The house must be perfectly respectable,
and must be reasonably near to Mr. Noel Vanstone's present residence,
wherever that is.
"You must allow me to be silent in this letter as to the object which I
have now in view. I am unwilling to risk an explanation in writing. When
all our preparations are made, you shall hear what I propose to do
from my own lips; and I shall expect you to tell me plainly, in return,
whether you will or will not give me the help I want on the best terms
which I am able to offer you.
"One word more before I seal up this letter.
"If any opportunity falls in your way after you have taken the house,
and before we join you, of exchanging a few civil words either with
Mr. Noel Vanstone or Mrs. Lecount, take advantage of it. It is very
important to my present object that we should become acquainted with
each other--as the purely accidental result of our being near neighbors.
I want you to smooth the way toward this end if you can, before Mrs.
Wragge and I come to you. Pray throw away no chance of observing Mrs.
Lecount, in particular, very carefully. Whatever help you can give me
at the outset in blindfolding that woman's sharp eyes will be the most
precious help I have ever received at your hands.
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