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crying？ It is all over between us； if I let Oscar go away alonehis
letter as good as tells me so。 Oh； why have I behaved so coldly to him？ I
ought to make any sacrifice of my own feelings to atone for it。 And yet；
there is an obstinate something in me that shrinksWhat am I to do？ what
am I to do？
I must drop the pen； and try if I can think。 My eyes completely fail me。
I can write no more。
＇Note。I copy the letter to which Lucilla refers。
Nugent's own assertion is； that he wrote it in a moment of remorse； to
give her an opportunity of breaking the engagement by which she
innocently supposed herself to be held to him。 He declares that he
honestly believed the letter would offend her； when he wrote it。 The
other interpretation of the document is； that finding himself obliged to
leave Ramsgateunder penalty （if he remained） of being exposed by Grosse
as an impostor； when the surgeon visited his patient on the next
dayNugent seized the opportunity of making his absence the means of
working on Lucilla's feelings； so as to persuade her to accompany him to
London。 Don't ask me which of these two conclusions I favor。 For reasons
which you will understand when you have come to the end of my narrative；
I would rather not express my opinion； either one way or the other。
Read the letterand determine for yourselves：
〃MY DARLING；After a sleepless night； I have decided on leaving
Ramsgate； by the next train that starts after you receive these lines。
Last night's experience has satisfied me that my presence here （after
what I said to you on the pier） only distresses you。 Some influence that
is too strong for you to resist has changed your heart towards me。 When
the time comes for you to determine whether you will be my wife on the
conditions that I have proposed； I see but too plainly that you will say
No。 Let me make it less hard for you； my love； to do that； by leaving you
to write the wordinstead of saying it to me。 If you wish for your
freedom； cost me what it may； I will absolve you from your engagement。 I
love you too dearly to blame you。 My address in London is on the other
leaf。 Farewell！
〃OSCAR。〃
The address given on the blank leaf is at an hotel。
A few lines more in the Journal follow the lines last quoted in this
place。 Except a word or two； here and there； it is impossible any longer
to decipher the writing。 The mischief done to her eyes by her reckless
use of them； by her fits of crying； by her disturbed nights； by the
long…continued strain on her of agitation and suspense； has evidently
justified the worst of those unacknowledged forebodings which Grosse felt
when he saw her。 The last lines of the Journal are； as writing； actually
inferior to her worst penmanship when she was blind。
However； the course which she ended in taking on receipt of the letter
which you have just read； is sufficiently indicated by a note of Nugent's
writing； left at Miss Batchford's residence at Ramsgate by a porter from
the railway。 After…events make it necessary to preserve this note also。
It runs thus：
〃MADAM；I write； by Lucilla's wish； to beg that you will not be anxious
on discovering that your niece has left Ramsgate。 She accompanies me； at
my express request； to the house of a married lady who is a relative of
mine； and under whose care she will remain； until the time arrives for
our marriage。 The reasons which have led to her taking this step； and
which oblige her to keep her new place of residence concealed for the
present； will be frankly stated to you and to her father on the day when
we are man and wife。 In the meantime； Lucilla begs that you will excuse
her abrupt departure； and that you will be so good as to send this letter
on to her father。 Both you and he will； I hope； remember that she is of
an age to act for herself； and that she is only hastening her marriage
with a man to whom she has been long engaged； with the sanction and
approval of her familyBelieve me； Madam； your faithful Servant；
〃OSCAR DUBOURG。〃
This letter was delivered at luncheon…timealmost at the moment when the
servant had announced to her mistress that Miss Finch was nowhere to be
found； and that her traveling…bag had disappeared from her room。 The
London train had then started。 Miss Batchford； having no right to
interfere； decidedafter consultation with a friendon at once
traveling to Dimchurch； and placing the matter in Mr。 Finch's hands。P。＇
CHAPTER THE FORTY…SIXTH
The Italian Steamer
LUCILLA'S Journal has told you all that Lucilla can tell。 Permit me to
