arter when you came
in, and if a sound rousing be worth anything, I think I shall have a
special messenger before two days have passed. I have been anxiously
considering with myself, as to whether I had better imperfectly clear
up your doubts by submitting to your inspection the two letters which I
have already received, or wait till I can triumphantly vindicate myself
by the production of the documents which I have already mentioned, and I
have, I think, not unnaturally decided upon the latter course. However,
there is a person in the next room whose testimony is not without its
value excuse me for one moment.'

So saying, he arose and went to the door of a closet which opened from
the study; this he unlocked, and half opening the door, he said, 'It is
only I,' and then slipped into the room and carefully closed and locked
the door behind him.

I immediately heard his voice in animated conversation. My curiosity
upon the subject of the letter was naturally great, so, smothering
any little scruples which I might have felt, I resolved to look at the
address of the letter which lay, as my husband had left it, with its
face upon the table. I accordingly drew it over to me and turned up the
direction.

For two or three moments I could scarce believe my eyes, but there
could be no mistake--in large characters were traced the words, 'To the
Archangel Gabriel in Heaven.'

I had scarcely returned the letter to its original position, and in
some degree recovered the shock which this unequivocal proof of insanity
produced, when the closet door was unlocked, and Lord Glenfallen
re-entered the study, carefully closing and locking the door again upon
the outside.

'Whom have you there?' inquired I, making a strong effort to appear
calm.

'Perhaps,' said he, musingly, 'you might have some objection to seeing
her, at least for a time.'

'Who is it?' repeated I.

'Why,' said he, 'I see no use in hiding it--the blind Dutchwoman. I have
been with her the whole morning. She is very anxious to get out of that
closet; but you know she is odd, she is scarcely to be trusted.'

A heavy gust of wind shook the door at this moment with a sound as if
something more substantial were pushing against it.

'Ha, ha, ha!--do you hear her?' said he, with an obstreperous burst of
laughter.

The wind died away in a long howl, and Lord Glenfallen, suddenly
checking his merriment, shrugged his shoulders, and muttered:

'Poor devil, she has b