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said。 〃I don't expect you to believe me； sir。 I only say there's
something wrongand time will show it。〃
I left the room。 Half an hour later I started for Mr。 Beldheimer's
house； leaving the arrangements for the morning of the first of
March in the hands of the doctor and my wife。
XVI
The one thing which principally struck me when I joined the guests
at the 〃Silver Wedding〃 is also the one thing which it is necessary
to mention here。 On this joyful occasion a noticeable lady present
was out of spirits。 That lady was no other than the heroine of the
festival； the mistress of the house！
In the course of the evening I spoke to Mr。 Beldheimer's eldest son
on the subject of his mother。 As an old friend of the family； I
had a claim on his confidence which the young man willingly
recognized。
〃We have had a very disagreeable matter to deal with；〃 he said；
〃and my mother has not recovered the painful impression left on her
mind。 Many years since； when my sisters were children； we had an
English governess in the house。 She left us； as we then
understood； to be married。 We heard no more of her until a week or
ten days since； when my mother received a letter； in which our ex…
governess described herself as being in a condition of great
poverty and distress。 After much hesitation she had venturedat
the suggestion of a lady who had been kind to herto write to her
former employers； and to appeal to their remembrance of old times。
You know my mother she is not only the most kind…headed； but the
most innocent of womenit is impossible to persuade her of the
wickedness that there is in the world。 She replied by return of
post； inviting the governess to come here and see her； and
inclosing the money for her traveling expenses。 When my father
came home； and heard what had been done； he wrote at once to his
agent in London to make inquiries； inclosing the address on the
governess' letter。 Before he could receive the agent's reply the
governess arrived。 She produced the worst possible impression on
his mind。 The agent's letter； arriving a few days later； confirmed
his suspicions。 Since we had lost sight of her； the woman had led
a most disreputable life。 My father spoke to her privately： he
offeredon condition of her leaving the housea sum of money to
take her back to England。 If she refused； the alternative would be
an appeal to the authorities and a public scandal。 She accepted
the money； and left the house。 On her way back to England she
appears to have stopped at Metz。 You will understand what sort of
woman she is when I tell you that she was seen the other day in a
tavern with your handsome groom； Joseph Rigobert。〃
While my informant was relating these circumstances； my memory was
at work。 I recalled what Francis Raven had vaguely told us of his
wife's experience in former days as governess in a German family。
A suspicion of the truth suddenly flashed across my mind。 〃What
was the woman's name？〃 I asked。
Mr。 Beldheimer's son answered： 〃Alicia Warlock。〃
I had but one idea when I heard that replyto get back to my house
without a moment's needless delay。 It was then ten o'clock at
nightthe last train to Metz had left long since。 I arranged with
my young friendafter duly informing him of the circumstances
that I should go by the first train in the morning； instead of
staying to breakfast with the other guests who slept in the house。
At intervals during the night I wondered uneasily how things were
going on at Maison Rouge。 Again and again the same question
occurred to me； on my journey home in the early morningthe
morning of the first of March。 As the event proved； but one person
in my house knew what really happened at the stables on Francis
Raven's birthday。 Let Joseph Rigobert take my place as narrator；
and tell the story of the end to Youas he told it； in times past；
to his lawyer and to Me。
FOURTH （AND LAST） NARRATIVE
STATEMENT OF JOSEPH RIGOBERT： ADDRESSED TO THE ADVOCATE WHO
DEFENDED HIM AT HIS TRIAL
RESPECTED SIR；On the twenty…seventh of February I was sent； on
business connected with the stables at Maison Rouge； to the city of
Metz。 On the public promenade I met a magnificent woman。
Complexion； blond。 Nationality； English。 We mutually admired each
other； we fell into conversation。 （She spoke French perfectly
with the English accent。） I offered refreshment； my proposal was
accepted。 We had a long and interesting interviewwe discovered
that we were made for each other。 So far； Who is to blame？
Is it my fault that I am a handsome manuniversally agreeable as
such to the fair sex？ Is it a criminal offense to be accessible to
the amiable weakness of love？ I ask again； Who is to blame？
Clearly； nature。 Not the beautiful ladynot my humble self。
To resume。 The most hard…hearted person living will understand
that two beings made for each other could not possibly part without
an appointment to meet again。
I made arrangements for the accommodation of the lady in the
village near Maison Rouge。 She consented to honor me with her
company at supper； in my apartment at the stables； on the night of
the twenty…ninth。 The time fixed on was the time when the other
servants were accustomed to retireeleven o'clock。
Among the grooms attached to the stables was an Englishman； laid up
with a broken leg。 His name was Francis。 His manners were
repulsive； he was ignorant of the French language。 In the kitchen
he went by the nickname of the 〃English Bear。〃 Strange to say； he
was a great favorite with my master and my mistress。 They even
humored certain superstitious terrors to which this repulsive
person was subjectterrors into the nature of which I； as an
advanced freethinker； never thought it worth my while to inquire。
On the evening of the twenty…eighth the Englishman； being a prey to
the terrors which I have mentioned； requested that one of his
fellow…servants might sit up with him for that night only。 The
wish that he expressed was backed by Mr。 Fairbank's authority。
Having already incurred my master's displeasurein what way； a
proper sense of my own dignity forbids me to relateI volunteered
to watch by the bedside of the English Bear。 My object was to
satisfy Mr。 Fairbank that I bore no malice； on my side； after what
had occurred between us。 The wretched Englishman passed a night of
delirium。 Not understanding his barbarous language； I could only
gather from his gesture that he was in deadly fear of some fancied
apparition at his bedside。 From time to time； when this madman
disturbed my slumbers； I quieted him by swearing at him。 This is
the shortest and best way of dealing with persons in his condition。
On the morning of the twenty…ninth； Mr。 Fairbank left us on a
journey。 Later in the day； to my unspeakable disgust； I found that
I had not done with the Englishman yet。 In Mr。 Fairbank's absence；