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ensuing month of March； Arthur Blanchard also left Thorpe
Ambrose； for a few days only； on business which required his
presence in London。 The business took him into the City。 Annoyed
by the endless impediments in the streets； he returned westward
by one of the river steamers； and； so returning； met his death。
As the steamer left the wharf； he noticed a woman near him who
had shown a singular hesitation in embarking； and who had been
the last of the passengers to take her place in the vessel。 She
was neatly dressed in black silk； with a red Paisley shawl over
her shoulders； and she kept her face hidden behind a thick veil。
Arthur Blanchard was struck by the rare grace and elegance of her
figure； and he felt a young man's passing curiosity to see her
face。 She neither lifted her veil nor turned her head his way。
After taking a few steps hesitatingly backward and forward on the
deck； she walked away on a sudden to the stern of the vessel。 In
a minute more there was a cry of alarm from the man at the helm；
and the engines were stopped immediately。 The woman had thrown
herself overboard。
The passengers all rushed to the side of the vessel to look。
Arthur Blanchard alone； without an instant's hesitation； jumped
into the river。 He was an excellent swimmer； and he reached the
woman as she rose again to the surface； after sinking for the
first time。 Help was at hand； and they were both brought safely
ashore。 The woman was taken to the nearest police station； and
was soon restored to her senses； her preserver giving his name
and address； as usual in such cases； to the inspector on duty；
who wisely recommended him to get into a warm bath； and to send
to his lodgings for dry clothes。 Arthur Blanchard； who had never
known an hour's illness since he was a child； laughed at the
caution； and went back in a cab。 The next day he was too ill to
attend the examination before the magistrate。 A fortnight
afterward he was a dead man。
The news of the calamity reached Henry Blanchard and his son at
Milan； and within an hour of the time when they received it they
were on their way back to England。 The snow on the Alps had
loosened earlier than usual that year； and the passes were
notoriously dangerous。 The father and son； traveling in their own
carriage； were met on the mountain by the mail returning； after
sending the letters on by hand。 Warnings which would have
produced their effect under any ordinary circumstances were now
vainly addressed to the two Englishmen。 Their impatience to be at
home again； after the catastrophe which had befallen their
family； brooked no delay。 Bribes lavishly offered to the
postilions； tempted them to go on。 The carriage pursued its way；
and was lost to view in the mist。 When it was seen again； it was
disinterred from the bottom of a precipicethe men； the horses；
and the vehicle all crushed together under the wreck and ruin of
an avalanche。
So the three lives were mown down by death。 So； in a clear
sequence of events； a woman's suicide…leap into a river had
opened to Allan Armadale the succession to the Thorpe Ambrose
estates。
Who was the woman？ The man who saved her life never knew。 The
magistrate who remanded her； the chaplain who exhorted her； the
reporter who exhibited her in print； never knew。 It was recorded
of her with surprise that； though most respectably dressed； she
had nevertheless described herself as being 〃in distress。〃 She
had expressed the deepest contrition； but had persisted in giving
a name which was on the face of it a false one； in telling a
commonplace story； which was manifestly an invention； and in
refusing to the last to furnish any clew to her friends。 A lady
connected with a charitable institution （〃interested by her
extreme elegance and beauty〃） had volunteered to take charge of
her； and to bring her into a better frame of mind 。 The first
day's experience of the penitent had been far from cheering； and
the second day's experience had been conclusive。 She had left the
institution by stealth； andthough the visiting clergyman；
taking a special interest in the case； had caused special efforts
to be madeall search after her； from that time forth； had
proved fruitless。
While this useless investigation （undertaken at Allan's express
desire） was in progress； the lawyers had settled the preliminary
formalities connected with the succession to the property。 All
that remained was for the new master of Thorpe Ambrose to decide
when he would personally establish himself on the estate of which
he was now the legal possessor。
Left necessarily to his own guidance in this matter； Allan
settled it for himself in his usual hot…headed； generous way。 He
positively declined to take possession until Mrs。 Blanchard and
her niece （who had been permitted thus far； as a matter of
courtesy； to remain in their old home） had recovered from the
calamity that had befallen them； and were fit to decide for
themselves what their future proceedings should be。 A private
correspondence followed this resolution； comprehending； on
Allan's side； unlimited offers of everything he had to give （in a
house which he had not yet seen）； and； on the ladies' side； a
discreetly reluctant readiness to profit by the young gentleman's
generosity in the matter of time。 To the astonishment of his
legal advisers； Allan entered their office one morning；
accompanied by Mr。 Brock； and announced； with perfect composure；
that the ladies had been good enough to take his own arrangements
off his hands； and that； in deference to their convenience； he
meant to defer establishing himself at Thorpe Ambrose till that
day two months。 The lawyers stared at Allan； and Allan； returning
the compliment； stared at the lawyers。
〃What on earth are you wondering at； gentlemen？〃 he inquired；
with a boyish bewilderment in his good…humored blue eyes。 〃Why
shouldn't I give the ladies their two months； if the ladies want
them？ Let the poor things take their own time； and welcome。 My
rights？ and my position？ Oh； pooh！ pooh！ I'm in no hurry to be
squire of the parish； it's not in my way。 What do I mean to do
for the two months？ What I should have done anyhow； whether the
ladies had stayed or not； I mean to go cruising at sea。 That's
what _I_ like！ I've got a new yacht at home in Somersetshirea
yacht of my own building。 And I'll tell you what； sir；〃 continued
Allan； seizing the head partner by the arm in the fervor of his
friendly intentions； 〃you look sadly in want of a holiday in the
fresh air； and you shall come along with me on the trial trip of
my new vessel。 And your partners； too； if they like。 And the head
clerk； who is the best fellow I ever met with in my life。 Plenty
of roomwe'll all shake down together on the floor； and we'll
give Mr。 Brock a rug on the cabin table。 Thorpe Ambrose be
hanged！ Do you mean to say； if you had built a vessel yourself
（as I have）； you would go to any estate in the three kingdoms；
while your own little beauty was sitting like a duck on the water
at home； and waiting for you to try her？ You legal gentlemen are
great hands at argument。 What do you think of that argument？ I
think it's unanswerableand I'm off to So