You told me you had been left out of the will altogether.
I'm sure my fellow-servant would never have been one of the witnesses if
she had known--"
"Never mind that now. I don't blame your fellow-servant--I blame nobody
but Mrs. Lecount. Let me go on with what I was saying. It is not at
all certain that Mrs. Lecount can do me the mischief which Mrs. Lecount
intended. There is a chance that my lawyer, Mr. Loscombe, may be able to
gain me what is fairly my due, in spite of the will. The chance turns
on my discovering a letter which Mr. Loscombe believes, and which I
believe, to be kept privately in Admiral Bartram's possession. I have
not the least hope of getting at that letter if I make the attempt in my
own person. Mrs. Lecount has poisoned the admiral's mind against me, and
Mr. Vanstone has given him a secret to keep from me. If I wrote to him,
he would not answer my letter. If I went to his house, the door would
be closed in my face. I must find my way into St. Crux as a stranger--I
must be in a position to look about the house, unsuspected--I must be
there with plenty of time on my hands. All the circumstances are in my
favor, if I am received into the house as a servant; and as a servant I
mean to go.
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