“You may ask, in your ill-tempered way, what business I have to meddle with affairs of yours which it is your pleasure to keep private.  My dear Noel, there is a serious reason for our opening communications with you from this house.  You don’t know what events have taken place at St. Crux since you ran away to get married; and though I detest writing letters, I must lose an hour’s shooting to-day in trying to enlighten you.

“On the twenty-third of last month, the admiral and I were disturbed over our wine after dinner by the announcement that a visitor had unexpectedly arrived at St. Crux.  Who do you think the visitor was?  Mrs. Lecount!

“My uncle, with that old-fashioned bachelor gallantry of his which pays equal respect to all wearers of petticoats, left the table directly to welcome Mrs. Lecount.  While I was debating whether I should follow him or not, my meditations were suddenly brought to an end by a loud call from the admiral.  I ran into the morning-room, and there was your unfortunate housekeeper on the sofa, with all the women servants about her, more dead than alive.  She had traveled from England to Zurich, and from Zurich back again to England, without stopping; and she looked, seriously and literally, at death’s door.  I immediately agreed with my uncle that the first thing to be done was to send for medical help.  We dispatched a groom on the spot, and, at Mrs. Lecount’s own request, sent all the servants in a body out of the room.

“As soon as we were alone, Mrs. Lecount surprised us by a singular question.  She asked if you had received a letter which she had addressed to you before leaving England at this house.  When we told her that the letter had been forwarded, under cover to your friend Mr. Bygrave, by your own particular request, she turned as pale as ashes; and when we added that you had left us in company with this same Mr. Bygrave, she clasped her hands and stared at us as if she had taken leave of her senses.  Her next question was, ‘Where is Mr. Noel now?’ We could only give her one reply—­Mr. Noel had not informed us.  She looked perfectly thunderstruck at that answer.  ‘He has gone to his ruin!’ she said.  ’He has gone away in company with the greatest villain in England.  I must find him!  I tell you I must find Mr. Noel!  If I don’t find him at once, it will be too late.  He will be married!’ she burst out quite frantically.  ‘On my honor and my oath, he will be married!’ The admiral, incautiously perhaps, but with the best intentions, told her you were married already.  She gave a scream that made the windows ring again and dropped back on the sofa in a fainting-fit.  The doctor came in the nick of time, and soon brought her to.  But she was taken ill the same night; she has grown worse and worse ever since; and the last medical report is, that the fever from which she has been suffering is in a fair way to settle on her brain.