I vote we stick to
him to the last. He is to be put in prison and tried. I can hardly
believe that Mr. Bonteen has been murdered, though I don't know why
he shouldn't as well as anybody else. Plantagenet talks about the
great loss; I know which would be the greatest loss, and so do you.
I'm going out now to try and find out something. Barrington Erle was
there, and if I can find him he will tell me. I shall be home by
half-past five. Do come, there's a dear woman; there is no one else I
can talk to about it. If I'm not back, go in all the same, and tell
them to bring you tea.
"Only think of Lady Laura,--with one mad and the other in Newgate!
G.P."
This letter gave Madame Goesler such a blow that for a few minutes
it altogether knocked her down. After reading it once she hardly
knew what it contained beyond a statement that Phineas Finn was in
Newgate. She sat for a while with it in her hands, almost swooning;
and then with an effort she recovered herself, and read the letter
again. Mr. Bonteen murdered, and Phineas Finn,--who had dined with
her only yesterday evening, with whom she had been talking of all the
sins of the murdered man, who was her special friend, of whom she
thought more than of any other human being, of whom she could not
bring herself to cease to think,--accused of the murder! Believe
it! The Duchess had declared with that sort of enthusiasm which was
common to her, that she never would believe it.
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