ords
of the brief, plain, studiously simple abstract which I committed to
writing for my own guidance, and for the guidance of my legal adviser.
So the tangled web will be most speedily and most intelligibly unrolled.

The story of Marian begins where the narrative of the housekeeper at
Blackwater Park left off.

On Lady Glyde's departure from her husband's house, the fact of that
departure, and the necessary statement of the circumstances under which
it had taken place, were communicated to Miss Halcombe by the
housekeeper. It was not till some days afterwards (how many days
exactly, Mrs. Michelson, in the absence of any written memorandum on
the subject, could not undertake to say) that a letter arrived from
Madame Fosco announcing Lady Glyde's sudden death in Count Fosco's
house. The letter avoided mentioning dates, and left it to Mrs.
Michelson's discretion to break the news at once to Miss Halcombe, or
to defer doing so until that lady's health should be more firmly
established.

Having consulted Mr. Dawson (who had been himself delayed, by ill
health, in resuming his attendance at Blackwater Park), Mrs. Michelson,
by the doctor's advice, and in the doctor's presence, communicated the
news, either on the day when the letter was received, or on the day
after. It is not necessary to dwell here upon the effect which the
intelligence of Lady Glyde's sudden death produced on her sister. It
is only useful to the present purpose to say that she was not able to
travel for more than three weeks afterwards. At the end of that time
she proceeded to London accompanied by the housekeeper. They parted
there--Mrs. Michelson previously informing Miss Halcombe of her
address, in case they might wish to communicate at a future period.

On parting with the housekeeper Miss Halcombe went at once to the
office of Messrs. Gilmore & Kyrle to consult with the latter gentleman
in Mr. Gilmore's absence. She mentioned to Mr. Kyrle what she had
thought it desirable to conceal from every one else (Mrs. Michelson
included)--her suspicion of the circumstances under which Lady Glyde
was said to have met her death. Mr. Kyrle, who had previously given
friendly proof of his anxiety to serve Miss Halcombe, at once undertook
to make such inquiries as the delicate and dangerous nature of the
investigation proposed to him would permit.

To exhaust this part of the subject before going farther, it may be
mentioned that Count Fosco offered