hild,
born before he left England. Corresponding to this, there is the
history, known in England, of a child believed to be his, in whom his
wife took an interest.

All these presumptions exist independently of any direct testimony from
Lady Byron. They are to be admitted as true, whether she says a word one
way or the other.

From this background of proof, I come forward, and testify to an
interview with Lady Byron, in which she gave me specific information of
the facts in the case. That I report the facts just as I received them
from her, not altered or misremembered, is shown by the testimony of my
sister, to whom I related them at the time. It cannot, then, be denied
that I had this interview, and that this communication was made. I
therefore testify that Lady Byron, for a proper purpose, and at a proper
time, stated to me the following things:--

1. That the crime which separated her from Lord Byron was incest.

2. That she first discovered it by improper actions towards his sister,
which, he meant to make her understand, indicated the guilty relation.

3. That he admitted it, reasoned on it, defended it, tried to make her
an accomplice, and, failing in that, hated her and expelled her.

4. That he threatened her that he would make it his life's object to
destroy her character.

5. That for a period she was led to regard this conduct as insanity, and
to consider him only as a diseased person.

6. That she had subsequent proof that the facts were really as she
suspected; that there had been a child born of the crime, whose history
she knew; that Mrs. Leigh had repented.

The purpose for which this was stated to me was to ask, Was it her duty
to make the truth fully known during her lifetime?

Here, then, is a man believed guilty of an unusual crime by two lawyers,
the best in England, who have seen the evidence,--a man who dares not
meet legal investigation. The crime is named in society, and deemed so
far probable to the men of his generation as to be spoken of by Shelley
as the only important allegation against him. He acts through life
exactly like a man struggling with remorse, and afraid of detection; he
has all the restlessness and hatred and fear that a man has who feels
that there is evidence which might destroy him. He admits an
illegitimate child besides Allegra. A child believed to have been his is
known to many in England. Added to all this, his widow, now advanced in
years, a