The Story Continued by Marian Halcombe

“She won’t tell it again.” “Why not? Are her own interests concerned in keeping it, as well as yours?” “Yes⁠—deeply concerned.” “I am glad to hear it, Percival, for your sake. Don’t be discouraged, my friend. Our money matters, as I told you, leave me plenty of time to turn round in, and I may search for Anne Catherick tomorrow to better purpose than you. One last question before we go to bed.” “What is it?” “It is this. When I went to the boathouse to tell Lady Glyde that the little difficulty of her signature was put off, accident took me there in time to see a strange woman parting in a very suspicious manner from your wife. But accident did not bring me near enough to see this same woman’s face plainly. I must know how to recognise our invisible Anne. What is she like?” “Like? Come! I’ll tell you in two words. She’s a sickly likeness of my wife.” The chair creaked, and the pillar shook once more. The Count was on his feet again⁠—this time in astonishment. “What!!!” he exclaimed eagerly. “Fancy my wife, after a bad illness, with a touch of something wrong in her head⁠—and there is Anne Catherick for you,” answered Sir Percival. “Are they related to each other?”