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interest for the darling man whose loss they all deplore。
“Very well； Volumnia；” returns Sir Leicester。 “Then you cannot
be too discreet。”
Mr Bucket takes the opportunity of a pause to be heard again。
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“Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； I have no objections to telling
this lady； with your leave and among ourselves； that I look upon
the case as pretty well complete。 It is a beautiful case—a beautiful
case—and what little is wanting to complete it； I expect to be able
to supply in a few hours。”
“I am very glad indeed to hear it；” says Sir Leicester。 “Highly
creditable to you。”
“Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet；” returns Mr Bucket； very
seriously； “I hope it may at one and the same time do me credit；
and prove satisfactory to all。 When I depict it as a beautiful case；
you see； miss；” Mr Bucket goes on； glancing gravely at Sir
Leicester； “I mean from my point of view。 As considered from
other points of view； such cases will always involve more or less
unpleasantness。 Very strange things comes to our knowledge in
families； miss； bless your heart； what you would think to be
phenomenons； quite。”
Volumnia； with her innocent little scream； supposes so。
“Aye； and even in gen…teel families； in high families； in great
families；” says Mr Bucket； again gravely eyeing Sir Leicester
aside。 “I have had the honour of being employed in high families
before； and you have no idea—come； I’ll go so far as to say not
even you have any idea； sir；” this to the debilitated cousin； “what
games goes on！”
The cousin； who has been casting sofa…pillows on his head； in a
prostration of boredom； yawns； “Vayli”—being the used…up for
“very likely。”
Sir Leicester； deeming it time to dismiss the officer； here
majestically interposes with the words； “Very good。 Thank you！”
and also with a wave of his hand； implying not only that there is an
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end of the discourse； but that if high families fall into low habits
they must take the consequences。 “You will not forget； officer；” he
adds； with condescension； “that I am at your disposal when you
please。”
Mr Bucket （still grave） inquires if tomorrow morning； now；
would suit； in case he should be as for’ard as he expects to be？ Sir
Leicester replies； “All times are alike to me。” Mr Bucket makes his
three bows； and is withdrawing； when a forgotten point occurs to
him。
“Might I ask； by the bye；” he says； in a low voice； cautiously
returning； “who posted the Reward…bill on the staircase。”
“I ordered it to be put up there；” replies Sir Leicester。
“Would it be considered a liberty； Sir Leicester Dedlock；
Baronet； if I was to ask you why？”
“Not at all。 I chose it as a conspicuous part of the house。 I think
it cannot be too prominently kept before the whole establishment。
I wish my people to be impressed with the enormity of the crime；
the determination to punish it； and the hopelessness of escape。 At
the same time； officer； if you in your better knowledge of the
subject see any objection—” Mr Bucket sees none now； the bill
having been put up； had better not be taken down。 Repeating his
three bows he withdraws： closing the door on Volumnia’s little
scream； which is a preliminary to her remarking that that
charmingly horrible person is a perfect Blue Chamber。
In his fondness for society； and his adaptability to all grades； Mr
Bucket is presently standing before the hall…fire—bright and warm
on the early winter night—admiring Mercury。
“Why； you’re six foot two； I suppose？” says Mr Bucket。
“Three；” says Mercury。
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“Are you so much？ But then； you see； you’re broad in
proportion； and don’t look it。 You’re not one of the weak…legged
ones； you ain’t。 Was you ever modelled now？” Mr Bucket asks；
conveying the expression of an artist into the turn of his eye and
head。
Mercury never was modelled。
“Then you ought to be； you know；” says Mr Bucket； “and a
friend of mine that you’ll hear of one day as a Royal Academy
Sculptor； would stand something handsome to make a drawing of
your proportions for the marble。 My Lady’s out； ain’t she？”
“Out to dinner。”
“Goes out pretty well every day； don’t she？”
“Yes。”
“Not to be wondered at！” says Mr Bucket。 “Such a fine woman
as her； so handsome and so graceful and so elegant； is like a fresh
lemon on a dinner…table； ornamental wherever she goes。 Was your
father in the same way of life as yourself？”
Answer in the negative。
“Mine was；” says Mr Bucket。 “My father was first a page； then a
footman； then a butler； then a steward； then an inn…keeper。 Lived
universally respected； and died lamented。 Said with his last breath
that he considered service the most honourable part of his career；
and so it was。 I’ve a brother in service； and a brother…in…law。 My
Lady a good temper？”
Mercury replies； “As good as you can expect。”
“Ah！” says Mr Bucket； “a little spoilt？ A little capricious？ Lord！
What can you anticipate when they’re so handsome as that？ And
we like ’em all the better for it； don’t we？”
Mercury； with his hands in the pockets of his bright peach…
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blossom small…clothes； stretches his symmetrical silk legs with the
air of a man of gallantry； and can’t deny it。 Come the roll of wheels
and a violent ringing at the bell。 “Talk of the angels；” says Mr
Bucket。 “Here she is！”
The doors are thrown open； and she passes through the hall。
Still very pale； she is dressed in slight mourning； and wears two
beautiful bracelets。 Either their beauty； or the beauty of her arms；
is particularly attractive to Mr Bucket。 He looks at them with an
eager eye； and rattles something in his pocket—halfpence
perhaps。
Noticing him at his distance； she turns an inquiring look on the
other Mercury who has brought her home。
“Mr Bucket； my Lady。”
Mr Bucket makes a leg； and comes forward； passing his familiar
demon over the region of his mouth。
“Are you waiting to see Sir Leicester？”
“No； my Lady； I’ve seen him！”
“Have you anything to say to me？”
“Not just at present； my Lady。”
“Have you made any new discoveries？”
“A few； my Lady。”
This is merely in passing。 She scarcely makes a stop； and
sweeps upstairs alone。 Mr Bucket； moving t