Vanstone at Baliol Cottage, and proposing to
return to him in the course of the week. I reached London late
last night, and drove to these lodgings, having written to secure
accommodation beforehand.
"This morning's post has brought me a letter from my own maid, whom I
left at Baliol Cottage, with instructions to write to me if anything
extraordinary took place in my absence. You will find the girl's letter
inclosed in this. I have had some experience of her; and I believe she
is to be strictly depended on to tell the truth.
"I purposely abstain from troubling you by any useless allusions to
myself. When you have read my maid's letter, you will understand the
shock which the news contained in it has caused me. I can only repeat
that I place implicit belief in her statement. I am firmly persuaded
that my husband's former housekeeper has found him out, has practiced
on his weakness in my absence, and has prevailed on him to make another
Will. From what I know of this woman, I feel no doubt that she has
used her influence over Mr. Vanstone to deprive me, if possible, of all
future interests in my husband's fortune.
"Under such circumstances as these, it is in the last degree
important--for more reasons than I need mention here--that I should
see Mr.
Pages:
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965