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effigy¡¡£¨without¡¡her¡¡knowledge£©¡¡to¡¡answer¡¡for¡¡herself¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡a
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can't¡¡say¡¡howas¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kind¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡struck¡¡me¡¡before¡£

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extraordinary¡¡impression¡¡produced¡¡on¡¡me¡¡to¡¡the¡¡disordered
condition¡¡of¡¡my¡¡mind¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡weariness¡¡of¡¡my¡¡own
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the¡¡undefined¡¡longing¡¡which¡¡that¡¡weariness¡¡implied¡¡for¡¡newer
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attempted¡¡no¡¡such¡¡sober¡¡self¡­examination¡¡as¡¡this£º¡¡I¡¡believed¡¡in
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knowas¡¡I¡¡did¡¡knowthat¡¡the¡¡first¡¡sense¡¡I¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡felt¡¡of
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that¡¡girl's¡¡face¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡me¡¡from¡¡her¡¡picture¡¡as¡¡no¡¡woman's
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remained¡¡as¡¡strong¡¡as¡¡ever£»¡¡my¡¡superstition¡¡£¨if¡¡you¡¡please¡¡to
call¡¡it¡¡so£©¡¡pointed¡¡out¡¡to¡¡me¡¡irresistibly¡¡the¡¡way¡¡on¡¡which¡¡I
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in¡¡a¡¡fortnight£»¡¡touching¡¡at¡¡Madeira¡£¡¡In¡¡that¡¡ship¡¡I¡¡took
¡¡my¡¡passage¡£¡¨


Thus¡¡far¡¡the¡¡reader¡¡had¡¡advanced¡¡with¡¡no¡¡interruption¡¡to¡¡disturb
him¡£¡¡But¡¡at¡¡the¡¡last¡¡words¡¡the¡¡tones¡¡of¡¡another¡¡voice£»¡¡low¡¡and
broken£»¡¡mingled¡¡with¡¡his¡¡own¡£

¡¨Was¡¡she¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡woman£»¡¨¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡voice£»¡¡¡¨or¡¡dark£»¡¡like¡¡me£¿¡¨

Mr¡£¡¡Neal¡¡paused£»¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡up¡£¡¡The¡¡doctor¡¡was¡¡still¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bed
head£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡fingers¡¡mechanically¡¡on¡¡the¡¡patient's¡¡pulse¡£¡¡The
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and¡¡ceaseless¡¡attention¡£¡¡But¡¡one¡¡great¡¡change¡¡was¡¡visible¡¡in¡¡the
listeners¡¡since¡¡the¡¡narrative¡¡had¡¡begun¡£¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡had
dropped¡¡her¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡her¡¡husband's¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡with¡¡her¡¡face
steadily¡¡turned¡¡away¡¡from¡¡him¡¡The¡¡hot¡¡African¡¡blood¡¡burned¡¡red¡¡in
her¡¡dusky¡¡cheeks¡¡as¡¡she¡¡obstinately¡¡repeated¡¡the¡¡question£º¡¡¡¨Was
she¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡woman£»¡¡or¡¡dark£»¡¡like¡¡me£¿¡¨

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hardshe¡¡said¡¡no¡¡more¡£¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Neal's¡¡overhanging¡¡eyebrows¡¡lowered
ominously¡¡as¡¡he¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡narrative¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡incurred¡¡his
own¡¡severe¡¡displeasurehe¡¡had¡¡caught¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡act¡¡of
secretly¡¡pitying¡¡her¡£


