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Collins, Wilkie, 1824-1889

"No Name"

Lecount. While I was debating whether I should follow him
or not, my meditations were suddenly brought to an end by a loud call
from the admiral. I ran into the morning-room, and there was your
unfortunate housekeeper on the sofa, with all the women servants about
her, more dead than alive. She had traveled from England to Zurich, and
from Zurich back again to England, without stopping; and she looked,
seriously and literally, at death's door. I immediately agreed with my
uncle that the first thing to be done was to send for medical help. We
dispatched a groom on the spot, and, at Mrs. Lecount's own request, sent
all the servants in a body out of the room.
"As soon as we were alone, Mrs. Lecount surprised us by a singular
question. She asked if you had received a letter which she had addressed
to you before leaving England at this house. When we told her that the
letter had been forwarded, under cover to your friend Mr. Bygrave, by
your own particular request, she turned as pale as ashes; and when we
added that you had left us in company with this same Mr. Bygrave, she
clasped her hands and stared at us as if she had taken leave of her
senses. Her next question was, 'Where is Mr.


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