Three days afterwards she wrote again.
"The opportunity for which I have been waiting has come at last. Mr.
Mountjoy is, I believe, fully recovered. This morning, seeing him so
well and strong, I asked him if I might venture to place in his hands a
paper containing a narrative.
"'Is it concerning Iris?' he asked.
"'It has to do with Lady Harry--indirectly.' "For a while he made no reply. Then he asked me if it had also to do
with her husband.
"'With her husband and with mine,' I told him.
"Again he was silent.
"After a bit he looked up and said, 'I had promised myself never again
to interfere in Lady Harry Norland's affairs. You wish me to read this
document, Mrs. Vimpany?"
"'Certainly; I am most anxious that you should read it and should
advise upon it.' "'Who wrote it?' "'Fanny Mere, Lady Harry's maid.' "'If it is only to tell me that her husband is a villain,' he said, 'I
will not read it.' "'If you were enabled by reading it to keep Lady Harry from a dreadful
misfortune?' I suggested.
"'Give me the document,' he said.
"Before I gave it to him--it was in my pocket--I showed him a newspaper
containing a certain announcement.
"'Lord Harry dead?' he cried. 'Impossible! Then Iris is free.' "'Perhaps you will first read the document.' I drew it out of my
pocket, gave it to him, and retired. He should be alone while he read
it.
"Half an hour afterwards I returned. I found him in a state of the most
violent agitation, without, however, any of the weakness which he
betrayed on previous occasions.
"'Mrs. Vimpany,' he cried, 'this is terrible! There is no doubt--not
the least doubt--in my mind that the man Oxbye is the man buried under
the name of Lord Harry, and that he was murdered--murdered in cold
blood--by that worst of villains----' "'My husband,' I said.
"'Your husband--most unfortunate of wives! As for Lord Harry's share in
the murder, it is equally plain that he knew of it, even if he did not
consent to it. Good heavens! Do you understand? Do you realise what
they have done? Your husband and Iris's husband may be tried--actually
tried--for murder and put to a shameful death. Think of it!' "'I do think of it, Heaven knows! I think of it every day--I think of
it all day long. But, remember, I will say nothing that will bring this
fate upon them. And Fanny will say nothing. Without Fanny's evidence
there cannot be even a suspicion of the truth.' "'What does Iris know about it?' "'I think that she cannot know anything of the murder. Consider the
dates. On Wednesday Fanny was dismissed; on Thursday she returned
secretly and witnessed the murder. It was on Thursday morning that Lady
Harry drove to Victoria on her return to Passy, as we all supposed, and
as I still suppose. On Saturday Funny was back again. The cottage was
deserted. She was told that the man Oxbye had got up and walked away;
that her mistress had not been at the house at all, but was travelling
in Switzerland; and that Lord Harry was gone on a long journey. And she
was sent into Switzerland to get her out of the way. I gather from all
this that Lady Harry was taken away by her husband directly she
arrived--most likely by night--and that of the murder she knew
nothing.' "'No--no--she could know nothing! That, at least, they dared not tell
her. But about the rest? How much does she know? How far has she lent
herself to the conspiracy? Mrs. Vimpany, I shall go back to London
to-night. We will travel by the night train. I feel quite strong
enough.' "I began this letter in Scotland; I finish it in London.