The New Magdalen

Shortly after the doctor had taken his departure a letter from Julian,

addressed to Lady Janet, was delivered by private messenger.

Beginning with the necessary apologies for the writer's absence, the

letter proceeded in these terms:

"I told him--what I think it only right to repeat to you--that I do not

feel justified in acting on my own opinion that her mind is deranged.

In the case of this friendless woman I want medical authority, and, more

even than that, I want some positive proof, to satisfy my conscience as

well as to confirm my view.

"Finding me obstinate on this point, the lawyer undertook to consult a

physician accustomed to the treatment of the insane, on my behalf.

"After sending a message and receiving the answer, he said, 'Bring

the lady here--in half an hour; she shall tell her story to the doctor

instead of telling it to me.' The proposal rather staggered me; I asked

how it was possible to induce her to do that. He laughed, and answered,

'I shall present the doctor as my senior partner; my senior partner will

be the very man to advise her.' You know that I hate all deception, even

where the end in view appears to justify it. On this occasion, however,

there was no other alternative than to let the lawyer take his own

course, or to run the risk of a delay which might be followed by serious

results.

"I waited in a room by myself (feeling very uneasy, I own) until the

doctor joined me, after the interview was over.

"His opinion is, briefly, this: "After careful examination of the unfortunate creature, he thinks that

there are unmistakably symptoms of mental aberration. But how far the

mischief has gone, and whether her case is, or is not, sufficiently

grave to render actual restraint necessary, he cannot positively say, in

our present state of ignorance as to facts.

"'Thus far,' he observed, 'we know nothing of that part of her delusion

which relates to Mercy Merrick. The solution of the difficulty, in this

case, is to be found there. I entirely agree with the lady that the

inquiries of the consul at Mannheim are far from being conclusive.

Furnish me with satisfactory evidence either that there is, or is not,

such a person really in existence as Mercy Merrick, and I will give you

a positive opinion on the case whenever you choose to ask for it.' "Those words have decided me on starting for the Continent and renewing

the search for Mercy Merrick.

"My friend the lawyer wonders jocosely whether _I_ am in my right

senses. His advice is that I should apply to the nearest magistrate, and

relieve you and myself of all further trouble in that way.