e this shower of opprobrium like
a martyr. 'I may be mistaken,' he said, 'but I believe I have been
deceived. I have been taken in before, and I would not like the MS.
offered to any library before two of the very highest experts could
decide as to its authenticity.' People had long learnt to regard Dr.
Groschen himself as quite the highest expert in the world. They thought
he was out of his senses, though the press commended him for his honesty,
and one daily journal, loudest in declaring its authenticity, said it was
glad Dr. Groschen had detected the forgery long recognised by their
special correspondent. Dr. Groschen was furthermore asked to what
experts he would submit his MS., and by whose decision he would abide.
After some delay and correspondence, he could think of only two--Professor
Girdelstone and Monteagle. They possessed great opportunities, he said,
of judging on such matters. Their erudition was of a steadier and more
solid nature than his own. Then the world and Oxbridge joined again in a
chorus of praise. What could be more honest, more straightforward, than
submitting the MS. to a final examination at the hands of the two
curators of the FitzTaylor, who were to have the first refusal of the MS.
if it was considered authentic? No museum was ever given such an
opportunity. Professor Girdelstone and his colleague soon came to a
conclusion. They decided that there could be no doubt as to the
authenticity of the Aulus Gellius. In portions it was true that between
the lines other characters were partly legible; but this threw no slur on
the MS. itself. Of the commentary on the book of Jasher, it will be
remembered, they gave no decisive opinion, and it is still an open
question. They expressed their belief that the Aulus Gellius was alone
worth the price asked by Dr. Groschen. It only remained now for the
University to advance a sum to the FitzTaylor for the purchase of this
treasure. The curators, rather prematurely perhaps, wrote privately to
Dr. Groschen making him an offer for his MS., and paid him half the
amount out of their own pockets, so as to close the bargain once and for
all.

The delay of the University in making the grant caused a good deal of
apprehension in the hearts of Professor Girdelstone and Monteagle. They
feared that the enormous sums offered by the Berlin Museum would tempt
even the simple-minded Dr. Groschen, though the interests of the
FitzTaylor were so near his