hen he remembered the trick
of the door--he got it open--he shut it behind him--he gained his
friend's room, and that is all we need know.
It seems curious that, during all the time that had elapsed since the
purchase of Poynter's diary, James Denton should not have sought an
explanation of the presence of the pattern that had been pinned into
it. Well, he had read the diary through without finding it mentioned,
and had concluded that there was nothing to be said. But, on leaving
Rendcomb Manor (he did not know whether for good), as he naturally
insisted upon doing on the day after experiencing the horror I have
tried to put into words, he took the diary with him. And at his
seaside lodgings he examined more narrowly the portion whence the
pattern had been taken. What he remembered having suspected about it
turned out to be correct. Two or three leaves were pasted together,
but written upon, as was patent when they were held up to the light.
They yielded easily to steaming, for the paste had lost much of its
strength, and they contained something relevant to the pattern.
The entry was made in 1707.
"Old Mr. Casbury, of Acrington, told me this day much of
young Sir Everard Charlett, whom he remember'd Commoner of
University College, and thought was of the same Family as
Dr. Arthur Charlett, now master of ye Coll. This Charlett
was a personable young gent., but a loose atheistical
companion, and a great Lifter, as they then call'd the hard
drinkers, and for what I know do so now. He was noted, and
subject to severall censures at different times for his
extravagancies: and if the full history of his debaucheries
had bin known, no doubt would have been expell'd ye Coll.,
supposing that no interest had been imploy'd on his behalf,
of which Mr. Casbury had some suspicion. He was a very
beautiful person, and constantly wore his own Hair, which
was very abundant, from which, and his loose way of living,
the cant name for him was Absalom, and he was accustom'd to
say that indeed he believ'd he had shortened old David's
days, meaning his father, Sir Job Charlett, an old worthy
cavalier.
"Note that Mr. Casbury said that he remembers not the year
of Sir Everard Charlett's death, but it was 1692 or 3. He
died suddenly in October. [Several lines describing his
unpleasant habits and reputed delinquencies are omitted.
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