“I gratefully accept your grace and truth,” he said.  “The least that you can offer is more to me than the utmost that I can hope for from any other woman in the world.”

December 19.  I received Sir Percival’s consent to live with him as companion to his wife in their new home in Hampshire.  I was interested to discover that Count Fosco, the husband of Laura’s Aunt Eleanor, is a great friend of Sir Percival’s.

December 22, 11 o’clock. It is all over.  They are married.

Black-water Park, Hampshire, June 11.  Six long months have elapsed since Laura and I last saw each other.  I have just arrived at her new home.  My latest news of Walter Hartright is derived from an American paper.  It describes how the expedition was last seen entering a wild primeval forest.

June 15.  Laura has returned, and I have found her changed.  The old-time freshness and softness have gone.  She is, if anything, more beautiful.  She refused to go into details on the subject of her married life, and the fact that we have this forbidden topic seems to make a difference to our old relations.  Sir Percival made no pretence to be glad to see me.  They brought two guests with them, Count Fosco and his wife, Laura’s aunt.  He is immensely fat, with a face like that of the great Napoleon, and eyes which have an extraordinary power.  In spite of his size, he treads as softly as a cat.  His manners are perfect.  He never says a hard word to his wife; but, none the less, he rules her with a rod of iron.  She is absolutely his slave, obedient to the slightest expression of his eyes.  He manages Sir Percival as he manages his wife; and, indeed, all of us.  He inquired to-day whether there were any Italian gentlemen in the neighbourhood.

June 16.  Merriman, Sir Percival’s solicitor, came down to-day, and I accidentally overheard a conversation which seems to indicate a determination on Sir Percival’s part to raise money on Laura’s security, to pay off some of his heavy debts.

June 17.  Sir Percival tried to make Laura sign the document which had been brought down by Merriman.  On my advice, she refused to do so without reading it.  A terrible scene resulted, which was only stopped by the intervention of Count Fosco.  Sir Percival swore that Laura shall sign it to-morrow.  To-night, Laura and I fancied we saw a white figure in the wood.

June 18.  Laura has met Anne Catherick.  It was she we saw in the wood last night.  She came upon Laura in the boat-house, and declared she had something to tell her.  “What is it you have to tell me?” asked Laura.  “The secret that your cruel husband is afraid of,” she answered.  “I once threatened him with the secret and frightened him.  You shall threaten him with the secret and frighten him, too.”  When Laura pressed her, she declared somebody was watching them and, pushing Laura back into the boat-house, disappeared.