The nurse, signing to Agnes to open the window, took the necessary measures to restore the fainting woman. Whats this? she exclaimed. Heres a letter in her hand. See what it is, Miss.
The open envelope was addressed (evidently in a feigned hand-writing) to Mrs. Ferrari. The post-mark was Venice. The contents of the envelope were a sheet of foreign note-paper, and a folded enclosure.
On the note-paper, one line only was written. It was again in a feigned handwriting, and it contained these words:
To console you for the loss of your husband
Agnes opened the enclosure next.
It was a Bank of England note for a thousand pounds.
Chapter VI
The next day, the friend and legal adviser of Agnes Lockwood, Mr. Troy, called on her by appointment in the evening.
Mrs. Ferrari-still persisting in the conviction of her husbands death-had sufficiently recovered to be present at the consultation. Assisted by Agnes, she told the lawyer the little that was known relating to Ferraris disappearance, and then produced the correspondence connected with that event. Mr. Troy read (first) the three letters addressed by Ferrari to his wife; (secondly) the letter written by Ferraris courier-friend, describing his visit to the palace and his interview with Lady Montbarry; and (thirdly) the one line of anonymous writing which had accompanied the extraordinary gift of a thousand pounds to Ferraris wife.
Well known, at a later period, as the lawyer who acted for Lady Lydiard, in the case of theft, generally described as the case of My Ladys Money, Mr. Troy was not only a man of learning and experience in his profession-he was also a man who had seen something of society at home and abroad. He possessed a keen eye for character, a quaint humour, and a kindly nature which had not been deteriorated even by a lawyers professional experience of mankind. With all these personal advantages, it is a question, nevertheless, whether he was the fittest adviser whom Agnes could have chosen under the circumstances. Little Mrs. Ferrari, with many domestic merits, was an essentially commonplace woman. Mr. Troy was the last person living who was likely to attract her sympathies-he was the exact opposite of a commonplace man.
She looks very ill, poor thing! In these words the lawyer opened the business of the evening, referring to Mrs. Ferrari as unceremoniously as if she had been out of the room.
She has suffered a terrible shock, Agnes answered.
Mr. Troy turned to Mrs. Ferrari, and looked at her again, with the interest due to the victim of a shock. He drummed absently with his fingers on the table. At last he spoke to her.
My good lady, you dont really believe that your husband is dead?
Mrs. Ferrari put her handkerchief to her eyes. The word dead was ineffectual to express her feelings. Murdered! she said sternly, behind her handkerchief.
Why? And by whom? Mr. Troy asked.
Mrs. Ferrari seemed to have some difficulty in answering. You have read my husbands letters, sir, she began. I believe he discovered- She got as far as that, and there she stopped.
What did he discover?
There are limits to human patience-even the patience of a bereaved wife. This cool question irritated Mrs. Ferrari into expressing herself plainly at last.
He discovered Lady Montbarry and the Baron! she answered, with a burst of hysterical vehemence. The Baron is no more that vile womans brother than I am. The wickedness of those two wretches came to my poor dear husbands knowledge. The ladys maid left her place on account of it. If Ferrari had gone away too, he would have been alive at this moment. They have killed him. I say they have killed him, to prevent it from getting to Lord Montbarrys ears. So, in short sharp sentences, and in louder and louder accents, Mrs. Ferrari stated her opinion of the case.
Still keeping his own view in reserve, Mr. Troy listened with an expression of satirical approval.
Very strongly stated, Mrs. Ferrari, he said. You build up your sentences well; you clinch your conclusions in a workmanlike manner. If you had been a man, you would have made a good lawyer-you would have taken juries by the scruff of their necks. Complete the case, my good lady-complete the case. Tell us next who sent you this letter, enclosing the bank-note. The two wretches who murdered Mr. Ferrari would hardly put their hands in their pockets and send you a thousand pounds. Who is it-eh? I see the post-mark on the letter is Venice. Have you any friend in that interesting city, with a large heart, and a purse to correspond, who has been let into the secret and who wishes to console you anonymously?
It was not easy to reply to this. Mrs. Ferrari began to feel the first inward approaches of something like hatred towards Mr. Troy. I dont understand you, sir, she answered. I dont think this is a joking matter.
Agnes interfered, for the first time. She drew her chair a little nearer to her legal counsellor and friend.
What is the most probable explanation, in your opinion? she asked.
I shall offend Mrs. Ferrari if I tell you, Mr. Troy answered.
No, sir, you wont! cried Mrs. Ferrari, hating Mr. Troy undisguisedly by this time.
The lawyer leaned back in his chair. Very well, he said, in his most good-humoured manner. Lets have it out. Observe, madam, I dont dispute your view of the position of affairs at the palace in Venice. You have your husbands letters to justify you; and you have also the significant fact that Lady Montbarrys maid did really leave the house. We will say, then, that Lord Montbarry has presumably been made the victim of a foul wrong-that Mr. Ferrari was the first to find it out-and that the guilty persons had reason to fear, not only that he would acquaint Lord Montbarry with his discovery, but that he would be a principal witness against them if the scandal was made public in a court of law. Now mark! Admitting all this, I draw a totally different conclusion from the conclusion at which you have arrived. Here is your husband left in this miserable household of three, under very awkward circumstances for him. What does he do? But for the bank-note and the written message sent to you with it, I should say that he had wisely withdrawn himself from association with a disgraceful discovery and exposure, by taking secretly to flight. The money modifies this view-unfavourably so far as Mr. Ferrari is concerned. I still believe he is keeping out of the way. But I now say he is paid for keeping out of the way-and that bank-note there on the table is the price of his absence, sent by the guilty persons to his wife.
Mrs. Ferraris watery grey eyes brightened suddenly; Mrs. Ferraris dull drab-coloured complexion became enlivened by a glow of brilliant red.
Its false! she cried. Its a burning shame to speak of my husband in that way!
I told you I should offend you! said Mr. Troy.
Agnes interposed once more-in the interests of peace. She took the offended wifes hand; she appealed to the lawyer to reconsider that side of his theory which reflected harshly on Ferrari. While she was still speaking, the servant interrupted her by entering the room with a visiting-card. It was the card of Henry Westwick; and there was an ominous request written on it in pencil. I bring bad news. Let me see you for a minute downstairs. Agnes immediately left the room.
Alone with Mrs. Ferrari, Mr. Troy permitted his natural kindness of heart to show itself on the surface at last. He tried to make his peace with the couriers wife.
You have every claim, my good soul, to resent a reflection cast upon your husband, he began. I may even say that I respect you for speaking so warmly in his defence. At the same time, remember, that I am bound, in such a serious matter as this, to tell you what is really in my mind. I can have no intention of offending you, seeing that I am a total stranger to you and to Mr. Ferrari. A thousand pounds is a large sum of money; and a poor man may excusably be tempted by it to do nothing worse than to keep out of the way for a while. My only interest, acting on your behalf, is to get at the truth. If you will give me time, I see no reason to despair of finding your husband yet.