"
This policy of waiting was so manifestly the wise policy--the wily Mr.
Bygrave was so sure to have provided himself, in case of emergency, with
evidence to prove the identity which he and his niece had assumed for
their purpose--that Mrs. Lecount at once decided to keep her own counsel
the next morning, and to pause before attacking the conspiracy until she
could produce unanswerable facts to help her. Her master's acquaintance
with the Bygraves was only an acquaintance of one day's standing. There
was no fear of its developing into a dangerous intimacy if she merely
allowed it to continue for a few days more, and if she permanently
checked it, at the latest, in a week's time.
In that period what measures could she take to remove the obstacles
which now stood in her way, and to provide herself with the weapons
which she now wanted?
Reflection showed her three different chances in her favor--three
different ways of arriving at the necessary discovery.
The first chance was to cultivate friendly terms with Magdalen, and
then, taking her unawares, to entrap her into betraying herself in Noel
Vanstone's presence. The second chance was to write to the elder
Miss Vanstone, and to ask (with some alarming reason for putting
the question) for information on the subject of her younger sister's
whereabouts, and of any peculiarities in her personal appearance
which might enable a stranger to identify her.
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