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When the messenger returned with my letters； the Boulogne
postmark was on one of the envelopes。 At Romayne's entreaty； this
was the letter that I opened first。 The surgeon's signature was
at the end。
One motive for anxietyon my partwas set at rest in the first
lines。 After an official inquiry into the circumstances； the
French authorities had decided that it was not expedient to put
the survivor of the duelists on his trial before a court of law。
No jury； hearing the evidence； would find him guilty of the only
charge that could be formally brought against himthe charge of
〃homicide by premeditation。〃 Homicide by misadventure； occurring
in a duel； was not a punishable offense by the French law。 My
correspondent cited many cases in proof of it； strengthened by
the publicly…expressed opinion of the illustrious Berryer
himself。 In a word； we had nothing to fear。
The next page of the letter informed us that the police had
surprised the card playing community with whom we had spent the
evening at Boulogne； and that the much…bejeweled old landlady had
been sent to prison for the offense of keeping a gambling…house。
It was suspected in the town that the General was more or less
directly connected with certain disreputable circumstances
discovered by the authorities。 In any case； he had retired from
active service。
He and his wife and family had left Boulogne； and had gone away
in debt。 No investigation had thus far succeeded in discovering
the place of their retreat。
Reading this letter aloud to Romayne； I was interrupted by him at
the last sentence。
〃The inquiries must have been carelessly made；〃 he said。 〃I will
see to it myself。〃
〃What interest can you have in the inquiries？〃 I exclaimed。
〃The strongest possible interest；〃 he answered。 〃It has been my
one hope to make some little atonement to the poor people whom I
have so cruelly wronged。 If the wife and children are in
distressed circumstances （which seems to be only too likely） I
may place them beyond the reach of anxietyanonymously； of
course。 Give me the surgeon's address。 I shall write instructions
for tracing them at my expensemerely announcing that an Unknown
Friend desires to be of service to the General's family。〃
This appeared to me to be a most imprudent thing to do。 I said so
plainlyand quite in vain。 With his customary impetuosity； he
wrote the letter at once； and sent it to the post that night。
X。
ON the question of submitting himself to medical advice （which I
now earnestly pressed upon him）； Romayne was disposed to be
equally unreasonable。 But in this case； events declared
themselves in my favor。
Lady Berrick's last reserves of strength had given way。 She had
been brought to London in a dying state while we were at Vange
Abbey。 Romayne was summoned to his aunt's bedside on the third
day of our residence at the hotel； and was present at her death。
The impression produced on his mind roused the better part of his
nature。 He was more distrustful of himself； more accessible to
persuasion than usual。 In this gentler frame of mind he received
a welcome visit from an old friend； to whom he was sincerely
attached。 The visitof no great importance in itselfled； as I
have since been informed； to very serious events in Romayne's
later life。 For this reason； I briefly relate what took place
within my own healing。
Lord Loringwell known in society as the head of an old English
Catholic family； and the possessor of a magnificent gallery of
pictureswas distressed by the change for the worse which he
perceived in Romayne when he called at the hotel。 I was present
when they met； and rose to leave the room； feeling that the two
friends might perhaps be embarrassed by the presence of a third
person。 Romayne called me back。 〃Lord Loring ought to know what
has happened to me；〃 he said。 〃I have no heart to speak of it
myself。 Tell him everything； and if he agrees with you； I will
submit to see the doctors。〃 With those words he left us together。
It is almost needless to say that Lord Loring did agree with me。
He was himself disposed to think that the moral remedy； in
Romayne's case； might prove to be the best remedy。
〃With submission to what the doctors may decide；〃 his lordship
said； 〃the right thing to do； in my opinion； is to divert our
friend's mind from himself。 I see a plain necessity for making a
complete change in the solitary life that he has been leading for
years past。 Why shouldn't he marry？ A woman's influence； by
merely giving a new turn to his thoughts； might charm away that
horrible voice which haunts him。 Perhaps you think this a merely
sentimental view of the case？ Look at it practically； if you
like； and you come to the same conclusion。 With that fine
estateand with the fortune which he has now inherited from his
auntit is his duty to marry。 Don't you agree with me？〃
〃I agree most cordially。 But I see serious difficulties in your
lordship's way。 Romayne dislikes society； and； as to marrying；
his coldness toward women seems （so far as I can judge） to be one
of the incurable defects of his character。〃
Lord Loring smiled。 〃My dear sir； nothing of that sort is
incurable； if we can only find the right woman。〃
The tone in which he spoke suggested to me that he had got 〃the
right woman〃and I took the liberty of saying so。 He at once
acknowledged that I had guessed right。
〃Romayne is； as you say； a difficult subject to deal with；〃 he
resumed。 〃If I commit the slightest imprudence； I shall excite
his suspicionand there will be an end of my hope of being of
service to him。 I shall proceed carefully； I can tell you。
Luckily； poor dear fellow； he is fond of pictures！ It's quite
natural that I should ask him to see some recent additions to my
galleryisn't it？ There is the trap that I set！ I have a sweet
girl to tempt him； staying at my house； who is a little out of
health and spirits herself。 At the right moment； I shall send
word upstairs。 She may well happen to look in at the gallery （by
the merest accident） just at the time when Romayne is looking at
my new pictures。 The rest depends； of course； on； the effect she
produces。 If you knew her； I believe you would agree with me that
the experiment is worth trying。〃
Not knowing the lady； I had little faith in the success of the
experiment。 No one； however； could doubt Lord Loring's admirable
devotion to his friendand with that I was fain to be content。
When Romayne returned to us； it was decided to submit his case to
a consultation of physicians at the earliest possible moment。
When Lord Loring took his departure； I accompanied him to the
door of the hotel； perceiving that he wished to say a word more
to me in private。 He had； it seemed； decided on waiting for the
result of the medical consultation before he tried the effect of
the young lady's attractions； and he wished to caution me against
speaking prematurely of visiting the picture gallery to our
friend。
Not feeling particularly interested in these details of the
worthy nobleman's little plot； I looked at his carriage； and
privately admired the two splendid horses that drew it。 The
footman opened the door for his master； and I became aware； for
the first time； that a gentleman had accompanied Lord Loring to
the hotel； and had waited for him in the carriage。 The gentleman
bent forward； and looked up from a book that he was reading。 To
my astonishment； I recognized the elderly； fat and cheerful
priest who had shown such a knowledge of localities； and such an
extraordinary interest in Vange Abbey！
It struck me as an odd coincidence that I should see the man
again in London； so soon after I had met with him in Yorkshire。
This was all I thought about it； at the time。 If I had known
then； what I know now； I might have dreamed； let us say； of
throwing that priest into the lake at Vange； and might have
reckoned the circumstance among the wisely…improved opportunities
of my life。
To return to the serious interests of the present narrative； I
may now announce that my evidence as an eye…witness of events has
come to an end。 The day after Lord Loring's visit； domestic
troubles separated me； to my most sincere regret； from Romayne。 I
have only to add； that