Tales of Terror and Mystery

           DidInotdoallIcouldforyou?FromthebeginningItriedtodriveyoufromthehouse.Byeverymeans,shortofbetrayingmyhusband,Itriedtosaveyoufromhim.Iknewthathehadareasonforbringingyouhere.Iknewthathewouldneverletyougetawayagain.NooneknewhimasIknewhim,whohadsufferedfromhimsooften.Ididnotdaretotellyouallthis.Hewouldhavekilledme.ButIdidmybestforyou.Asthingshaveturnedout,youhavebeenthebestfriendthatIhaveeverhad.Youhavesetmefree,andIfanciedthatnothingbutdeathwoulddothat.Iamsorryifyouarehurt,butIcannotreproachmyself.Itoldyouthatyouwereafool—andafoolyouhavebeen."Shecreptoutoftheroom,thebitter,singularwoman,andIwasneverdestinedtoseeheragain.Withwhatremainedfromherhusband’spropertyshewentbacktohernativeland,andIhaveheardthatsheafterwardstooktheveilatPernambuco.

           ItwasnotuntilIhadbeenbackinLondonforsometimethatthedoctorspronouncedmetobewellenoughtodobusiness.Itwasnotaverywelcomepermissiontome,forIfearedthatitwouldbethesignalforaninrushofcreditors;butitwasSummers,mylawyer,whofirsttookadvantageofit.

           "Iamverygladtoseethatyourlordshipissomuchbetter,"saidhe."Ihavebeenwaitingalongtimetooffermycongratulations."

           "Whatdoyoumean,Summers?Thisisnotimeforjoking."

           "ImeanwhatIsay,"heanswered."YouhavebeenLordSouthertonforthelastsixweeks,butwefearedthatitwouldretardyourrecoveryifyouweretolearnit