Both letters now were in his possession, or at least in a safe place; but as he had not yet read them, he did not exactly know what line of conduct or deportment to assume.

Then, how face M'Clutchy without M'Slime's answer?
Darby, however, was fertile, and precisely the kind of man who could, as they sav, kill two birds with one stone.

He had it;--.

just the very thing that would serve every purpose.

Accordingly, instead of going to M'Clutchy's at all, he turned his steps to his own house; tied an old stocking around his head, got his face bandaged, and deliberately took to his bed in a very severe state of illness.