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breakfast…table。 He snatched it up； looked at the address； and
threw the letter down again impatiently。 The handwriting was not
Midwinter's。 Allan finished his breakfast before he cared to read
what his correspondent had to say to him。
The meal over； young Armadale lazily opened the letter。 He began
it with an expression of supreme indifference。 He finished it
with a sudden leap out of his chair； and a loud shout of
astonishment。 Wondering； as he well might； at this extraordinary
outbreak； Mr。 Brock took up the letter which Allan had tossed
across the table to him。 Before he had come to the end of it； his
hands dropped helplessly on his knees； and the blank bewilderment
of his pupil's expression was accurately reflected on his own
face。
If ever two men had good cause for being thrown completely off
their balance； Allan and the rector were those two。 The letter
which had struck them both with the same shock of astonishment
did； beyond all question； contain an announcement which； on a
first discovery of it； was simply incredible。 The news was from
Norfolk； and was to this effect。 In little more than one week's
time death had mown down no less than three lives in the family
at Thorpe Ambrose； and Allan Armadale was at that moment heir to
an estate of eight thousand a year！
A second perusal of the letter enabled the rector and his
companion to master the details which had escaped them on a first
reading
The writer was the family lawyer at Thorpe Ambrose。 After
announcing to Allan the deaths of his cousin Arthur at the age of
twenty…five； of his uncle Henry at the age of forty…eight； and of
his cousin John at the age of twenty…one； the lawyer proceeded to
give a brief abstract of the terms of the elder Mr。 Blanchard's
will。 The claims of male issue were； as is not unusual in such
cases； preferred to the claims of female issue。 Failing Arthur
and his issue male； the estate was left to Henry and his issue
male。 Failing them； it went to the issue male of Henry's sister；
and； in default of such issue； to the next heir male。 As events
had happened； the two young men； Arthur and John； had died
unmarried； and Henry Blanchard had died； leaving no surviving
child but a daughter。 Under these circumstances； Allan was the
next heir male pointed at by the will； and was now legally
successor to the Thorpe Ambrose estate。 Having made this
extraordinary announcement； the lawyer requested to be favored
with Mr。 Armadale's instructions； and added； in conclusion； that
he would be happy to furnish any further particulars that were
desired。
It was useless to waste time in wondering at an event which
neither Allan nor his mother had ever thought of as even remotely
possible。 The only thing to be done was to go back to England at
once。 The next day found the travelers installed once more in
their London hotel； and the day after the affair was placed in
the proper professional hands。 The inevitable corresponding and
consulting ensued； and one by one the all…important particulars
flowed in； until the measure of information was pronounced to be
full。
This was the strange story of the three deaths：
At the time when Mr。 Brock had written to Mrs。 Armadale's
relatives to announce the news of her decease （that is to say； in
the middle of the month of January）； the family at Thorpe Ambrose
numbered five personsArthur Blanchard （in possession of the
estate）； living in the great house with his mother； and Henry
Blanchard； the uncle； living in the neighborhood； a widower with
two children； a son and a daughter。 To cement the family
connection still more closely； Arthur Blanchard was engaged to be
married to his cousin。 The wedding was to be celebrated with
great local rejoicings in the coming summer； when the young lady
had completed her twentieth year。
The month of February had brought changes with it in the family
position。 Observing signs of delicacy in the health of his son；
Mr。 Henry Blanchard left Norfolk； taking the young man with him；
under medical advice； to try the climate of Italy。 Early in the
ensuing month of March； Arthur Blanchard also left Thorpe
Ambrose； for a few days only； on business which required his
presence in London。 The business took him into the City。 Annoyed
by the endless impediments in the streets； he returned westward
by one of the river steamers； and； so returning； met his death。
As the steamer left the wharf； he noticed a woman near him who
had shown a singular hesitation in embarking； and who had been
the last of the passengers to take her place in the vessel。 She
