By Christmas time Leland was well and strong again. The chase after the Greek was dismissed from the official mind by this time: and Barndale, being reminded of Inspector Webb by the receipt of the promissory note for five hundred pounds, wrote to that official to offer him a week or two in the country. The inspector came, and brought the marvellous pipe with him. It had been detained until then to be put in evidence in case of the Greek’s arrest and trial.
The inspector heard the comedy, and told Barndale, later on, that he regarded the quarrel scene as a masterpiece of histrionic art.
‘I don’t wonder that bumpkin took it all for earnest,’ he said. ‘I should ha’ done that myself. No, thankee, sir. I don’t care about mixing with the lords and swells upstairs. I’ll have a look in on the butler. Smoking the old pipe again, I see, sir. Not many old meerschaums knocking about with a tale like that attached to ‘em.’
It pleases me to add that Doctor Wattiss officiated at Leland’s wedding, and married the maiden sister.
*** END THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN OLD MEERSCHAUM ***