"After this man has been and gone, I do earnestly beg you to leave
England and get abroad, Sir Walter," said Mannering. "I think it
your duty, not only for your girl's sake, but your own. Do not
even wait for the report. There is nothing to keep you, and I
shall personally be very thankful and relieved if you will manage
this and take Mary to some fresh scenes, a place or country that
she has not visited before. There is nothing like an entirely
novel environment for distracting the mind, bracing the nerves,
and restoring tone."

"I must do my duty," answered the other, "and that remains to be
seen. If Hardcastle should find out anything, there may be a call
upon me. At least, I cannot turn my back upon Chadlands till the
mystery is threshed out to the bottom, as far as man can do it."

It was then that Septimus May spoke and astounded his hearers.

"You give me the opportunity to introduce my subject," he said,
"for it bears directly on Sir Walter's intentions, and it is in
my power, as I devoutly believe, to free him swiftly of any
further need to remain here. I am, of course, prepared to argue
for my purpose, but would rather not do so. Briefly, I hold it a
vital obligation to spend this night in the Grey Room, and I ask
that no obstacle of any kind be raised to prevent my doing so.
The wisdom of man is foolishness before the wit of God, and what
I desire to do is God's will and wish, impressed upon me while I
knelt for long hours and prayed to know it. I am convinced, and
that should be enough. In this matter I am far from satisfied
that all has yet been done, within the Almighty's purpose and
direction, to discover the mystery of our terrible loss. But He