"
He read the paper, and looked up at her with growing bewilderment and
fear. She obstinately waited until he spoke. "No," he said, faintly; "I
never got the letter."
"First proof!" said Mrs. Lecount, taking the paper from him, and putting
it back in the bag. "One more, with your kind permission, before we come
to things more serious still. I gave you a written description, sir, at
Aldborough, of a person not named, and I asked you to compare it with
Miss Bygrave the next time you were in her company. After having first
shown the description to Mr. Bygrave--it is useless to deny it now,
Mr. Noel; your friend at North Shingles is not here to help you!--after
having first shown my note to Mr. Bygrave, you made the comparison,
and you found it fail in the most important particular. There were two
little moles placed close together on the left side of the neck, in my
description of the unknown lady, and there were no little moles at
all when you looked at Miss Bygrave's neck. I am old enough to be your
mother, Mr. Noel. If the question is not indelicate, may I ask what the
present state of your knowledge is on the subject of your wife's neck?"
She looked at him with a merciless steadiness.
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