The Story Continued by Marian Halcombe

now⁠—an infernal vagabond of a drawing-master, named Hartright.” “My dear friend! what is there extraordinary in that? They are all in love with some other man. Who gets the first of a woman’s heart? In all my experience I have never yet met with the man who was Number One. Number Two, sometimes. Number Three, Four, Five, often. Number One, never! He exists, of course⁠—but I have not met with him.” “Wait! I haven’t done yet. Who do you think helped Anne Catherick to get the start, when the people from the madhouse were after her? Hartright. Who do you think saw her again in Cumberland? Hartright. Both times he spoke to her alone. Stop! don’t interrupt me. The scoundrel’s as sweet on my wife as she is on him. He knows the Secret, and she knows the Secret. Once let them both get together again, and it’s her interest and his interest to turn their information against me.” “Gently, Percival⁠—gently! Are you insensible to the virtue of Lady Glyde?” “That for the virtue of Lady Glyde! I believe in nothing about her but her money. Don’t you see how the case stands? She might be harmless enough by herself; but if she and that vagabond Hartright⁠—” “Yes, yes, I see. Where is Mr. Hartright?” “Out of the country. If he means to keep a whole skin on his bones, I recommend him not to come back in a hurry.” “Are you sure he is out of the country?”