I tried to console them, and promised all help in my power.  They were rather startled and alarmed when I laid out my plan of campaign.  In the first place, I was to withdraw all opposition to the purchase of the MS. Girdelstone and Monteagle, meanwhile, were to set about having the Aulus Gellius printed and facsimiled; for I thought it was a pity such a work should be lost to the world.  The facsimile was only to be announced; and publication by the University Press to be put in hand at once.  The text of Aulus Gellius can still be obtained, and a translation of those portions which can be rendered into English forms a volume of Mr. Bohn’s excellent classical library, which will satisfy the curious, who are unacquainted with Latin.  Professor Girdelstone was to write a preface in very guarded terms.  This will be familiar to all classical scholars.

It was with great difficulty that I could persuade Girdelstone and Monteagle of the sincerity of my actions; but the poor fellows were ready to catch at any straw for hope from exposure, and they listened to every word I said.  As the whole University knew I was not on speaking terms with Girdelstone, I told him to adopt a Nicodemus-like attitude, and to come to me in the night-time, when we could hold consultation.  To the outer world, during these anxious evenings, when I would see no one, I was supposed to be preparing my great syllabus of lectures on the ichthyosaurus.  I communicated to my fellow-curators my plans bit by bit only, for I thought it would be better for their nerves.  I made Monteagle send round a notice to the press:—­’That the MS. about to become the property of the University Museum was being facsimiled prior to publication, and at the earliest possible date would be on view in the Galleries where Dr. Groschen’s collections are now exhibited.’  This was to quiet the complaints already being made by scholars and commentators about the difficulty of obtaining access to the MS. The importunities of 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