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language； cruelly unjust as it was； had nevertheless convinced
him that no necessity whatever could excuse any proceeding so
essentially base in itself as the employment of a spy； and on
that conviction he was now determined to act。
〃But for your own positive directions to me to conceal nothing
that passes here in which your name is concerned； I should really
be ashamed to report what Mr。 Pedgift said on his side。 He has
behaved kindly to me； I know。 But if he was my own brother； I
could never forgive him the tone in which he spoke of you； and
the obstinacy with which he tried to make Mr。 Armadale change his
mind。
〃He began by attacking Mr。 Midwinter。 He declared that Mr。
Midwinter's opinion was the very worst opinion that could be
taken； for it was quite plain that you； dear madam； had twisted
him round your finger。 Producing no effect by this coarse
suggestion （which nobody who knows you could for a moment
believe）； Mr。 Pedgift next referred to Miss Milroy； and asked Mr。
Armadale if he had given up all idea of protecting her。 What this
meant I cannot imagine。 I can only report it for your private
consideration。 Mr。 Armadale briefly answered that he had his own
plan for protecting Miss Milroy； and that the circumstances were
altered in that quarter； or words to a similar effect。 Still Mr。
Pedgift persisted。 He went on （I blush to mention） from bad to
worse。 He tried to persuade Mr。 Armadale next to bring an action
at law against one or other of the persons who had been most
strongly condemning his conduct in the neighborhood； for the
purposeI really hardly know how to write itof getting you
into the witness…box。 And worse yet： when Mr。 Armadale still said
No； Mr。 Pedgift； after having； as I suspected by the sound of his
voice； been on the point of leaving the room； artfully came back；
and proposed sending for a detective officer from London； simply
to look at you。 'The whole of this mystery about Miss Gwilt's
true character；' he said； 'may turn on a question of identity。 It
won't cost much to have a man down from London； and it's worth
trying whether her face is or is not known at headquarters to the
police。' I again and again assure you； dearest lady； that I only
repeat those abominable words from a sense of duty toward
yourself。 I shookI declare I shook from head to foot when I
heard them。
〃To resume； for there is more to tell you。
〃Mr。 Armadale （to his creditI don't deny it； though I don't
like him） still said No。 He appeared to be getting irritated
under Mr。 Pedgift's persistence； and he spoke in a somewhat hasty
way。 'You persuaded me on the last occasion when we talked about
this；' he said； 'to do something that I have been since heartily
ashamed of。 You won't succeed in persuading me； Mr。 Pedgift； a
second time。' Those were his words。 Mr。 Pedgift took him up
short； Mr。 Pedgift seemed to be nettled on his side。
〃 'If that is the light in which you see my advice； sir；' he
said； 'the less you have of it for the future； the better。 Your
character and position are publicly involved in this matter
between yourself and Miss Gwilt； and you persist； at a most
critical moment； in taking a course of your own； which I believe
will end badly。 After what I have already said and done in this
very serious case； I can't consent to go on with it with both my
hands tied； and I can't drop it with credit to myself while I
remain publicly known as your solicitor。 You leave me no
alternative； sir； but to resign the honor of acting as your legal
adviser。' 'I am sorry to hear it；' says Mr。 Armadale； 'but I have
suffered enough already through interfering with Miss Gwilt。 I
can't and won't stir any further in the matter。' '_You_ may not
stir any further in it； sir；' says Mr。 Pedgift； 'and _I_ shall
not stir any further in it； for it has ceased to be a question of
professional interest to me。 But mark my words； Mr。 Armadale； you
are not at the end of this business yet。 Some other person's
curiosity may go on from the point where you （and I） have
stopped； and some other person's hand may let the broad daylight
in yet on Miss Gwilt。'
〃I report their language； d ear madam； almost word for word； I
believe； as I heard it。 It produced an indescribable impression
on me； it filled me； I hardly know why； with quite a panic of
alarm。 I don't at all understand it； and I understand still less
what happened immediately afterward。
〃Mr。 Pedgift's voice； when he said those last words； sounded
dreadfully close to me。 He must have been speaking at the open
window； and he must； I fear； have seen me under it。 I had time；
before he left the house； to get out quietly from among the
laurels； but not to get back to the office。 Accordingly I walked
away along the drive toward the lodge； as if I was going on some
errand connected with the steward's business。
〃Before long； Mr。 Pedgift overtook me in his gig； and stopped。
'So _you_ feel some curiosity about Miss Gwilt； do you？' he said。
'Gratify your curiosity by all means； _I_ don't object to it。' I
felt naturally nervous； but I managed to ask him what he meant。
He didn't answer； he only looked down at me from the gig in a
very odd manner； and laughed。 'I have known stranger things
happen even than _that！_' he said to himself suddenly； and drove
off。
〃I have ventured to trouble you with this last incident； though
it may seem of no importance in your eyes； in the hope that your
superior ability may be able to explain it。 My own poor
faculties； I confess； are quite unable to penetrate Mr。 Pedgift's
meaning。 All I know is that he has no right to accuse me of any
such impertinent feeling as curiosity in relation to a lady whom
I ardently esteem and admire。 I dare not put it in warmer words。
〃I have only to add that I am in a position to be of continued
service to you here if you wish it。 Mr。 Armadale has just been
into the office； and has told me briefly that； in Mr。 Midwinter's
continued absence； I am still to act as steward's deputy till
further notice。
〃Believe me； dear madam； anxiously and devotedly yours； FELIX
BASHWOOD。〃
4。 _From Allan Armadale to the Reverend Decimus Brock。_
Thorpe Ambrose； Tuesday。
〃MY DEAR MR。 BROCKI am in sad trouble。 Midwinter has quarreled
with me and left me； and my lawyer has quarreled with me and left
me； and （except dear little Miss Milroy； who has forgiven me） all
the neighbors have turned their backs on me。 There is a good deal
about 'me' in this； but I can't help it。 I am very miserable
alone in my own house。 Do pray come and see me！ You are the only
old friend I have left； and I do long so to tell you about it。
〃N。 B。On my word of honor as a gentleman； I am not to blame。
Yours affectionately；
〃ALLAN ARMADALE。
〃P。 S。I would come to you （for this place is grown quite
hateful to me）； but I have a reason for not going too far away
from Miss Milroy just at present。〃
5。 _From Robert Stapleton to Allan Armadale； Esq。_
〃Bascombe Rectory； Thursday Morning。
〃RESPECTED SIRI see a letter in your writing； on the table
along with the others； which I am sorry to say my master is not
well enough to open。 He is down with a sort of low fever。 The
docto