¡¨I¡¡have¡¡said¡¨the¡¡letter¡¡proceeded¡¨that¡¡Ingleby¡¡was¡¡admitted
to¡¡my¡¡closest¡¡confidence¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡sorry¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was
distressed¡¡by¡¡his¡¡evident¡¡surprise¡¡and¡¡mortification¡¡when¡¡he
heard¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡going¡¡away¡£¡¡In¡¡my¡¡own¡¡justification£»¡¡I¡¡showed
him¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡and¡¡the¡¡likeness£»¡¡and¡¡told¡¡him¡¡the¡¡truth¡£¡¡His
interest¡¡in¡¡the¡¡portrait¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡hardly¡¡inferior¡¡to¡¡my¡¡own¡£
He¡¡asked¡¡me¡¡about¡¡Miss¡¡Blanchard's¡¡family¡¡and¡¡Miss¡¡Blanchard's
fortune¡¡with¡¡the¡¡sympathy¡¡of¡¡a¡¡true¡¡friend£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡strengthened
my¡¡regard¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡belief¡¡in¡¡him£»¡¡by¡¡putting¡¡himself¡¡out
of¡¡the¡¡question£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡generously¡¡encouraging¡¡me¡¡to¡¡persist¡¡in
my¡¡new¡¡purpose¡£¡¡When¡¡we¡¡parted£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡high¡¡health¡¡and¡¡spirits¡£
Before¡¡we¡¡met¡¡again¡¡the¡¡next¡¡day£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡suddenly¡¡struck¡¡by¡¡an
illness¡¡which¡¡threatened¡¡both¡¡my¡¡reason¡¡and¡¡my¡¡life¡£

¡¨I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡proof¡¡against¡¡Ingleby¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡more¡¡than¡¡one¡¡woman
on¡¡the¡¡island¡¡whom¡¡I¡¡had¡¡wronged¡¡beyond¡¡all¡¡forgiveness£»¡¡and
whose¡¡vengeance¡¡might¡¡well¡¡have¡¡reached¡¡me¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡£¡¡I¡¡can
accuse¡¡nobody¡£¡¡I¡¡can¡¡only¡¡say¡¡that¡¡my¡¡life¡¡was¡¡saved¡¡by¡¡my¡¡old
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used¡¡the¡¡known¡¡negro¡¡antidote¡¡to¡¡a¡¡known¡¡negro¡¡poison¡¡in¡¡those
parts¡£¡¡When¡¡my¡¡first¡¡days¡¡of¡¡convalescence¡¡came£»¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡in
which¡¡my¡¡passage¡¡had¡¡been¡¡taken¡¡had¡¡long¡¡since¡¡sailed¡£¡¡When¡¡I
asked¡¡for¡¡Ingleby£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡gone¡£¡¡Proofs¡¡of¡¡his¡¡unpardonable
misconduct¡¡in¡¡his¡¡situation¡¡were¡¡placed¡¡before¡¡me£»¡¡which¡¡not¡¡even
my¡¡partiality¡¡for¡¡him¡¡could¡¡resist¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡turned¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the
office¡¡in¡¡the¡¡first¡¡days¡¡of¡¡my¡¡illness£»¡¡and¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡was
known¡¡of¡¡him¡¡but¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡left¡¡the¡¡island¡£

¡¨All¡¡through¡¡my¡¡sufferings¡¡the¡¡portrait¡¡had¡¡been¡¡under¡¡my¡¡pillow¡£
All¡¡through¡¡my¡¡convalescence¡¡it¡¡was¡¡my¡¡one¡¡consolation¡¡when¡¡I
remembered¡¡the¡¡past£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡one¡¡encouragement¡¡when¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡of
the¡¡future¡£¡¡No¡¡words¡¡can¡¡describe¡¡the¡¡hold¡¡that¡¡first¡¡fancy¡¡had
now¡¡taken¡¡of¡¡mewith¡¡time¡¡and¡¡solitude¡¡and¡¡suffering¡¡to¡¡help¡¡it¡£
My¡¡mother£»¡¡with¡¡all¡¡her¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡the¡¡match£»¡¡was¡¡startled¡¡by
the¡¡unexpected¡¡success¡¡of¡¡her¡¡own¡¡project¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡written¡¡to
tell¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Blanchard¡¡of¡¡my¡¡illness£»¡¡but¡¡had¡¡received¡¡no¡¡reply¡£¡¡She
now¡¡offered¡¡to¡¡write¡¡again£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡would¡¡promise¡¡not¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡her
before¡¡my¡¡recovery¡¡was¡¡complete¡£¡¡My¡¡impatience¡¡acknowledged¡¡no
restraint¡£¡¡Another¡¡ship¡¡in¡¡port¡¡gave¡¡me¡¡another¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡leaving
for¡¡Madeira¡£¡¡Another¡¡examination¡¡of¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Blanchard's¡¡letter¡¡of
invitation¡¡assured¡¡me¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡find¡¡him¡¡still¡¡in¡¡the¡¡island£»
if¡¡I¡¡seized¡¡my¡¡opportunity¡¡on¡¡the¡¡spot¡£¡¡In¡¡defiance¡¡of¡¡my
mother's¡¡entreaties£»¡¡I¡¡insisted¡¡on¡¡taking¡¡my¡¡passage¡¡in¡¡the
second¡¡shipand¡¡this¡¡time£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡sailed£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡on¡¡board¡£

