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Updated: June 25, 2025
I'm glad to know, for I don't care much for Mrs. Henniker. She's such a very shallow woman." "Ethelwynn seems to have wandered about a good deal since the sad affair at Kew," I observed. "Yes, and so have I," she responded. "As you are well aware, the blow was such a terrible one to me that that somehow I feel I shall never get over it never!" I saw tears, genuine tears, welling in her eyes.
Ethelwynn will become your wife, and you have all my good wishes for prosperity and happiness." I thanked her, but pointed out that the matrimonial project was, as yet, immature. "How foolish you are, Ralph!" she said. "You know very well that you'd marry her to-morrow if you could." "Ah! if I could," I repeated wistfully.
Ethelwynn had always been a particular favourite with both, hence she was a welcome guest at Redcliffe Square. Old Mr. Courtenay had had business relations with Henniker a couple of years before, and a slight difference had led to an open quarrel. For that reason they had not of late visited at Kew.
The Seven Secrets, as they presented themselves to me, were: First, the identity of the secret assassin of Henry Courtenay; second, the manner in which that extraordinary wound had been caused; thirdly, the secret of Ethelwynn, held by Sir Bernard; fourthly, the secret motive of Ethelwynn in remaining under the roof of the man who had discarded her in favour of her sister; fifthly, the secret of Courtenay's reappearance after burial; sixthly, the secret of the dastardly attempt on my life by those ruffians of Lisson Grove; and, seventhly, the secret of Mary Courtenay's death.
He paused, and slowly twisted his small dark moustache, at last admitting "Yes, Ralph, I have." "What have you discovered?" I cried, in fierce eagerness. "Tell me the result of your inquiries regarding Ethelwynn. It is her connection with the affair which occupies my chief thoughts." "For the present, my dear fellow, we must leave her entirely out of it," my friend said quietly.
He believes so entirely in you. But promise me one thing; that you will not go to Ethelwynn," he urged. "Why not?" "Because it is quite unnecessary," he answered. "You are not good friends; therefore your influence upon the doctor should be a hidden one. She will believe that he has returned to her of his own free will; hence our position will be rendered the stronger. Act diplomatically.
"To me!" cried my love, in surprise. "Yes, Miss Ethelwynn. Everything is left to you unreservedly," he explained. Then, turning again to the clever impostor before him, he added: "You will therefore recognise that all your plotting, so well matured and so carefully planned that your demoniacal ingenuity almost surpasses the comprehension of man, has been in vain.
She inquired of Ethelwynn and of the Hennikers, remarking that she had seen nothing of them for over three weeks; and then, when the servants had left the room, she placed her elbows upon the table, at the risk of a breach of good manners, and resting her chin upon her hands, looked me full in the face, saying: "Now, tell me the truth, Doctor.
"Forgive me for speaking like this, but our intimate acquaintanceship in the past gives me a kind of prerogative to speak my mind. You won't be offended, will you?" she asked, with one of those sweet smiles of hers that I knew so well. "Offended? Certainly not, Mrs. Courtenay. We are too old friends for that." "Then take my advice and see Ethelwynn again," she urged.
As long as you keep up the appearance of deep mourning, are discreet in all your actions, and exercise proper caution on the occasions when we meet, our secret must remain hidden from all." "But I am doubtful of Ethelwynn. A woman as fondly in love with a man, as she is with Ralph, is apt to throw discretion to the winds," the woman observed.
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