to you。 Miss Gwilt's manner of receiving such allusions as I have
made to her family circumstances has rendered it unpleasant for
me （and would render it quite impossible for you） to seek
information in the first instance from herself。 I am certainly
justified in applying to her reference； and you are certainly not
to blame for being the medium of safely transmitting a sealed
communication with one lady to another。 If I find in that
communication family secrets which cannot honorably be mentioned
to any third person； I shall； of course； be obliged to keep you
waiting until I have first appealed to Miss Gwilt。 If I find
nothing recorded but what is to her honor； and what is sure to
raise her still higher in your estimation； I am undeniably doing
her a service by taking you into my confidence。 This is how I
look at the matter； but pray don't allow me to influence _you。_
〃In any case； I have one condition to make； which I am sure you
will understand to be indispensable。 The most innocent actions
are liable； in this wicked world； to the worst possible
interpretation I must； therefore； request that you will consider
this communication as strictly _private。_。 I write to you in a
confidence which is on no account （until circumstances may； in my
opinion； justify the revelation of it） to extend beyond our two
selves；
〃Believe me； dear sir； truly yours；
〃ANNE MILROY。〃
In this tempting form the unscrupulous ingenuity of the major's
wife had set the trap。 Without a moment's hesitation； Allan
followed his impulses； as usual； and walked straight into it；
writing his answer and pursuing his own reflections
simultaneously in a highly characteristic state of mental
confusion。
〃By Jupiter； this is kind of Mrs。 Milroy！〃 （〃My dear madam。〃）
〃Just the thing I wanted； at the time when I needed it most！〃 （〃I
don't know how to express my sense of your kindness； except by
saying that I will go to London and fetch the letters with the
greatest pleasure。〃） 〃She shall have a basket of fruit regularly
every day； all through the season。 〃 （〃I will go at once； dear
madam； and be back to…morrow。〃） 〃Ah； nothing like the women for
helping one when one is in love！ This is just what my poor mother
would have done in Mrs。 Milroy's place。〃 （〃On my word of honor as
a gentleman； I will take the utmost care of the letters； and keep
the thing strictly private； as you request。〃） 〃I would have given
five hundred pounds to anybody who would have put me up to the
right way to speak to Miss Gwilt； and here is this blessed woman
does it for nothing。〃 （〃Believe me； my dear madam； gratefully
yours； Allan Armadale。〃）
Having sent his reply out to Mrs。 Milroy's messenger； Allan
paused in a momentary perplexity。 He had an appointment with Miss
Gwilt in the park for the next morning。 It was absolutely
necessary to let her know that he would be unable to keep it； she
had forbidden him to write； and he had no chance that day of
seeing her alone。 In this difficulty； he determined to let the
necessary intimation reach her through the medium of a message to
the major； announcing his departure for London on business； and
asking if he could be of service to any member of the family。
Having thus removed the only obstacle to his freedom of action；
Allan consulted the time…table； and found； to his disappointment；
that there was a good hour to spare before it would be necessary
to drive to the railway station。 In his existing frame of mind he
would infinitely have preferred starting for London in a violent
hurry。
When the time came at last； Allan； on passing the steward's
office； drummed at the door； and called through it to Mr。
Bashwood； 〃I'm going to town； back to…morrow。〃 There was no
answer from within； and the servant； interposing； informed his
master that Mr。 Bashwood； having no business to attend to that
day； had locked up the office； and had left some hours since。
On reaching the station； the first person whom Allan encountered
was Pedgift Junior； going to London on the legal business which
he had mentioned on the previous evening at the great house。 The
necessary explanations exchanged； and it was decided that the two
should travel in the same carriage。 Allan was glad to have a
companion； and Pedgift； enchanted as usual to make himself useful
to his client； bustled away to get the tickets and see to the
luggage。 Sauntering to and fro on the platform； until his
faithful follower returned； Allan came suddenly upon no less a
person than Mr。 Bashwood himself； standing back in a corner with
the guard of the train； and putting a letter （accompanied； to all
appearance； by a fee） privately into the man's hand。
〃Halloo！〃 cried Allan； in his hearty way。 〃Something important
there； Mr。 Bashwood； eh？〃
If Mr。 Bashwood had been caught in the act of committing murder；
he could hardly have shown greater alarm than he now testified at
Allan's sudden discovery of him。 Snatching off his dingy old hat；
he bowed bare…headed； in a palsy of nervous trembling from head
to foot。 〃No； sirno； sir； only a little letter； a little
