The Story Continued by Marian Halcombe

proposed, I went back immediately to Laura’s room to tell her what I had heard. She received my bad news so composedly as to surprise me. She evidently knows more of her husband’s character and her husband’s embarrassments than I have suspected up to this time. “I feared as much,” she said, “when I heard of that strange gentleman who called, and declined to leave his name.” “Who do you think the gentleman was, then?” I asked. “Some person who has heavy claims on Sir Percival,” she answered, “and who has been the cause of Mr. Merriman’s visit here today.” “Do you know anything about those claims?” “No, I know no particulars.” “You will sign nothing, Laura, without first looking at it?” “Certainly not, Marian. Whatever I can harmlessly and honestly do to help him I will do⁠—for the sake of making your life and mine, love, as easy and as happy as possible. But I will do nothing ignorantly, which we might, one day, have reason to feel ashamed of. Let us say no more about it now. You have got your hat on⁠—suppose we go and dream away the afternoon in the grounds?” On leaving the house we directed our steps to the nearest shade. As we passed an open space among the trees in front of the house, there was Count Fosco, slowly walking backwards