¡¨The¡¡change¡¡did¡¡me¡¡good£»¡¡the¡¡sea¡­air¡¡made¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡me¡¡again¡£
After¡¡an¡¡unusually¡¡rapid¡¡voyage£»¡¡I¡¡found¡¡myself¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡my
pilgrimage¡£¡¡On¡¡a¡¡fine£»¡¡still¡¡evening¡¡which¡¡I¡¡can¡¡never¡¡forget£»¡¡I
stood¡¡alone¡¡on¡¡the¡¡shore£»¡¡with¡¡her¡¡likeness¡¡in¡¡my¡¡bosom£»¡¡and¡¡saw
the¡¡white¡¡walls¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡¡where¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡she¡¡lived¡£

¡¨I¡¡strolled¡¡round¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡limits¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grounds¡¡to¡¡compose
myself¡¡before¡¡I¡¡went¡¡in¡£¡¡Venturing¡¡through¡¡a¡¡gate¡¡and¡¡a
shrubbery£»¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡into¡¡the¡¡garden£»¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡lady¡¡there£»
loitering¡¡alone¡¡on¡¡the¡¡lawn¡£¡¡She¡¡turned¡¡her¡¡face¡¡toward¡¡meand¡¡I
beheld¡¡the¡¡original¡¡of¡¡my¡¡portrait£»¡¡the¡¡fulfillment¡¡of¡¡my¡¡dream£¡
It¡¡is¡¡useless£»¡¡and¡¡worse¡¡than¡¡useless£»¡¡to¡¡write¡¡of¡¡it¡¡now¡£¡¡Let¡¡me
only¡¡say¡¡that¡¡every¡¡promise¡¡which¡¡the¡¡likeness¡¡had¡¡made¡¡to¡¡my
fancy¡¡the¡¡living¡¡woman¡¡kept¡¡to¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡when¡¡they
first¡¡looked¡¡on¡¡her¡£¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡say¡¡thisand¡¡no¡¡more¡£

¡¨I¡¡was¡¡too¡¡violently¡¡agitated¡¡to¡¡trust¡¡myself¡¡in¡¡her¡¡presence¡£¡¡I
drew¡¡back¡¡undiscovered£»¡¡and£»¡¡making¡¡my¡¡way¡¡to¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door¡¡of
the¡¡house£»¡¡asked¡¡for¡¡her¡¡father¡¡first¡£¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Blanchard¡¡had¡¡retired
to¡¡his¡¡room£»¡¡and¡¡could¡¡see¡¡nobody¡£¡¡Upon¡¡that¡¡I¡¡took¡¡courage£»¡¡and
asked¡¡for¡¡Miss¡¡Blanchard¡£¡¡The¡¡servant¡¡smiled¡£¡¡'My¡¡young¡¡lady¡¡is
not¡¡Miss¡¡Blanchard¡¡any¡¡longer£»¡¡sir£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'She¡¡is¡¡married¡£'
Those¡¡words¡¡would¡¡have¡¡struck¡¡some¡¡men£»¡¡in¡¡my¡¡position£»¡¡to¡¡the
earth¡£¡¡They¡¡fired¡¡my¡¡hot¡¡blood£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡seized¡¡the¡¡servant¡¡by¡¡the
throat£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡frenzy¡¡of¡¡rage¡¡'It's¡¡a¡¡lie£¡'¡¡I¡¡broke¡¡out£»¡¡speaking
to¡¡him¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡slaves¡¡on¡¡my¡¡own¡¡estate¡£
'It's¡¡the¡¡truth£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡man£»¡¡struggling¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡'her¡¡husband
is¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house¡¡at¡¡this¡¡moment¡£'¡¡'Who¡¡is¡¡he£»¡¡you¡¡scoundrel£¿'¡¡The
servant¡¡answered¡¡by¡¡repeating¡¡my¡¡own¡¡name£»¡¡to¡¡my¡¡own¡¡face£º
'_Allan¡¡Armadale¡£_'

