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〃Bethel has denied to me more than once that he knew Thorn； or was aware of such a man being in existence；〃 observed Mr。 Carlyle。
〃He must have had a purpose in it； then；〃 returned Mr。 Dill。 〃They knew each other to…day。 Levison recognized him for certain； although he carried it off with a high hand； pretending not。〃
〃And it was not as Levison； but as Thorn； that Bethel recognized him？〃
〃There's little doubt of that。 He did not mention the name； Thorn； but he was evidently struck with astonishment at hearing that it was Levison。 If they have not some secret between them； Mr。 Archibald； I'll never believe my own eyes again。〃
〃Mrs。 Hare's opinion is that Bethel had to do with the murder；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle； in a low tone。
〃If that is their secret； Bethel knows the murderer； rely upon it；〃 was the answer。 〃Mr。 Archibald； it seems to me that now or never is the time to clear up Richard。〃
〃Aye； but how set about it？〃 responded Mr。 Carlyle。
Meanwhile Barbara had proceeded home in her carriage； her brain as busy as Mr。 Carlyle's； perhaps more troubled。 Her springing lightly and hastily out the moment it stopped； disdaining the footman's arm； her compressed lips and absent countenance； proved that her resolution was set upon some plan of action。 William and Madame Vine met her in the hall。
〃We have seen Dr。 Martin； Mrs。 Carlyle。〃
〃And he says〃
〃I cannot stay to hear now； William。 I will see you later； madame。〃
She ran upstairs to her dressing…room； Madame Vine following her with her reproachful eyes。 〃Why should she care？〃 thought madame。 〃It is not her child。〃
Throwing her parasol on one chair； her gloves on another； down sat Barbara to her writing…table。 〃I will write to him； I will have him here； if it be but for an hour！〃 she passionately exclaimed。 〃This shall be； so far； cleared up。 I am as sure as sure can be that it is that man。 The very action Richard described！ And there was the diamond ring！ For better； for worse； I will send for him； but it will not be for worse if God is with us。〃
She dashed off a letter； getting up ere she had well begun it； to order her carriage round again。 She would trust none but herself to put it in the post。
〃MY DEAR MR。 SMITHWe want you here。 Something has arisen that it is necessary to see you upon。 You can get here by Saturday。 Be in /these/ grounds； near the covered walk； that evening at dusk。 Ever yours； 〃B。〃
And the letter was addressed to Mr。 Smith； of some street in Liverpool； the address furnished by Richard。 Very cautions to see； was Barbara。 She even put 〃Mr。 Smith；〃 inside the letter。
〃Now stop；〃 cried Barbara to herself； as she was folding it。 〃I ought to send him a five pound note； for he may not have the means to come； and I don't think I have one of that amount in the house。〃
She looked in her secretaire。 Not a single five…pound note。 Out of the room she ran； meeting Joyce； who was coming along the corridor。
〃Do you happen to have a five…pound note； Joyce？〃
〃No； ma'am； not by me。〃
〃I dare say Madame Vine has。 I paid her last week； and there were two five…pound notes amongst it。〃 And away went Barbara to the gray parlor。
〃Could you lend me a five…pound note； Madame Vine？ I have occasion to enclose one in a letter； and find I do not possess one。〃
Madame Vine went to her room to get it。 Barbara waited。 She asked William what Dr。 Martin said。
〃He tried my chest withoh； I forget what they call itand he said I must be a brave boy and take my cod…liver oil well； and port wine； and everything I liked that was good。 And he said he should be at West Lynne next Wednesday afternoon； and I am to go there； and he would call in and see me。〃
〃Where are you to meet him？〃
〃He said； either at papa's office or at Aunt Cornelia's； as we might decide。 Madame fixed it for papa's office； for she thought he might like to see Dr。 Martin。 I say； mamma。〃
〃What？〃 asked Barbara。
〃Madame Vine has been crying ever since。 Why should she？〃
〃I'm sure I don't know。 Crying！〃
〃Yes but she wipes her eyes under her spectacles； and thinks I don't see her。 I know I am very ill； but why should she cry for that？〃
〃Nonsense； William。 Who told you you were very ill？〃
〃Nobody。 I suppose I am；〃 he thoughtfully added。 〃If Joyce or Lucy cried； now； there'd be some sense in it； for they have known me all my life。〃
〃You are so apt to fancy things！ You are always doing it。 It is not likely that madame would be crying because you are ill。〃
Madame came in with the bank…note。 Barbara thanked her； ran upstairs； and in another minute or two was in her carriage。
She was back again； and dressing when the gentlemen returned to dinner。 Mr。 Carlyle came upstairs。 Barbara； like most persons who do things without reflection； having had time to cool down from her ardor； was doubting whether she had acted wisely in sending so precipitately for Richard。 She carried her doubt and care to her husband； her sure refuge in perplexity。
〃Archibald； I fear I have done a foolish thing。〃
He laughed。 〃I fear we all do that at times； Barbara。 What is it？〃
He had seated himself in one of Barbara's favorite low chairs； and she stood before him； leaning on his shoulder； her face a little behind； so that he could not see it。 In her delicacy she would not look at him while she spoke what she was going to speak。
〃It is something that I have had upon my mind for years； and I did not like to tell it to you。〃
〃For years？〃
〃You remember that night； years ago； when Richard was at the Grove in disguise〃
〃Which night； Barbara？ He came more than once。〃
〃The nightthe night that Lady Isabel quitted East Lynne；〃 she answered； not knowing how better to bring it to his recollection and she stole her hand lovingly into his； as she said it。 〃Richard came back after his departure； saying he had met Thorn in Bean lane。 He described the peculiar motion of the hand as he threw back his hair from his brow； he spoke of the white hand and the diamond ringhow it glittered in the moonlight。 Do you remember？〃
〃I do。〃
〃The motion appeared perfectly familiar to me； for I had seen it repeatedly used by one then staying at East Lynne。 I wondered you did not recognize it。 From that night I had little doubt as to the identity of Thorn。 I believed that he and Captain Levison were one。〃
A pause。 〃Why did you not tell me so； Barbara？〃
〃How could I speak of that man to you； at that time？ Afterwards； when Richard was here； that snowy winter's day； he asserted that he knew Sir Frances Levison； that he had seen him and Thorn together； and that put me off the scent。 But to…day； as I was passing the Raven； in the carriagegoing very slow； on account of the crowdhe was perched out there； addressing the people； and I saw the very same actionthe old action that I had used to see。〃
Barbara paused。 Mr。 Carlyle did not interrupt her。
〃I feel a conviction that they are the samethat Richard must have been under some unaccountable mistake in saying that he knew Francis Levison。 Besides； who but he； in evening dress； would have been likely to go through Bean lane that night？ It leads to no houses； but one wishing to avoid the high road could get into it from these groun