are certainly not to blame for being the medium of safely transmitting
a sealed communication with one lady to another. If I find in that
communication family secrets which cannot honorably be mentioned to any
third person, I shall, of course, be obliged to keep you waiting until
I have first appealed to Miss Gwilt. If I find nothing recorded but
what is to her honor, and what is sure to raise her still higher in your
estimation, I am undeniably doing her a service by taking you into my
confidence. This is how I look at the matter; but pray don't allow me to
influence _you_.

"In any case, I have one condition to make, which I am sure you will
understand to be indispensable. The most innocent actions are liable,
in this wicked world, to the worst possible interpretation I must,
therefore, request that you will consider this communication as strictly
_private_. I write to you in a confidence which is on no account (until
circumstances may, in my opinion, justify the revelation of it) to
extend beyond our two selves,

"Believe me, dear sir, truly yours,

"ANNE MILROY."

In this tempting form the unscrupulous ingenuity of the major's wife
had set the trap. Without a moment's hesitation, Allan followed his
impulses, as usual, and walked straight into it, writing his answer and
pursuing his own reflections simultaneously in a highly characteristic
state of mental confusion.

"By Jupiter, this is kind of Mrs. Milroy!" ("My dear madam.") "Just the
thing I wanted, at the time when I needed it most!" ("I don't know how
to express my sense of your kindness, except by saying that I will go
to London and fetch the letters with the greatest pleasure.") "She shall
have a basket of fruit regularly every day, all through the season." ("I
will go at once, dear madam, and be back to-morrow.") "Ah, nothing like
the women for helping one when one is in love! This is just what my poor
mother would have done in Mrs. Milroy's place." ("On my word of honor
as a gentleman, I will take the utmost care of the letters; and keep
the thing strictly private, as you request.") "I would have given five
hundred pounds to anybody who would have put me up to the right way
to speak to Miss Gwilt; and here is this blessed woman does it
for nothing." ("Believe me, my dear madam, gratefully yours, Allan
Armadale.")

Having sent his reply out to Mrs. Milroy's messenger, Allan paused in a
momentary perplexity. He had an appointment with Miss Gwilt in the