¡¨You¡¡can¡¡now¡¡guess¡¡the¡¡truth¡£¡¡Fergus¡¡Ingleby¡¡was¡¡the¡¡outlawed¡¡son
whose¡¡name¡¡and¡¡whose¡¡inheritance¡¡I¡¡had¡¡taken¡£¡¡And¡¡Fergus¡¡Ingleby
was¡¡even¡¡with¡¡me¡¡for¡¡depriving¡¡him¡¡of¡¡his¡¡birthright¡£

¡¨Some¡¡account¡¡of¡¡the¡¡manner¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡deception¡¡had¡¡been
carried¡¡out¡¡is¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡explainI¡¡don't¡¡say¡¡to¡¡justifythe
share¡¡I¡¡took¡¡in¡¡the¡¡events¡¡that¡¡followed¡¡my¡¡arrival¡¡at¡¡Madeira¡£

¡¨By¡¡Ingleby's¡¡own¡¡confession£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡Barbadoesknowing
of¡¡his¡¡father's¡¡death¡¡and¡¡of¡¡my¡¡succession¡¡to¡¡the¡¡estateswith
the¡¡settled¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡plundering¡¡and¡¡injuring¡¡me¡£¡¡My¡¡rash
confidence¡¡put¡¡such¡¡an¡¡opportunity¡¡into¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could
never¡¡have¡¡hoped¡¡for¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡waited¡¡to¡¡possess¡¡himself¡¡of¡¡the
letter¡¡which¡¡my¡¡mother¡¡wrote¡¡to¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Blanchard¡¡at¡¡the¡¡outset¡¡of¡¡my
illnesshad¡¡then¡¡caused¡¡his¡¡own¡¡dismissal¡¡from¡¡his
situationand¡¡had¡¡sailed¡¡for¡¡Madeira¡¡in¡¡the¡¡very¡¡ship¡¡that¡¡was
to¡¡have¡¡sailed¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡¡Arrived¡¡at¡¡the¡¡island£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡waited
again¡¡till¡¡the¡¡vessel¡¡was¡¡away¡¡once¡¡more¡¡on¡¡her¡¡voyage£»¡¡and¡¡had
then¡¡presented¡¡himself¡¡at¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Blanchard'snot¡¡in¡¡the¡¡assumed
name¡¡by¡¡which¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡continue¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡him¡¡here£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡the
name¡¡which¡¡was¡¡as¡¡certainly¡¡his¡¡as¡¡mine£»¡¡'Allan¡¡Armadale¡£'¡¡The
fraud¡¡at¡¡the¡¡outset¡¡presented¡¡few¡¡difficulties¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡only¡¡an
ailing¡¡old¡¡man¡¡£¨who¡¡had¡¡not¡¡seen¡¡my¡¡mother¡¡for¡¡half¡¡a¡¡lifetime£©
and¡¡an¡¡innocent£»¡¡unsuspicious¡¡girl¡¡£¨who¡¡had¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡her¡¡at
all£©¡¡to¡¡deal¡¡with£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡learned¡¡enough¡¡in¡¡my¡¡service¡¡to
answer¡¡the¡¡few¡¡questions¡¡that¡¡were¡¡put¡¡to¡¡him¡¡as¡¡readily¡¡as¡¡I
might¡¡have¡¡answered¡¡them¡¡myself¡£¡¡His¡¡looks¡¡and¡¡manners£»¡¡his
winning¡¡ways¡¡with¡¡women£»¡¡his¡¡quickness¡¡and¡¡cunning£»¡¡did¡¡the¡¡rest¡£
While¡¡I¡¡was¡¡still¡¡on¡¡my¡¡sickbed£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡won¡¡Miss¡¡Blanchard's
affections¡£¡¡While¡¡I¡¡was¡¡dreaming¡¡over¡¡the¡¡likeness¡¡in¡¡the¡¡first
days¡¡of¡¡my¡¡convalescence£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡secured¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Blanchard's¡¡consent
to¡¡the¡¡celebration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡marriage¡¡before¡¡he¡¡and¡¡his¡¡daughter
left¡¡the¡¡island¡£

