several religious societies to examine the Book of Jasher became
intolerable. The Dean of Rothbury, an old friend of Girdelstone's, came
from the north on purpose to collate the new-found work. With permission
he intended, he said, to write a small brochure for the S.P.C.K. on the
Book of Jasher, though I believe that he also felt some curiosity in
regard to Aulus Gellius. I may be wronging him. The subterfuges, lies,
and devices to which we resorted were not very creditable to ourselves.
Girdelstone gave him a dinner, and Monteagle and I persuaded the Senate
to confer on him an honorary degree. We amused him with advance sheets
of the commentary. He was quite a month at Oxbridge, but at last was
recalled on business to the north by some lucky domestic family
bereavement. Our next difficulty was the news that Sarpedon, Patriarch
of Hermaphroditopolis, was about to visit England to attend an Anglican
Synod. I thought Girdelstone would go off his head. Monteagle's hair
became grey in a few weeks. Sarpedon was sure to be invited to Oxbridge.
He would meet Dr. Groschen and then expose him. Our fears, I soon found
out, were shared by the _savant_, who left suddenly on one of those
mysterious visits to the East. I saw that our action must be prompt; or
Girdelstone and Monteagle would be lost. They were horrified when I told
them I proposed placing the MS. on public view in the museum immediately.
A large plate-glass case was made by my orders, in which Girdelstone and
Monteagle, who obeyed me like lambs, deposited their 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