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of spirits。 He had discovered Midwinter's lodgings； but he had
failed to find Midwinter himself。 The only account his landlady
could give of him was that he had gone out at his customary time
to get his dinner at the nearest eating…house； and that he had
not returned； in accordance with his usual regular habits； at his
usual regular hour。 Allan had therefore gone to inquire at the
eating…house； and had found； on describing him； that Midwinter
was well known there。 It was his custom； on other days； to take a
frugal dinner； and to sit half an hour afterward reading the
newspaper。 On this occasion； after dining； he had taken up the
paper as usual； had suddenly thrown it aside again； and had gone；
nobody knew where； in a violent hurry。 No further information
being attainable； Allan had left a note at the lodgings； giving
his address at the hotel； and begging Midwinter to come and say
good…by before his departure for Paris。
The evening passed； and Allan's invisible friend never appeared。
The morning came； bringing no obstacles with it； and Mr。 Brock
and his pupil left London。 So far Fortune had declared herself at
last on the rector's side。 Ozias Midwinter； after intrusively
rising to the surface； had conveniently dropped out of sight
again。 What was to happen next？
…
Advancing once more； by three weeks only； from past to present；
Mr。 Brock's memory took up the next event on the seventh of
April。 To all appearance； the chain was now broken at last。 The
new event had no recognizable connection （either to his mind or
to Allan's） with any of the persons who had appeared； or any of
the circumstances that had happened； in the by…gone time。
The travelers had as yet got no further than Paris。 Allan's
spirits had risen with the change； and he had been made all the
readier to enjoy the novelty of the scene around him by receiving
a letter from Midwinter； containing news which Mr。 Brock himself
acknowledged promised fairly for the future。 The ex…usher had
been away on business when Allan had called at his lodgings；
having been led by an accidental circumstance to open
communications with his relatives on that day。 The result had
taken him entirely by surprise： it had unexpectedly secured to
him a little income of his own for the rest of his life。 His
future plans； now that this piece of good fortune had fallen to
his share； were still unsettled。 But if Allan wished to hear what
he ultimately decided on； his agent in London （whose direction he
inclosed） would receive communications for him； and would furnish
Mr。 Armadale at all future times with his address。
On receipt of this letter； Allan had seized the pen
in his usual headlong way； and had insisted on Midwinter's
immediately joining Mr。 Brock and himself on their travels。 The
last days of March passed； and no answer to the proposal was
received。 The first days of April came； and on the seventh of the
month there was a letter for Allan at last on the
breakfast…table。 He snatched it up； looked at the address； and
threw the letter down again impatiently。 The handwriting was not
Midwinter's。 Allan finished his breakfast before he cared to read
what his correspondent had to say to him。
The meal over； young Armadale lazily opened the letter。 He began
it with an expression of supreme indifference。 He finished it
with a sudden leap out of his chair； and a loud shout of
astonishment。 Wondering； as he well might； at this extraordinary
outbreak； Mr。 Brock took up the letter which Allan had tossed
across the table to him。 Before he had come to the end of it； his
hands dropped helplessly on his knees； and the blank bewilderment
of his pupil's expression was accurately reflected on his own
face。
If ever two men had good cause for being thrown completely off
their balance； Allan and the rector were those two。 The letter
which had struck them both with the same shock of astonishment
did； beyond all question； contain an announcement which； on a
first discovery of it； was simply incredible。 The news was from
Norfolk； and was to this effect。 In little more than one week's
time death had mown down no less than three lives in the family
at Thorpe Ambrose； and Allan Armadale was at that moment heir to
an estate of eight thousand a year！
A second perusal of the letter enabled the rector and his
companion to master the details which had escaped them on a first
reading
The writer was the family lawyer at Thorpe Ambrose。 After
announcing to Allan the deaths of his cousin Arthur at the age of
twenty…five； of his uncle Henry at the age of forty…eight； and of
his cousin John at the age of twenty…one； the lawyer proceeded to
give a brief abstract of the terms of the elder Mr。 Blanchard's
will。 The claims of male issue were； as is not unusual in such
cases； preferred to the claims of female issue。 Failing Arthur
and his issue male； the estate was left to Henry and his issue
male。 Failing them； it went to the issue male of Henry's sister；
and； in default of such issue； to the next heir male。 As events
had happened； the two young men； Arthur and John； had died
unmarried； and Henry Blanchard had died； leaving no surviving
child but a daughter。 Under these circumstances； Allan was the
next heir male pointed at by the will； and was now legally
successor to the Thorpe Ambrose estate。 Having made this
extraordinary announcement； the lawyer requested to be favored
with Mr。 Armadale's instructions； and added； in conclusion； that
he would be happy to furnish any further particulars that were
desired。
It was useless to waste time in wondering at an event which
neither Allan nor his mother had ever thought of as even remotely
possible。 The only thing to be done was to go back to England at
once。 The next day found the travelers installed once more in
their London hotel； and the day after the affair was placed in
the proper professional hands。 The inevitable corresponding and
consulting ensued； and one by one the all…important particulars
flowed in； until the measure of information was pronounced to be
full。
This was the strange story of the three deaths：
At the time when Mr。 Brock had written to Mrs。 Armadale's
relatives to announce the news of her decease （that is to say； in
the middle of the month of January）； the family at Thorpe Ambrose
numbered five personsArthur Blanchard （in possession of the
estate）； living in the great house with his mother； and Henry
Blanchard； the uncle； living in the neighborhood； a widower with
two children； a son and a daughter。 To cement the family
connection still more closely； Arthur Blanchard was engaged to be
married to his cousin。 The wedding was to be celebrated with
great local rejoicings in the coming summer； when the young lady
had completed her twentieth year。
The month of February had brought changes with it in the family
position。 Observing signs of delicacy in the health of his son；
Mr。 Henry Blanchard left Norfolk； taking the young man with him；
under medical advice； to try the climate of Italy。 Early in the
ensuing month of March； Arthur Blanchard also left Thorpe
Ambrose； for a few days only； on business which requ