ich I augured well. Masterton
could not speak to me when he arrived, but he gave me a wink and a
smile, and I was satisfied.

"Japhet," said my father, "you have no engagement to-morrow, I hope,
because I shall call at Mr Masterton's on business, and wish you to
accompany me."

I replied, that "I should be most happy," and the conversation became
general.

I accompanied my father the next day to Lincoln's Inn; and when we went
up, we found Mr Masterton at the table with Mr Cophagus, and Susannah
sitting apart near the window. "The plot thickens," thought I. The
fact was, as I was afterwards told by Mr Masterton, he had prevailed
upon Cophagus to pretend business, and to bring Susannah with him, and
appointed them a quarter of an hour before our time. This he had
arranged, that the general might see Miss Temple, as if by accident; and
also allow me, who, my father supposed, was not aware of Miss Temple
being in town, to meet with her, What a deal of humbug there is in this
world! Nothing but plot and counterplot! I shook hands with Cophagus,
who, I perceived, had, notwithstanding his wife's veto, put on his blue
cotton net pantaloons and Hessian boots, and he appeared to be so tight
in both, that he could hardly move. As far as I could judge, his legs
had not improved since I had last seen them in this his favourite dress.

"Mr De Benyon, I believe that you have met Miss Temple before," said
Mr Masterton, winking at me. "In Berkshire, was it not? Miss Temple,
allow me to introduce General De Benyon."

I went up to Susannah, who coloured and trembled at the sight of my
father, as I expressed my hope that she had been well since we last met.
She perceived that there was some planned scheme, and was so puzzled
that she said nothing. My father then spoke to her, and after a short
time took a chair, and seated himself close to her. I never knew her
make herself so agreeable. He asked her where she was staying, and when
he heard that it was with Mr Cophagus, he said that he should have the
pleasure of calling upon Mr Cophagus, and thank him for his kind
information relative to me. Shortly afterwards Cophagus took his leave,
and Susannah rose to accompany him, when my father, hearing that they
had walked, insisted upon putting Miss Temple down in his carriage. So
that Mr Cophagus had to walk home one way, and I the other.

PART THREE, CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

POOR COPHAGUS FINDS AN END TO HIS ADVENTURES B