Mrs. Clements and Anne would go there
first, and would let her know what their address was, they should hear
from her and see her in a fortnight or less. The Count added that he
had already attempted to give a friendly warning to Anne herself, but
that she had been too much startled by seeing that he was a stranger to
let him approach and speak to her.

To this Mrs. Clements replied, in the greatest alarm and distress, that
she asked nothing better than to take Anne safely to London, but that
there was no present hope of removing her from the dangerous
neighbourhood, as she lay ill in her bed at that moment. The Count
inquired if Mrs. Clements had sent for medical advice, and hearing that
she had hitherto hesitated to do so, from the fear of making their
position publicly known in the village, informed her that he was
himself a medical man, and that he would go back with her if she
pleased, and see what could be done for Anne. Mrs. Clements (feeling a
natural confidence in the Count, as a person trusted with a secret
message from Lady Glyde) gratefully accepted the offer, and they went
back together to the cottage.

Anne was asleep when they got there. The Count started at the sight of
her (evidently from astonishment at her resemblance to Lady Glyde).
Poor Mrs. Clements supposed that he was only shocked to see how ill she
was. He would not allow her to be awakened--he was contented with
putting questions to Mrs. Clements about her symptoms, with looking at
her, and with lightly touching her pulse. Sandon was a large enough
place to have a grocer's and druggist's shop in it, and thither the
Count went to write his prescription and to get the medicine made up.
He brought it back himself, and told Mrs. Clements that the medicine
was a powerful stimulant, and that it would certainly give Anne
strength to get up and bear the fatigue of a journey to London of only
a few hours. The remedy was to be administered at stated times on that
day and on the day after. On the third day she would be well enough to
travel, and he arranged to meet Mrs. Clements at the Blackwater
station, and to see them off by the midday train. If they did not
appear he would assume that Anne was worse, and would proceed at once
to the cottage.

As events turned out, no such emergency as this occurred.

This medicine had an extraordinary effect on Anne, and the good results
of it were helped by the assurance Mrs. Clements could now give her