e in the carriage,
retaining her own boxes and packages at the inn.

Richard Bassett soon found out that Lady Bassett had left Huntercombe.
He called on Wheeler and told him. Wheeler suggested she had gone to be
near her husband.

"No," said Bassett, "she has joined her lover. I wonder at our
simplicity in believing that fellow was gone to Italy."

"This is rich," said Wheeler. "A week ago she was guilty, and a
Machiavel in petticoats; for why? she had quarreled with her Angelo,
and packed him off to Italy. Now she is guilty; and why? because he is
not gone to Italy--not that you know whether he is or not. You reason
like a mule. As for me, I believe none of this nonsense--till you find
them together."

"And that is just what I mean to do."

"We shall see."

"You will see."

Very soon after this a country gentleman met Wheeler on market-day, and
drew him aside to ask him a question. "Do you advise Mr. Richard
Bassett still?"

"Yes."

"Did you set him to trespass on Lady Bassett's lawn, and frighten her
with a great dog in the present state of her health?"

"Heaven forbid! This is the first I've heard of such a thing."

"I am glad to hear you say that, Tom Wheeler. There, read that. Your
client deserves to be flogged out of the county, sir." And he pulled a
printed paper out of his pocket. It was dated from the Royal Hotel,
Bath, and had been printed with blanks, as follows; but a lady's hand
had filled in the dates.

"On the day ---- of ----, while I was walking alone in my garden, Mr.
Richard Bassett, the person who has bereaved me by violence of my
protector, came, without leave, into my private grounds, and brought a
very large dog; it ran to me, and frightened me so that I nearly
fainted with alarm. Mr. Bassett was aware of my condition. Next day I
consulted my husband, and he ordered me to leave Huntercombe Hall, and
put myself beyond the reach of trespassers and outrage.

"One motive has governed Mr. Bassett in all his acts, from his
anonymous letter to me before my marriage--which I keep for your
inspection, together with the proofs that he wrote it--to the barbarous
seizure of my husband upon certificates purchased beforehand, and this
last act of violence, which has driven me from the county for a time.

"Sir Charles and I have often been your hosts and your guests; we now
ask you to watch our property and our legal rights, so long as through
injustice and cruelty my husband is a prisoner