Chapter 20

When I decided to take for myself the triangular chamber which had gained such a distinguished reputation, my thoughts naturally turned to Mr. B. All my speculations were turbulent and manifold about him, whether his Christian name was Benjamin, Biskstill (from his birth in the desolate year), Bartholomew, or Bill. whether the first letter belonged to his family name, and was that Baxter, or Black, or Brown, or Parker, or Pugins, or Baker, or Baird, or was he a foundling and was christened with only a "B"? Was he a boy with a lion's heart who was B short for British? Could he have been related to Mrs. Pole, the brilliant woman who had brightened up my childhood?

I much tormented myself with these unhelpful suppositions, and I also carried a vague-looking letter to the persuasions of the deceased, I wondered if he was in blue, wore boots (he could not have been bald), was he a Bryans boy and liked books, or He was so good at bowling or had any skill as a boxer, that in his boyh