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〃Did she go into the convent？〃 asked Mr。 Bashwood。 〃Did they let
her go in； so friendless and so young； with nobody to advise her
for the best？〃
〃The Blanchards were consulted； as a matter of form；〃 pursued
Bashwood the younger。 〃_They_ had no objection to her shutting
herself up in a convent； as you may well imagine。 The pleasantest
letter they ever had from her； I'll answer for it； was the letter
in which she solemnly took leave of them in this world forever。
The people at the convent were as careful as usual not to commit
themselves。 Their rules wouldn't allow her to take the veil till
she had tried the life for a year first； and then； if she had any
doubt； for another year after that。 She tried the life for the
first year； accordingly； and doubted。 She tried it for the second
year； and was wise enough； by that time； to give it up without
further hesitation。 Her position was rather an awkward one when
she found herself at liberty again。 The sisters at the convent
had lost their interest in her； the mistress at the school
declined to take her back as teacher； on the ground that she was
too nice…looking for the place； the priest considered her to be
possessed by the devil。 There was nothing for it but to write to
the Blanchards again； and ask them to start her in life as a
teacher of music on her own account。 She wrote to her former
mistress accordingly。 Her former mistress had evidently doubted
the genuineness of the girl's resolution to be a nun； and had
seized the opportunity offered by her entry into the convent to
cut off all further communication between her ex…waiting…maid and
herself。 Miss Gwilt's letter was returned by the post…office。 She
caused inquiries to be made； and found that Mr。 Blanchard was
dead； and that his daughter had left the great house for some
place of retirement unknown。 The next thing she did； upon this；
was to write to the heir in possession of the estate。 The letter
was answered by his solicitors； who were instructed to put the
law in force at the first attempt she made to extort money from
any member of the family at Thorpe Ambrose。 The last chance was
to get at the address of her mistress's place of retirement。 The
family bankers； to whom she wrote； wrote back to say that they
were instructed not to give the lady's address to any one
applying for it； without being previously empowered to do so by
the lady herself。 That last letter settled the questionMiss
Gwilt could do nothing more。 With money at her command； she might
have gone to England and made the Blanchards think twice before
they carried things with too high a hand。 Not having a half…penny
at command； she was helpless。 Without money and without friends；
you may wonder how she supported herself while the correspondence
was going on。 She supported herself by playing the piano…forte at
a low concert…room in Brussels。 The men laid siege to her； of
course； in all directions； but they found her insensible as
adamant。 One of these rejected gentlemen was a Russian； and he
was the means of making her acquainted with a countrywoman of
his； whose name is unpronounceable by English lips。 Let us give
her her title； and call her the baroness。 The two women liked
each other at their first introduction； and a new scene opened in
Miss Gwilt's life。 She became reader and companion to the
baroness。 Everything was right； everything was smooth on the
surface。 Everything was rotten and everything was wrong under
it。〃
〃In what way； Jemmy？ Please to wait a little； and tell me in what
way。〃
〃In this way。 The baroness was fond of traveling； and she had a
select set of friends about her who were quite of her way of
thinking。 They went from one city on the Continent to another；
and were such charming people that they picked up acquaintances
everywhere。 The acquaintances were invited to the baroness's
receptions； and card…tables were invariably a part of the
baroness's furniture。 Do you see it now？ or must I tell you； in
the strictest confidence； that cards were not considered sinful
on these festive occasions； and that the luck； at the end of the
evening； turned out to be almost invariably on the side of the
baroness and her friends？ Swindlers； all of them； and there isn't
a doubt on my mind； whatever there may be on yours； that Miss
Gwilt's manners and appearance made her a valuable member of the
society in the capacity of a decoy。 Her own statement is that she
was innocent of all knowledge of what really went on； that she
was quite ignorant of card…playing； that she hadn't such a thing
as a respectable friend to turn to in the world； and that she
honestly liked the baroness； for the simple reason that the
baroness was a hearty good friend to her from first to last。
Believe that or not； as you please。 For five years she traveled
about all over the Continent with these card…sharpers in high
life； and she might have been among them at this moment； for
anything I know to the contrary； if the baroness had not caught a
Tartar at Naples； in the shape of a rich traveling Englishman；
named Waldron。 Aha！ that name startles you； does it？ You've read
the Trial of the famous Mrs。 Waldron； like the rest of the world？
And you know who Miss Gwilt is now； without my telling you？〃
He paused； and looked at his father in sudden perplexity。 Far
from being overwhelmed by the discovery which had just burst on
him； Mr。 Bashwood； after the first natural movement of surprise；
faced his son with a self…possession which was nothing short of
extraordinary under the circumstances。 There was a new brightness
in his eyes； and a new color in his face。 If it had been possible
to conceive such a thing of a man in his position； he seemed to
be absolutely encouraged instead of depressed by what he had just
heard。 〃Go on； Jemmy；〃 he said； quietly； 〃I am one of the few
people who didn't read the trial； I only heard of it。〃
Still wondering inwardly； Bashwood the younger recovered himself；
and went on。
〃You always were； and you always will be； behind the age；〃 he
said。 〃When we come to the trial； I can tell you as much about it
as you need know。 In the meantime； we must go back to the
baroness and Mr。 Waldron。 For a certain number of nights the
Englishman let the card…sharpers have it all their own way； in
other words； he paid for the privilege of making himself
agreeable to Miss Gwilt。 When he thought he had produced the
necessary impression on her； he exposed the whole confederacy
without mercy。 The police interfered； the baroness found herself
in prison； and Miss Gwilt was put between the two alternatives of
accepting Mr。 Waldron's protection or being thrown on the world
again。 She was amazingly virtuous； or amazingly clever； which you
please。 To Mr。 Waldron's astonishment； she told him that she
could face the prospect of being thrown on the world； and that he
must address her honorably or leave her forever。 The end of it
was what the end always is； where the man is infatuated and the
woman is determined。 To the disgust of his family and friends；
Mr。 Waldron made a virtue of necessity； and married her。〃
〃How old was he？〃 asked Bashwood the elder； eagerly。
Bashwood the yo