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'The little simpleton! he thought to himself. 'If half of what they say of Lady Montbarry is true, Mrs. Ferrari and her trap have but a poor prospect before them. I wonder how it will end? All Mr. Troy's experience failed to forewarn him of how it did end. In the mean time, Mrs. Ferrari held to her resolution. She went straight from Mr. Troy's office to Newbury's Hotel.
'I thought I knew something of women by this time, Henry said, appealing privately to Lady Montbarry for consolation. 'But Agnes completely puzzles me. It is a year since Montbarry's death; and she remains as devoted to his memory as if he had died faithful to her she still feels the loss of him, as none of us feel it!
To Henry's astonishment, Agnes stopped her. 'Wait a moment, Lady Montbarry. I have something to ask on my side. You have spoken of Ferrari. I wish to speak of him too. Lady Montbarry bent her head in silence. Her hand trembled as she took out her handkerchief, and passed it over her forehead. Agnes detected the trembling, and shrank back a step. 'Is the subject painful to you? she asked timidly.
'How have I destroyed your hopes? Agnes asked. 'What connection is there between my permitting Ferrari to use my name to Lord Montbarry, and the strange and dreadful things you are saying to me now? 'The time is near, Miss Lockwood, when you will discover that for yourself. In the mean while, you shall know what my fear of you is, in the plainest words I can find.
They were polite enough to ask if I could account for Lord Montbarry's writing to me and sending me the money. I gave them my opinion directly I said it was like his lordship's kindness. 'Like his lordship's kindness? Mr. Troy repeated, in blank amazement. 'Yes, sir! Lord Montbarry knew me, like all the other members of his family, when I was at school on the estate in Ireland.
The narrative will now be most fitly continued in the language of the doctor's own report, herewith subjoined. "My medical diary informs me that I first saw the English Lord Montbarry, on November 17. He was suffering from a sharp attack of bronchitis. Some precious time had been lost, through his obstinate objection to the presence of a medical man at his bedside.
He turned and looked at his sister-in-law. 'Do you hear that? he asked coldly. 'I hear it, she answered, more coldly still. 'Your visit is, to say the least of it, ill-timed. 'Your interference is, to say the least of it, out of place. With that retort, Lady Montbarry approached Agnes. The presence of Henry Westwick seemed at once to relieve and embolden her.
'Don't mention the poor girl's name; it's too bad to make a joke of that part of the business; she has behaved nobly under shameful provocation; there is but one excuse for Montbarry he is either a madman or a fool. In these terms the protest expressed itself on all sides. Her name was Agnes Lockwood.
Westwick, the wife of that brother of Lord Montbarry who came next to him in age, and who was described in the 'Peerage' as presumptive heir to the title. He was then away, looking after his interests in some mining property which he possessed in America. Mrs. Westwick insisted on taking Agnes back with her to her home in Ireland. 'Come and keep me company while my husband is away.
Westwick, tell me truly, and don't be afraid of turning my head: Am I not capable of writing a good play? Henry paused between the First and Second Acts; reflecting, not on the merits of the play, but on the strange resemblance which the incidents so far presented to the incidents that had attended the disastrous marriage of the first Lord Montbarry.
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