So the three women stayed, together with mamma Leland, and nursed the
invalid in couples. And it came to pass that the indiscreet little
Thecla won everybody's heart about the place, and that everybody came to
be assured that no lack of maidenly honour had made her indiscreet, but
only a very natural, unsuspecting, childlike confidence. It came to pass
also that when Leland Junior began to get better he saw good and
sufficient reasons for setting a term to his bachelor existence.

And with no great difficulty Thecla Perzio was brought to his opinion.

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 of Project Gutenberg's An Old Meerschaum, by David Christie Murray

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