eir precious burden. It
was placed in the Groschen Hall of the FitzTaylor. The crush that
afternoon was terrible. All the University came to peer at the new
acquisition. I must tell you that Dr. Groschen's antiquities occupied a
temporary and fire-proof erection built of wood and tin, at the back of
the museum, with which it was connected by a long stone gallery, adorned
with plaster casts.

I mingled with the crowd, and heard the remarks; though I advised
Girdelstone and Monteagle to keep out of the way, as it would only upset
them. Various dons came up and chaffed me about the opposition I made to
the MS. being purchased. A little man of dark, sallow complexion asked
me if I was Professor Girdelstone. He wanted to obtain leave to examine
the MS. I gave him my card, and asked him to call on me, when I would
arrange a suitable day. He told me he was a Lutheran pastor from
Pomerania.

I was the last to leave the museum that afternoon. I often remained in
the library long after five, the usual closing hour. So I dismissed the
attendants who locked up everything with the exception of a small door in
the stone gallery always used on such occasions. I waited till six, and
as I went out opened near this door a sash window, having removed the
iron shutters. After dinner I went round to Monteagle's rooms. He and
Girdelstone were sitting in a despondent way on each side of the fire,
sipping weak coffee and nibbling Albert biscuits. They were startled at
my entrance.

'What _have_ you decided?' asked Girdelstone, hoarsely.

'All is arranged. Monteagle and I set fire to the museum to-night,' I
said, quietly.

Girdelstone buried his face in his hands and began to sob.

'Anything but that--anything but that!' he cried. And Monteagle turned a
little pale. At first they protested, but I overcame their scruples by
saying they might get out of the mess how they liked. I advised
Girdelstone to go to bed and plead illness for the next few days, for he
really wanted rest. At eleven o'clock that night, Monteagle and myself
crossed the meadows at the back of our college, and by a circuitous route
reached the grounds surrounding the museum, which were planted with
rhododendrons and other shrubs. The pouring rain was, unfortunately, not
favourable for our enterprise. I brought however a small box of
combustibles from the University Laboratories, and a dark lantern. When
we climbed over the low wall not far from th