r sister. Unless we could persuade her
that Marian had gone on to Cumberland first, there was no chance of
removing her, of her own free will, from the house. To produce this
necessary operation in her mind, we concealed our interesting invalid
in one of the uninhabited bedrooms at Blackwater. At the dead of night
Madame Fosco, Madame Rubelle, and myself (Percival not being cool
enough to be trusted) accomplished the concealment. The scene was
picturesque, mysterious, dramatic in the highest degree. By my
directions the bed had been made, in the morning, on a strong movable
framework of wood. We had only to lift the framework gently at the
head and foot, and to transport our patient where we pleased, without
disturbing herself or her bed. No chemical assistance was needed or
used in this case. Our interesting Marian lay in the deep repose of
convalescence. We placed the candles and opened the doors beforehand.
I, in right of my great personal strength, took the head of the
framework--my wife and Madame Rubelle took the foot. I bore my share
of that inestimably precious burden with a manly tenderness, with a
fatherly care. Where is the modern Rembrandt who could depict our
midnight procession? Alas for the Arts! alas for this most pictorial of
subjects! The modern Rembrandt is nowhere to be found.

The next morning my wife and I started for London, leaving Marian
secluded, in the uninhabited middle of the house, under care of Madame
Rubelle, who kindly consented to imprison herself with her patient for
two or three days. Before taking our departure I gave Percival Mr.
Fairlie's letter of invitation to his niece (instructing her to sleep
on the journey to Cumberland at her aunt's house), with directions to
show it to Lady Glyde on hearing from me. I also obtained from him the
address of the Asylum in which Anne Catherick had been confined, and a
letter to the proprietor, announcing to that gentleman the return of
his runaway patient to medical care.

I had arranged, at my last visit to the metropolis, to have our modest
domestic establishment ready to receive us when we arrived in London by
the early train. In consequence of this wise precaution, we were
enabled that same day to play the third move in the game--the getting
possession of Anne Catherick.

Dates are of importance here. I combine in myself the opposite
characteristics of a Man of Sentiment and a Man of Business. I have
all the dates at my f