was neatly dressed in black silk； with a red Paisley shawl over
her shoulders； and she kept her face hidden behind a thick veil。
Arthur Blanchard was struck by the rare grace and elegance of her
figure； and he felt a young man's passing curiosity to see her
face。 She neither lifted her veil nor turned her head his way。
After taking a few steps hesitatingly backward and forward on the
deck； she walked away on a sudden to the stern of the vessel。 In
a minute more there was a cry of alarm from the man at the helm；
and the engines were stopped immediately。 The woman had thrown
herself overboard。
The passengers all rushed to the side of the vessel to look。
Arthur Blanchard alone； without an instant's hesitation； jumped
into the river。 He was an excellent swimmer； and he reached the
woman as she rose again to the surface； after sinking for the
first time。 Help was at hand； and they were both brought safely
ashore。 The woman was taken to the nearest police station； and
was soon restored to her senses； her preserver giving his name
and address； as usual in such cases； to the inspector on duty；
who wisely recommended him to get into a warm bath； and to send
to his lodgings for dry clothes。 Arthur Blanchard； who had never
known an hour's illness since he was a child； laughed at the
caution； and went back in a cab。 The next day he was too ill to
attend the examination before the magistrate。 A fortnight
afterward he was a dead man。
The news of the calamity reached Henry Blanchard and his son at
Milan； and within an hour of the time when they received it they
were on their way back to England。 The snow on the Alps had
loosened earlier than usual that year； and the passes were
notoriously dangerous。 The father and son； traveling in their own
carriage； were met on the mountain by the mail returning； after
sending the letters on by hand。 Warnings which would have
produced their effect under any ordinary circumstances were now
vainly addressed to the two Englishmen。 Their impatience to be at
home again； after the catastrophe which had befallen their
family； brooked no delay。 Bribes lavishly offered to the
postilions； tempted them to go on。 The carriage pursued its way；
and was lost to view in the mist。 When it was seen again； it was
disinterred from the bottom of a precipicethe men； the horses；
and the vehicle all crushed together under the wreck and ruin of
an avalanche。
So the three lives were mown down by death。 So； in a clear
sequence of events； a woman's suicide…leap into a river had
opened to Allan Armadale the succession to the Thorpe Ambrose
estates。
Who was the woman？ The man who saved her life never knew。 The
magistrate who remanded her； the chaplain who exhorted her； the
reporter who exhibited her in print； never knew。 It was recorded
of her with surprise that； though most respectably dressed； she
had nevertheless described herself as being 〃in distress。〃 She
had expressed the deepest contrition； but had persisted in giving
a name which was on the face of it a false one； in telling a
commonplace story； which was manifestly an invention； and in
refusing to the last to furnish any clew to her friends。 A lady
connected with a charitable institution （〃interested by her
extreme elegance and beauty〃） had volunteered to take charge of
her； and to bring her into a better frame of mind 。 The first
day's experience of the penitent had been far from cheering； and
the second day's experience had been conclusive。 She had left the
institution by stealth； andthough the visiting clergyman；
taking a special interest in the case； had caused special efforts
to be madeall search after her； from that time forth； had
proved fruitless。
While this useless investigation （undertaken at Allan's express
desire） was in progress； the lawyers had settled the preliminary
formalities connected with the succession to the property。 All
that remained was for the new master of Thorpe Ambrose to decide
when he would personally establish himself on the estate of which
he was now the legal possessor。
Left necessarily to his own guidance in this matter； Allan
settled it for himself in his usual hot…headed； generous way。 He
positively declined to take possession until Mrs。 Blanchard and
her niece （who had been permitted thus far； as a matter of
courtesy； to remain in their old home） had recovered from the
calamity that had befallen them； and were fit to decide for
themselves what their future proceedings should be。 A private
correspondence followed this resolution； comprehending； on
Allan's side； unlimited offers of everything he had to give （in a
hou