Pendril's appearance. It presented a signed exposure of the false
Miss Garth under the hand of the true Miss Garth; and it established the
fact that the last letter received by the elder Miss Vanstone from
the younger had been posted (and therefore probably written) in the
neighborhood of Vauxhall Walk. If any later letter had been received
with the Aldborough postmark, the chain of evidence, so far as the
question of localities was concerned, might doubtless have been more
complete. But as it was, there was testimony enough (aided as that
testimony might be by the fragment of the brown alpaca dress still
in Mrs. Lecount's possession) to raise the veil which hung over the
conspiracy, and to place Mr. Noel Vanstone face to face with the plain
and startling truth.
The one obstacle which now stood in the way of immediate action on the
housekeeper's part was the obstacle of Miss Bygrave's present seclusion
within the limits of her own room. The question of gaining personal
access to her was a question which must be decided before any
communication could be opened with Mr. Pendril. Mrs. Lecount put on her
bonnet at once, and called at North Shingles to try what discoveries she
could make for herself before post-time.
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