letter； a little letter；〃 said the deputy…steward； taking refuge
in reiteration； and bowing himself swiftly backward out of his
employer's sight。
Allan turned carelessly on his heel。 〃I wish I could take to that
fellow；〃 he thought； 〃but I can't； he's such a sneak！ What the
deuce was there to tremble about？ Does he think I want to pry
into his secrets？〃
Mr。 Bashwood's secret on this occasion concerned Allan more
nearly than Allan supposed。 The letter which he had just placed
in charge of the guard was nothing less than a word of warning
addressed to Mrs。 Oldershaw； and written by Miss Gwilt。
〃If you can hurry your business〃 （wrote the major's governess）
〃do so； and come back to London immediately。 Things are going
wrong here； and Miss Milroy is at the bottom of the mischief。
This morning she insisted on taking up her mother's breakfast；
always on other occasions taken up by the nurse。 They had a long
confabulation in private； and half an hour later I saw the nurse
slip out with a letter； and take the path that leads to the great
house。 The sending of the letter has been followed by young
Armadale's sudden departure for Londonin the face of an
appointment which he had with me for tomorrow morning。 This looks
serious。 The girl is evidently bold enough to make a fight of it
for the position of Mrs。 Armadale of Thorpe Ambrose； and she has
found out some way of getting her mother to help her。 Don't
suppose I am in the least nervous or discouraged； and don't do
anything till you hear from me again。 Only get back to London；
for I may have serious need of your assistance in the course of
the next day or two。
〃I send this letter to town （to save a post） by the midday train；
in charge of the guard。 As you insist on knowing every step I
take at Thorpe Ambrose； I may as well tell you that my messenger
（for I can't go to the station myself） is that curious old
creature whom I mentioned to you in my first letter。 Ever since
that time he has been perpetually hanging about here for a look
at me。 I am not sure whether I frighten him or fascinate him；
perhaps I do both together。 All you need care to know is that I
can trust him with my trifling errands； and possibly； as time
goes on； with something more。 L。 G。〃
Meanwhile the train had started from the Thorpe Ambrose station；
and the squire and his traveling companion were on their way to
London。
Some men； finding themselves in Allan's company under present
circumstances； might have felt curious to know the nature of his
business in the metropolis。 Young Pedgift's unerring instinct as
a man of the world penetrated the secret without the slightest
difficulty。 〃The old story；〃 thought this wary old head； wagging
privately on its lusty young shoulders； 〃There's a woman in the
case； as usual。 Any other business would have been turned over to
me。〃 Perfectly satisfied with this conclusion； Mr。 Pedgift the
younger proceeded； with an eye to his professional interest； to
make himself agreeable to his client in the capacity of volunteer
courier。 He seized on the whole administrative business of the
journey to London； as he had seized on the whole administrative
business of the picnic at the Broads。 On reaching the terminus；
Allan was ready to go to any hotel that might be recommended。 His
invaluable solicitor straight…way drove him to a hotel at which
the Pedgift family had been accustomed to put up for three
generations。
〃You don't object to vegetables； sir？〃 said the cheerful Pedgift；
as the cab stopped at a hotel in Covent Garden Market。 〃Very
good； you may leave the rest to my grandfather； my father； and
me。 I don't know which of the three is most beloved and respected
in this house。 How d'ye do； William？ （Our head…waiter； Mr。
Armadale。） Is your wife's rheumatism better； and does the little
boy get on nicely at school？ Your master's out； is he？ Never
mind； you'll do。 This； William； is Mr。 Armadale of Thorpe
Ambrose。 I have prevailed on Mr。 Armadale to try our house。 Have
you got the bedroom I wrote for？ Very good。 Let Mr。 Armadale have
it instead of me （my grandfather's favorite bedroom； sir； No。 57；
on the second floor）； pray take it； I can sleep anywhere。 Will
you have the mattress on the top of the feather…bed？ You hear；
William？ Tell Matilda； the mattress on the top of the
feather…bed。 How is Matilda？ Has she got the toothache； as usual？
The head…chambermaid； Mr。 Armadale； and a most extraordinary
woman； she will _not_ part with a hollow tooth in her lower jaw。
My grandfather says； 'Have it out；' my father says； 'Have it
out；' I say； 'Have it out；' and Matilda turns a deaf ear to all
three of us。 Yes； William； yes； if Mr。 Armadale approves； this
sitting…room will do。 About dinner； sir？ Shall we say； in that
case； half…past seven？ William； half…past seven。 Not the least
need to order anything； Mr。 Armadale。 The head…waiter has only to
give my compliments to the cook； and the best dinner in London
will be sent up； punctual to the minute； as a necessary
consequence。 Say； Mr。 Pedgift Junior； if you please； William；
otherwise； sir； we might get my grandfather's dinner or my