¡¨Thus¡¡far¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Blanchard's¡¡infirmity¡¡of¡¡sight¡¡had¡¡helped¡¡the
deception¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡content¡¡to¡¡send¡¡messages¡¡to¡¡my¡¡mother£»¡¡and
to¡¡receive¡¡the¡¡messages¡¡which¡¡were¡¡duly¡¡invented¡¡in¡¡return¡£¡¡But
when¡¡the¡¡suitor¡¡was¡¡accepted£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡wedding¡­day¡¡was¡¡appointed£»
he¡¡felt¡¡it¡¡due¡¡to¡¡his¡¡old¡¡friend¡¡to¡¡write¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡asking¡¡her
formal¡¡consent¡¡and¡¡inviting¡¡her¡¡to¡¡the¡¡marriage¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡only
complete¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡himself£»¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡was¡¡finished£»¡¡under
his¡¡dictation£»¡¡by¡¡Miss¡¡Blanchard¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡being
beforehand¡¡with¡¡the¡¡post¡­office¡¡this¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡Ingleby£»¡¡sure¡¡of
his¡¡place¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡his¡¡victim£»¡¡waylaid¡¡her¡¡as¡¡she¡¡came¡¡out
of¡¡her¡¡father's¡¡room¡¡with¡¡the¡¡letter£»¡¡and¡¡privately¡¡told¡¡her¡¡the
truth¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡still¡¡under¡¡age£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡position¡¡was¡¡a¡¡serious
one¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡lett¡¡er¡¡was¡¡posted£»¡¡no¡¡resource¡¡would¡¡be¡¡left¡¡but¡¡to
wait¡¡and¡¡be¡¡parted¡¡forever£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡elope¡¡under¡¡circumstances¡¡which
made¡¡detection¡¡almost¡¡a¡¡certainty¡£¡¡The¡¡destination¡¡of¡¡any¡¡ship
which¡¡took¡¡them¡¡away¡¡would¡¡be¡¡known¡¡beforehand£»¡¡and¡¡the
fast¡­sailing¡¡yacht¡¡in¡¡which¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Blanchard¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡Madeira¡¡was
waiting¡¡in¡¡the¡¡harbor¡¡to¡¡take¡¡him¡¡back¡¡to¡¡England¡£¡¡The¡¡only¡¡other
alternative¡¡was¡¡to¡¡continue¡¡the¡¡deception¡¡by¡¡suppressing¡¡the
letter£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡confess¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡when¡¡they¡¡were¡¡securely¡¡married¡£
What¡¡arts¡¡of¡¡persuasion¡¡Ingleby¡¡usedwhat¡¡base¡¡advantage¡¡he
might¡¡previously¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡of¡¡her¡¡love¡¡and¡¡her¡¡trust¡¡in¡¡him¡¡to
degrade¡¡Miss¡¡Blanchard¡¡to¡¡his¡¡own¡¡levelI¡¡cannot¡¡say¡£¡¡He¡¡did
degrade¡¡her¡£¡¡The¡¡letter¡¡never¡¡went¡¡to¡¡its¡¡destination£»¡¡and£»¡¡with
the¡¡daughter's¡¡privity¡¡and¡¡consent£»¡¡the¡¡father's¡¡confidence¡¡was
abused¡¡to¡¡the¡¡very¡¡last¡£

¡¨The¡¡one¡¡precaution¡¡now¡¡left¡¡to¡¡take¡¡was¡¡to¡¡fabricate¡¡the¡¡answer
from¡¡my¡¡mother¡¡which¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Blanchard¡¡expected£»¡¡and¡¡which¡¡would
arrive¡¡in¡¡due¡¡course¡¡of¡¡post¡¡before¡¡the¡¡day¡¡appointed¡¡for¡¡the
marriage¡£¡¡Ingleby¡¡had¡¡my¡¡mother's¡¡stolen¡¡letter¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡he
was¡¡without¡¡the¡¡imitative¡¡dexterity¡¡which¡¡would¡¡have¡¡enabled¡¡him

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