I. La narración de Hester Pinhorn, cocinera al servicio del conde Fosco

Jane Gould. I considered her to be a respectable-looking woman. She made no remark, except to say that she understood what was wanted of her, and that she had winded a many of them in her time. > > How master bore the news, when he first heard it, is more than I can tell, not having been present. When I did see him he looked awfully overcome by it, to be sure. He sat quiet in a corner, with his fat hands hanging over his thick knees, and his head down, and his eyes looking at nothing. He seemed not so much sorry, as scared and dazed like, by what had happened. My mistress managed all that was to be done about the funeral. It must have cost a sight of money⁠—the coffin, in particular, being most beautiful. The dead lady’s husband was away, as we heard, in foreign parts. But my mistress (being her aunt) settled it with her friends in the country (Cumberland, I think) that she should be buried there, in the same grave along with her mother. Everything was done handsomely, in respect of the funeral, I say again, and master went down to attend the burying in the country himself. He looked grand in his deep mourning, with his big solemn face, and his slow walk, and his broad hatband⁠—that he did! > > In conclusion. I have to say, in answer to questions put to me⁠— > > (1) That neither I nor my fellow-servant ever saw my master give Lady Glyde any medicine himself. > > (2) That he was never, to my knowledge and belief, left alone in the room with Lady Glyde. > > (3) That I am not able to say what caused the sudden fright, which my mistress informed me had seized