Postscript

           AlastchanceofdecidingthedifferenceofopinionbetweenthetwobrothersremainedinHenry’spossession.Hehadhisownideaoftheusetowhichhemightputthefalseteethasameansofinquirywhenheandhisfellow-travellersreturnedtoEngland.

           Theonlysurvivingdepositaryofthedomestichistoryofthefamilyinpastyears,wasAgnesLockwood’soldnurse.HenrytookhisfirstopportunityoftryingtoreviveherpersonalrecollectionsofthedeceasedLordMontbarry.ButthenursehadneverforgiventhegreatmanofthefamilyforhisdesertionofAgnes;sheflatlyrefusedtoconsulthermemory.’Eventhebaresightofmylord,whenIlastsawhiminLondon,’saidtheoldwoman,’mademyfinger-nailsitchtosettheirmarkonhisface.IwassentonanerrandbyMissAgnes;andImethimcomingoutofhisdentist’sdoor—and,thankGod,that’sthelastIeversawofhim!’

           Thankstothenurse’squicktemperandquaintwayofexpressingherself,theobjectofHenry’sinquirieswasgainedalready!Heventuredonaskingifshehadnoticedthesituationofthehouse.Shehadnoticed,andstillrememberedthesituation—didMasterHenrysupposeshehadlosttheuseofhersenses,becauseshehappenedtobenighoneightyyearsold?Thesameday,hetookthefalseteethtothedentist,andsetallfurtherdoubt(ifdoubthadstillbeenpossible)atrestforever.TheteethhadbeenmadeforthefirstLordMontbarry.

           Henryneverrevealedtheexistenceofthislastlinkinthechainofdiscoverytoanylivingcreature,hisbrotherStephenincluded.