For example, in the course of the introductory conversation which took place, he informed Miss Halcombe that Anne Catherick had been brought back to him with the necessary order and certificates by Count Fosco on the twenty-seventh of July—­the Count also producing a letter of explanations and instructions signed by Sir Percival Glyde.  On receiving his inmate again, the proprietor of the Asylum acknowledged that he had observed some curious personal changes in her.  Such changes no doubt were not without precedent in his experience of persons mentally afflicted.  Insane people were often at one time, outwardly as well as inwardly, unlike what they were at another—­the change from better to worse, or from worse to better, in the madness having a necessary tendency to produce alterations of appearance externally.  He allowed for these, and he allowed also for the modification in the form of Anne Catherick’s delusion, which was reflected no doubt in her manner and expression.  But he was still perplexed at times by certain differences between his patient before she had escaped and his patient since she had been brought back.  Those differences were too minute to be described.  He could not say of course that she was absolutely altered in height or shape or complexion, or in the colour of her hair and eyes, or in the general form of her face—­the change was something that he felt more than something that he saw.  In short, the case had been a puzzle from the first, and one more perplexity was added to it now.

It cannot be said that this conversation led to the result of even partially preparing Miss Halcombe’s mind for what was to come.  But it produced, nevertheless, a very serious effect upon her.  She was so completely unnerved by it, that some little time elapsed before she could summon composure enough to follow the proprietor of the Asylum to that part of the house in which the inmates were confined.

On inquiry, it turned out that the supposed Anne Catherick was then taking exercise in the grounds attached to the establishment.  One of the nurses volunteered to conduct Miss Halcombe to the place, the proprietor of the Asylum remaining in the house for a few minutes to attend to a case which required his services, and then engaging to join his visitor in the grounds.

The nurse led Miss Halcombe to a distant part of the property, which was prettily laid out, and after looking about her a little, turned into a turf walk, shaded by a shrubbery on either side.  About half-way down this walk two women were slowly approaching.  The nurse pointed to them and said, “There is Anne Catherick, ma’am, with the attendant who waits on her.  The attendant will answer any questions you wish to put.”  With those words the nurse left her to return to the duties of the house.

Miss Halcombe advanced on her side, and the women advanced on theirs.  When they were within a dozen paces of each other, one of the women stopped for an instant, looked eagerly at the strange lady, shook off the nurse’s grasp on her, and the next moment rushed into Miss Halcombe’s arms.  In that moment Miss Halcombe recognised her sister—­recognised the dead-alive.