to state plainly what I know of the progress of Miss
Halcombe's illness and of the circumstances under which Lady Glyde left
Blackwater Park for London.

The reason given for making this demand on me is, that my testimony is
wanted in the interests of truth. As the widow of a clergyman of the
Church of England (reduced by misfortune to the necessity of accepting
a situation), I have been taught to place the claims of truth above all
other considerations. I therefore comply with a request which I might
otherwise, through reluctance to connect myself with distressing family
affairs, have hesitated to grant.

I made no memorandum at the time, and I cannot therefore be sure to a
day of the date, but I believe I am correct in stating that Miss
Halcombe's serious illness began during the last fortnight or ten days
in June. The breakfast hour was late at Blackwater Park--sometimes as
late as ten, never earlier than half-past nine. On the morning to
which I am now referring, Miss Halcombe (who was usually the first to
come down) did not make her appearance at the table. After the family
had waited a quarter of an hour, the upper housemaid was sent to see
after her, and came running out of the room dreadfully frightened. I
met the servant on the stairs, and went at once to Miss Halcombe to see
what was the matter. The poor lady was incapable of telling me. She
was walking about her room with a pen in her hand, quite light-headed,
in a state of burning fever.

Lady Glyde (being no longer in Sir Percival's service, I may, without
impropriety, mention my former mistress by her name, instead of calling
her my lady) was the first to come in from her own bedroom. She was so
dreadfully alarmed and distressed that she was quite useless. The
Count Fosco, and his lady, who came upstairs immediately afterwards,
were both most serviceable and kind. Her ladyship assisted me to get
Miss Halcombe to her bed. His lordship the Count remained in the
sitting-room, and having sent for my medicine-chest, made a mixture for
Miss Halcombe, and a cooling lotion to be applied to her head, so as to
lose no time before the doctor came. We applied the lotion, but we
could not get her to take the mixture. Sir Percival undertook to send
for the doctor. He despatched a groom, on horseback, for the nearest
medical man, Mr. Dawson, of Oak Lodge.

Mr. Dawson arrived in less than an hour's time. He was a respectable
elderly man, well known all