“What could I do? Absolute ruin faced me. If I could stave things off for three weeks all would be well. Her maid’s husband⁠—this man here⁠—is an actor. It came into our heads⁠—it came into my head⁠—that he could for that short period personate my sister. It was but a case of appearing daily in the carriage, for no one need enter her room save the maid. It was not difficult to arrange. My sister died of the dropsy which had long afflicted her.”

“That will be for a coroner to decide.”

“Her doctor would certify that for months her symptoms have threatened such an end.”

“Well, what did you do?”