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But now that I had got Mrs。 Oldershaw's address； I felt as if she
was the very last person in the world that I wanted to see。 I
took a cab； and told the man to drive to the street she lived in；
and then told him to drive back to the hotel。 I hardly know what
is the matter with meunless it is that I am getting more
impatient every hour for information about Armadale。 When will
the future look a little less dark； I wonder？ To…morrow is
Saturday。 Will to…morrow's newspaper lift the veil？
〃November 22d。Saturday's newspaper _has_ lifted the veil！ Words
are vain to express the panic of astonishment in which I write。 I
never once anticipated it； I can't believe it or realize it； now
it has happened。 The winds and waves themselves have turned my
accomplices！ The yacht has foundered at sea； and every soul on
board has perished！
〃Here is the account cut out of this morning's newspaper：
〃 'DISASTER AT SEA。Intelligence has reached the Royal Yacht
Squadron and the insurers which leaves no reasonable doubt； we
regret to say； of the total loss； on the fifth of the present
month； of the yacht _Dorothea；_ with every soul on board。 The
particulars are as follows： At daylight； on the morning of the
sixth； the Italian brig _Speranza；_ bound from Venice to Marsala
for orders； encountered some floating objects off Cape
Spartivento （at the southernmost extremity of Italy） which
attracted the curiosity of the people of the brig。 The previous
day had been marked by one of the most severe of the sudden and
violent storms； peculiar to these southern seas； which has been
remembered for years。 The _Speranza_ herself having been in
danger while the gale lasted； the captain and crew concluded that
they were on the traces of a wreck； and a boat was lowered for
the purpose of examining the objects in the water。 A hen…coop；
some broken spars； and fragments of shattered plank were the
first evidences discovered of the terrible disaster that had
happened。 Some of the lighter articles of cabin furniture；
wrenched and shattered； were found next。 And； lastly； a memento
of melancholy interest turned up； in the shape of a lifebuoy；
with a corked bottle attached to it。 These latter objects； with
the relics of cabin furniture； were brought on board the
_Speranza。_ On the buoy the name of the vessel was painted； as
follows： 〃_Dorothea； R。 Y。 S。_〃 （meaning Royal Yacht Squadron）。
The bottle； on being uncorked； contained a sheet of note…paper；
on which the following lines were hurriedly traced in pencil：
〃Off Cape Spartivento； two days out from Messina。 Nov。 5th； 4
P。M。〃 （being the hour at which the log of the Italian brig showed
the storm to have been at its height）。 〃Both our boats are stove
in by the sea。 The rudder is gone； and we have sprung a leak
astern which is more than we can stop。 The Lord help us allwe
are sinking。 （Signed） John Mitchenden； Mate。〃 On reaching
Marsala； the captain of the brig made his report to the British
consul； and left the objects discovered in that gentleman's
charge。 Inquiry at Messina showed that the ill…fated vessel had
arrived there from Naples。 At the latter port it was ascertained
that the _Dorothea_ had been hired from the owner's agent by an
English gentleman； Mr。 Armadale； of Thorpe Ambrose； Norfolk。
Whether Mr。 Armadale had any friends on board with him has not
been clearly discovered。 But there is unhappily no doubt that the
ill…fated gentleman himself sailed in the yacht from Naples； and
that he was also on board of the vessel when she left Messina。'
〃Such is the story of the wreck； as the newspaper tells it in the
plainest and fewest words。 My head is in a whirl； my confusion is
so great that I think of fifty different things in trying to
think of one。 I must waita day more or less is of no
consequence nowI must wait till I can face my new position；
without feeling bewildered by it。
〃November 23d。Eight in the morning。I rose an hour ago； and
saw my way clearly to the first step that I must take under
present circumstances。
〃It is of the utmost importance to me to know what is doing at
Thorpe Ambrose； and it would be the height of rashness； while I
am quite in the dark in this matter； to venture there myself。 The
only other alternative is to write to somebody on the spot for
news； and the only person I can write to isBashwood。
〃I have just finished the letter。 It is headed 'private and
confidential；' and signed 'Lydia Armadale。' There is nothing in
it to compromise me； if the old fool is mortally offended by my
treatment of him； and if he spitefully shows my letter to other
people。 But I don't believe he will do this。 A man at his age
forgives a woman anything； if the woman only encourages him。 I
have requested him； as a personal favor； to keep our
correspondence for the present strictly private。 I have hinted
that my married life with my deceased husband has not been a
happy one； and that I feel the injudiciousness of having married
a _young_ man。 In the postscript I go further still； and venture
boldly on these comforting words： 'I can explain； dear Mr。
Bashwood； what may have seemed fake and deceitful in my conduct
toward you when you give me a personal opportunity。' If he was on
the right side of sixty； I should feel doubtful of results。 But
he is on the wrong side of sixty； and I believe he will give me
my personal opportunity。
〃Ten o'clock。I have been looking over the copy of my marriage
certificate； with which I took care to provide myself on the
wedding…day； and I have discovered； to my inexpressible dismay；
an obstacle to my appearance in the character of Armadale's widow
which I now see for the first time。
〃The description of Midwinter （under his own name） which the
certificate presents answers in every important particular to
what would have been the description of Armadale of Thorpe
Ambrose； if I had really married him。 'Name and Surname'Allan
Armadale。 'Age'twenty…one； instead of twenty…two； which might
easily pass for a mistake。 'Condition'Bachelor。 'Rank or
profession'Gentleman。 'Residence at the time of
Marriage'Frant's Hotel； Darley Street。 'Father's Name and
Surname'Allan Armadale。 'Rank or Profession of
Father'Gentleman。 Every particular （except the year's
difference in their two ages） which answers for the one answers
for the other。 But suppose； when I produce my copy of the
certificate； that some meddlesome lawyer insists on looking at
the original register？ Midwinter's writing is as different as
possible from the writing of his dead friend。 The hand in which
he has written 'Allan Armadale' in the book has not a chance of
passing for the hand in which Armadale of Thorpe Ambrose was
accustomed to sign his name。
〃Can I move safely in the matter； with such a pitfall as I see
here open under my feet？ How can I tell？ Where can I find an
experienced person to inform me？ I must shut up my diary and
think。
〃Seven o'clock。My prospects have changed again since I made my
last entry。 I have received a warning to be careful in the future
which I shall not neglect； and I have （I believe） succeeded in
providing myself with the advice and assistance of which I stand
in need。