“⁠—And looking for a nice pair of rattlesnakes, to articulate for a Museum⁠—when I was doomed to fall in with her and deal with her. It was just at the time of that discovery in the river. Her father had seen the discovery being towed in the river. I made the popularity of the subject a reason for going back to improve the acquaintance, and I have never since been the man I was. My very bones is rendered flabby by brooding over it. If they could be brought to me loose, to sort, I should hardly have the face to claim ’em as mine. To such an extent have I fallen off under it.”

Mr. Wegg, less interested than he had been, glanced at one particular shelf in the dark.

“Why I remember, Mr. Venus,” he said in a tone of friendly commiseration “(for I remember every word that falls from you, sir), I remember that you said that night, you had got up there⁠—and then your words was, ‘Never mind.’ ”