ature with soft eyes, "bought blushes and set smiles." One
would have thought that former experiences would have made her cautious.
But it was not so. Mrs. Burton though deplorably tactless, was innocence
itself, and she accepted others at their own valuation. Jane Digby the
Second, who went in and out of the Burton's house as if she belonged to
it, was in reality one of the most abandoned women in Trieste. She was
married, but had also, as it transpired, an acknowledged lover.

Like women of that class she was extravagant beyond belief, and
consequently always in difficulties. Hearing the everlasting talk about
Midian and its supposed gold, the depraved woman [305] made up her mind
to try to detach Burton's affections from his wife and to draw them to
herself. To accomplish this she relied not only on the attractions of
her person, but also on glozing speeches and other feminine artifices.
Having easy access to the house she purloined private letters, papers
and other writings, and after all hope of recovery was over, she would
put them back. She slipped love letters, purporting to be from other
women, into Burton's pockets; and whenever Mrs. Burton brushed his coat
or dried his clothes she was sure to come upon them. Mrs. Burton also
received pseudonymous letters.

But whatever Mrs. Burton's faults, she, as we have seen, passionately
loved, trusted and even worshipped her husband; and whatever Burton's
faults, he thoroughly appreciated her devotion. They were quite
sufficient for each other, and the idea of anyone trying to come between
them seemed ludicrous. Consequently Mrs. Burton carried her letters to
her husband and he brought his to her. Amazing to say, neither of them
suspected the culprit, though Burton thought it must be some woman's
intrigue, and that need of money was the cause of it.

The real truth of it did not come out till after Burton's death, and
then the unhappy woman, who was near her end, made Lady Burton a full
confession, adding, "I took a wicked pleasure in your perfect trust in
me."

89. The Old Baronetcy. 18th January 1877.

Repeated enquiry now took place respecting the old baronetcy in the
Burton family, and Mrs. Burton in particular made unceasing efforts,
both in the columns of Notes and Queries and elsewhere, in order to
obtain the missing links. Several of Burton's letters at this period
relate to the subject. To Mrs. E. J. Burton, 18th January 1877, he
writes: "My dear co