with a dreadful red。 On the ledge at
the side； were an empty laudanum…bottle and a tortoise…shell handled
penknife……soiled； but not with ink。
'Separation of jugular vein……death rapid……been dead at least half an
hour。' This echo of the physician's words ran through the passages
and little rooms； and through the house while he was yet straightening
himself from having bent down to reach to the bottom of the bath； and
while he was yet dabbling his hands in water； redly veining it as the
marble was veined； before it mingled into one tint。
He turned his eyes to the dress upon the sofa； and to the watch； money；
and pocket…book on the table。 A folded note half buckled up in the
pocket…book； and half protruding from it； caught his observant glance。
He looked at it； touched it； pulled it a little further out from among
the leaves； said quietly； 'This is addressed to me；' and opened and read
it。
There were no directions for him to give。 The people of the house knew
what to do； the proper authorities were soon brought； and they took an
equable business…like possession of the deceased； and of what had been
his property； with no greater disturbance of manner or countenance than
usually attends the winding…up of a clock。 Physician was glad to walk
out into the night air……was even glad； in spite of his great experience；
to sit down upon a door…step for a little while： feeling sick and faint。
Bar was a near neighbour of his； and； when he came to the house； he saw
a light in the room where he knew his friend often sat late getting up
his work。 As the light was never there when Bar was not； it gave him
assurance that Bar was not yet in bed。 In fact； this busy bee had
a verdict to get to…morrow； against evidence； and was improving the
shining hours in setting snares for the gentlemen of the jury。
Physician's knock astonished Bar； but； as he immediately suspected that
somebody had e to tell him that somebody else was robbing him； or
otherwise trying to get the better of him； he came down promptly and
softly。 He had been clearing his head with a lotion of cold water； as a
good preparative to providing hot water for the heads of the jury； and
had been reading with the neck of his shirt thrown wide open that he
might the more freely choke the opposite witnesses。 In consequence； he
came down； looking rather wild。 Seeing Physician； the least expected of
men； he looked wilder and said； 'What's the matter？'
'You asked me once what Merdle's plaint was。'
'Extraordinary answer！ I know I did。'
'I told you I had not found out。'
'Yes。 I know you did。'
'I have found it out。'
'My God！' said Bar； starting back； and clapping his hand upon the
other's breast。 'And so have I！ I see it in your face。'
They went into the nearest room； where Physician gave him the letter to
read。 He read it through half…a…dozen times。 There was not much in it
as to quantity； but it made a great demand on his close and continuous
attention。 He could not sufficiently give utterance to his regret that
he had not himself found a clue to this。 The smallest clue； he said；
would have made him master of the case； and what a case it would have
been to have got to the bottom of！
Physician had engaged to break the intelligence in Harley Street。 Bar
could not at once return to his inveiglements of the most enlightened
and remarkable jury he had ever seen in that box； with whom； he could
tell his learned friend； no shallow sophistry would go down； and no
unhappily abused professional tact and skill prevail （this was the way
he meant to begin with them）； so he said he would go too； and would
loiter to and fro near the house while his friend was inside。 They
walked there； the better to recover self…possession in the air； and the
wings of day were fluttering the night when Physician knocked at the
door。
A footman of rainbow hues； in the public eye； was sitting up for his
master……that is to say； was fast asleep in the kitchen over a couple
of candles and a newspaper； demonstrating the great accumulation of
mathematical odds against the probabilities of a house being set on fire
by accident When this serving man was roused； Physician had still to
await the rousing of the Chief Butler。 At last that noble creature came
into the dining…room in a flannel gown and list shoes； but with his
cravat on； and a Chief Butler all over。 It was morning now。 Physician
had opened the shutters of one window while waiting； that he might see
the light。 'Mrs Merdle's maid must be called； and told to get Mrs Merdle
up； and prepare her as gently as she can to see me。 I have dreadful news
to break to her。'
Thus Physician to the Chief Butler。 The latter； who had a candle in his
hand； called his man to take it away。 Then he approached the window with