It was a grand thing certainly to have triumphed over his wife, and there was a crumb of comfort in the thought that he had vindicated himself before Mr.
Thumble; but the general result was not comforting, and he knew from of old how short-lived his triumph would be.
But wretched as he was during that evening he did employ himself with some energy.

After much thought he resolved that he would again write to Mr.Crawley, and summon him to appear at the palace.

In doing this he would at any rate be doing something.

There would be action.

And though Mr.Crawley would, as he thought, decline to obey the order, something would be gained even by that disobedience.