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struggling anywhere about the bed or the room。 We examined every
corner carefully； but made no other discoveries than these。
When I returned to the servants' hall； bad news of my mistress
was awaiting me there。 The unusual noise and confusion in the
house had reached her ears； and she had been told what had
happened without sufficient caution being exercised in preparing
her to hear it。 In her weak； nervous state； the shock of the
intelligence had quite prostrated her。 She had fallen into a
swoon； and had been brought back to her senses with the greatest
difficulty。 As to giving me or anybody else directions what to do
under the e mbarrassing circumstances which had now occurred； she
was totally incapable of the effort。
I waited till the middle of the day； in the hope that she might
get strong enough to give her orders； but no message came from
her。 At last I resolved to send and ask her what she thought it
best to do。 Josephine was the proper person to go on this errand；
but when I asked for Josephine； she was nowhere to be found。 The
housemaid； who had searched for her ineffectually； brought word
that her bonnet and shawl were not hanging in their usual places。
The parlor…maid； who had been in attendance in my mistress's
room； came down while we were all aghast at this new
disappearance。 She could only tell us that Josephine had begged
her to do lady's…maid's duty that morning； as she was not well。
Not well！ And the first result of her illness appeared to be that
she had left the house！
I cautioned the servants on no account to mention this
circumstance to my mistress； and then went upstairs myself to
knock at her door。 My object was to ask if I might count on her
approval if I wrote in her name to the lawyer in London； and if I
afterward went and gave information of what had occurred to the
nearest justice of the peace。 I might have sent to make this
inquiry through one of the female servants； but by this time；
though not naturally suspicious； I had got to distrust everybody
in the house； whether they deserved it or not。
So I asked the question myself； standing outside the door。 My
mistress thanked me in a faint voice； and begged me to do what I
had proposed immediately。
I went into my own bedroom and wrote to the lawyer； merely
telling him that Mr。 James Smith had appeared unexpectedly at the
Hall； and that events had occurred in consequence which required
his immediate presence。 I made the letter up like a parcel； and
sent the coachman with it to catch the mail on its way through to
London。
The next thing was to go to the justice of the peace。 The nearest
lived about five miles off； and was well acquainted with my
mistress。 He was an old bachelor； and he kept house with his
brother； who was a widower。 The two were much respected and
beloved in the county； being kind； unaffected gentlemen； who did
a great deal of good among the poor。 The justice was Mr。 Robert
Nicholson； and his brother； the widower； was Mr。 Philip。
I had got my hat on； and was asking the groom which horse I had
better take； when an open carriage drove up to the house。 It
contained Mr。 Philip Nicholson and two persons in plain clothes；
not exactly servants and not exactly gentlemen； as far as I could
judge。 Mr。 Philip looked at me； when I touched my hat to him； in
a very grave； downcast way； and asked for my mistress。 I told him
she was ill in bed。 He shook his head at hearing that； and said
he wished to speak to me in private。 I showed him into the
library。 One of the men in plain clothes followed us； and sat in
the hall。 The other waited with the carriage。
〃I was just going out； sir；〃 I said； as I set a chair for him；
〃to speak to Mr。 Robert Nicholson about a very extraordinary
circumstance〃
〃I know what you refer to；〃 said Mr。 Philip； cutting me short
rather abruptly； 〃and I must beg； for reasons which will
presently appear； that you will make no statement of any sort to
me until you have first heard what I have to say。 I am here on a
very serious and a very shocking errand； which deeply concerns
your mistress and you。〃
His face suggested something worse than his words expressed。 My
heart began to beat fast； and I felt that I was turning pale。
〃Your master； Mr。 James Smith；〃 he went on； 〃came here
unexpectedly yesterday evening； and slept in this house last
night。 Before he retired to rest he and your mistress had high
words together； which ended； I am sorry to hear； in a threat of a
serious nature addressed by Mrs。 James Smith to her husband。 They
slept in separate rooms。 This morning you went into your master's
room and saw no sign of him there。 You only found his nightgown
on the bed； spotted with blood。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 I said； in as steady a voice as I could command。
〃Quite true。〃
〃I am not examining you；〃 said Mr。 Philip。 〃I am only making a
certain statement； the truth of which you can admit or deny
before my brother。〃
〃Before your brother； sir！〃 I repeated。 〃Am I suspected of
anything wrong？〃
〃There is a suspicion that Mr。 James Smith has been murdered；〃
was the answer I received to that question。
My flesh began to creep all over from head to foot。
〃I am shockedI am horrified to say；〃 Mr。 Philip went on； 〃that
the suspicion affects your mistress in the first place； and you
in the second。〃
I shall not attempt to describe what I felt when he said that。 No
words of mine； no words of anybody's； could give an idea of it。
What other men would have done in my situation I don't know。 I
stood before Mr。 Philip； staring straight at him； without
speaking； without moving； almost without breathing。 If he or any
other man had struck me at that moment； I do not believe I should
have felt the blow。
〃Both my brother and myself；〃 said Mr。 Philip； 〃have such
unfeigned respect for your mistress； such sympathy for her under
these frightful circumstances； and such an implicit belief in her
capability of proving her innocence； that we are desirous of
sparing her in this dreadful emergency as much as possible。 For
those reasons； I have undertaken to come here with the persons
appointed to execute my brother's warrant〃
〃Warrant； sir！〃 I said； getting command of my voice as he
pronounced that word〃a warrant against my mistress！〃
〃Against her and against you；〃 said Mr。 Philip。 〃The suspicious
circumstances have been sworn to by a competent witness； who has
declared on oath that your mistress is guilty； and that you are
an accomplice。〃
〃What witness； sir？〃
〃Your mistress's quadroon maid； who came to my brother this
morning； and who has made her deposition in due form。〃
〃And who is as false as hell；〃 I cried out passionately； 〃in
every word she says against my mistress and against me。〃
〃I hopeno； I will go further； and say I believe she is false；〃
said Mr。 Philip。 〃But her perjury must he proved； and the
necessary examination must take place。 My carriage is going back
to my brother's； and you will go in it； in charge of one of my
men； who has the warrant to take you in custody。 I shall remain
here with the man who is waiting in the hall； and before any
steps are taken to execute the other warrant； I shall send f