BETWEEN THE SCENES.
PROGRESS OF THE STORY THROUGH THE POST.
I.
_From Mrs. Noel Vanstone to Mr. Loscombe._
"Park Terrace, St. John's Wood, November 5th.
"DEAR SIR--I came to London yesterday for the purpose of seeing a
relative, leaving Mr. 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. Vanstone, and come to an explanation with him, at the earliest
possible opportunity. You will find that my maid thoughtfully kept her
letter open until the last moment before post-time--without, however,
having any later news to give me than that Mrs. Lecount was to sleep
at the cottage last night and that she and Mr. Vanstone were to leave
together this morning. But for that last piece of intelligence, I should
have been on my way back to Scotland before now. As it is, I cannot
decide for myself what I ought to do next. My going back to Dumfries,
after Mr. Vanstone has left it, seems like taking a journey for nothing
--and my staying in London appears to be almost equally useless.
"Will you kindly advise me in this difficulty? I will come to you at
Lincoln's Inn at any time this afternoon or to-morrow which you may
appoint. My next few hours are engaged. As soon as this letter is
dispatched, I am going to Kensington, with the object of ascertaining
whether certain doubts I feel about the means by which Mrs. Lecount may
have accomplished her discovery are well founded or not. If you will let
me have your answer by return of post, I will not fail to get back
to St. John's Wood in time to receive it. Believe me, dear sir, yours
sincerely,
"MAGDALEN VANSTONE."