reappear in these pages。 Shall I say； with your favorite English clown；
reappearing every year in your barbarous English pantomime； 〃Here I am
again： how do you do？〃 NoI had better leave that out。 Your clown is one
of your national institutions。 With this mysterious source of British
amusement let no foreign person presume to trifle。
I arrived at Marseilles； as well as I can remember； on the fifteenth of
August。
You cannot be expected to feel any interest in good Papa。 I will pass
over this venerable victim of the amiable delusions of the heart； as
rapidly as respect and affection will permit。 The duel （I hope you
remember the duel？） had been fought with pistols； and the bullet had not
been extracted when I joined my sisters at the sufferer's bedside。 He was
delirious and did not know me。 Two days later； the removal of the bullet
was accomplished by the surgeon in attendance。 For a time； he improved
after this。 Then there was a relapse。 It was only on the first of
September that we were permitted to hope he might still be spared to us。
On that date； I was composed enough to think again of Lucilla； and to
remember Mrs。 Finch's polite request to me that I would write to her from
Marseilles。
I wrote briefly； telling the damp lady of the rectory （only at greater
length） what I have told here。 My main motive in doing this was； I
confess； to obtain； through Mrs。 Finch； some news of Lucilla。 After
posting the letter； I attended to another duty which I had neglected
while my father was in danger of death。 I went to the person to whom my
lawyer had recommended me； to institute that search for Oscar which I had
determined to set on foot when I left London。 The person was connected
with the police； in the capacity （as nearly as I can express it in
English） of a sort of private superintendentnot officially recognized；
but secretly trusted for all that。
When he heard of the time that had elapsed without any discovery of the
slightest trace of the fugitive； he looked grave； and declared； honestly
enough； that he doubted if he could reward my confidence in him by
proving himself to be of the slightest service to me。 Seeing； however；
that I was earnestly bent on making some sort of effort； he put a last
question to me in these terms：〃You have not described the gentleman
yet。 Is there； by lucky chance； anything remarkable in his personal
appearance？〃
〃There is something very remarkable； sir；〃 I answered。 〃Describe it
exactly； ma'am； if you please。〃
I described Oscar's complexion。 My excellent superintendent showed
encouraging signs of interest as he listened。 He was a most
elegantly…dressed gentleman； with the gracious manners of a prince。 It
was quite a privilege to be allowed to talk to him。
〃If the missing man has passed through France；〃 he said； 〃with such a
remarkable face as that； there is a fair chance of finding him。 I will
set preliminary inquiries going at the railway station； at the
steam…packet office； and at the port。 You shall hear the result
to…morrow。〃
I went back to good Papa's bedsidesatisfied； so far。
The next day； my superintendent honored me by a visit。
〃Any news； sir？〃 I asked。
〃News already； ma'am。 The clerk at the steam…packet office perfectly well
remembers selling a ticket to a stranger with a terrible blue face。
Unhappily； his memory is not equally good； as to other matters。 He cannot
accurately call to mind； either the name of the stranger； or the place
for which the stranger embarked。 We know that he must either have gone to
some port in Italy； or to some port in the East。 And； thus far； we know
no more。
〃What are we to do next？〃 I inquired。
〃I proposewith your permissionsending personal descriptions of the
gentleman； by telegraph； to the different ports in Italy first。 If
nothing is heard of him in reply； we will try the ports in the East next。
That is the course which I have the honor of submitting to your
consideration。 Do you approve of it？〃
I cordially approved of it； and waited for the results with all the
patience that I could command。
The next day passed； and nothing happened。 My unhappy father got on very
slowly。 The vile woman who had caused the disaster （and who had run off
with his antagonist） was perpetually in his mind； disturbing him and
keeping him back。 Why is a destroying wretch of this sort； a pitiless；
treacherous； devouring monster in female form； allowed to be out of
prison？ You shut up in a cage a poor tigress； who only eats you when she
is hungry； and can't provide for her dear little children in any other
wayand you let the other and far more dangerous beast of the two range
at large under p