So Fanny and her two boys walked down the hill together in the dark.
Colonel Keith and Alison Williams had already taken the same road,
anxiously discussing the future. Alison asked why Colin had not given
Mauleverer's alias. "I had no proof," he said. "You were sure of the
woman, but so far it is only guess work with him; though each time
Rose spoke of seeing Maddox coincided with one of Mauleverer's visits.
Besides, Alison, on the back of that etching in Rose's book is written,
Mrs. Williams, from her humble and obliged servant, R. Maddox.'"
"And you said nothing about it?"
"No, I wished to make myself secure, and to see my way before speaking
out."
"What shall you do? Can you trust to Rose's identifying him?"
"I shall ride in to-morrow to see what is going on, and judge if it will
be well to let her see this man, if he have not gone off, as I should
fear was only too likely. Poor little Lady Temple, her exploit has
precipitated matters."
"And you will let every one, Dr. Long and all, know what a wretch they
have believed. And then--"
"Stay, Alison, I am afraid they will not take Maddox's subsequent guilt
as a proof of Edward's innocence."
"It is a proof that his stories were not worth credit."
"To you and me it is, who do not need such proof. It is possible that
among his papers something may be found that may implicate him and clear
Edward, but we can only hold off and watch. And I greatly fear both man
and woman will have slipped through our fingers, especially if she knew
you."
"Poor Maria, who could have thought of such frightful barbarity?" sighed
Alison. "I knew she was a passionate girl, but this is worse than one
can bear to believe."
She ceased, for she had been inexpressibly shocked, and her heart still
yearned towards every Beauchamp school child.
"I suppose we must tell Ermine," she added; "indeed, I know I could not
help it."
"Nor I," he said, smiling, "though there is only too much fear that
nothing will come of it but disappointment. At least, she will tell us
how to meet that."