She is overwhelmed by
grief and fatigue--or she would have been here to receive you
personally. What are your wishes, gentlemen? and what can I do for you
in her ladyship's place?"

'In accordance with our instructions, we answered that the death and
burial of Lord Montbarry abroad made it desirable to obtain more
complete information relating to his illness, and to the circumstances
which had attended it, than could be conveyed in writing. We explained
that the law provided for the lapse of a certain interval of time
before the payment of the sum assured, and we expressed our wish to
conduct the inquiry with the most respectful consideration for her
ladyship's feelings, and for the convenience of any other members of
the family inhabiting the house.

'To this the Baron replied, "I am the only member of the family living
here, and I and the palace are entirely at your disposal." From first
to last we found this gentleman perfectly straightforward, and most
amiably willing to assist us.

'With the one exception of her ladyship's room, we went over the whole
of the palace the same day. It is an immense place only partially
furnished. The first floor and part of the second floor were the
portions of it that had been inhabited by Lord Montbarry and the
members of the household. We saw the bedchamber, at one extremity of
the palace, in which his lordship died, and the small room
communicating with it, which he used as a study. Next to this was a
large apartment or hall, the doors of which he habitually kept locked,
his object being (as we were informed) to pursue his studies
uninterruptedly in perfect solitude. On the other side of the large
hall were the bedchamber occupied by her ladyship, and the
dressing-room in which the maid slept previous to her departure for
England. Beyond these were the dining and reception rooms, opening
into an antechamber, which gave access to the grand staircase of the
palace.

'The only inhabited rooms on the second floor were the sitting-room and
bedroom occupied by Baron Rivar, and another room at some distance from
it, which had been the bedroom of the courier Ferrari.

'The rooms on the third floor and on the basement were completely
unfurnished, and in a condition of great neglect. We inquired if there
was anything to be seen below the basement--and we were at once
informed that there were vaults beneath, which we were at perfect
liberty to visit.

'We went down, so as to leave n