“On the day ---- of ----, while I was walking alone in my garden, Mr. Richard Bassett, the person who has bereaved me by violence of my protector, came, without leave, into my private grounds, and brought a very large dog; it ran to me, and frightened me so that I nearly fainted with alarm. Mr. Bassett was aware of my condition. Next day I consulted my husband, and he ordered me to leave Huntercombe Hall, and put myself beyond the reach of trespassers and outrage. “One motive has governed Mr. Bassett in all his acts, from his anonymous letter to me before my marriage--which I keep for your inspection, together with the proofs that he wrote it--to the barbarous seizure of my husband upon certificates purchased beforehand, and this last act of violence, which has driven me from the county for a time. “Sir Charles and I have often been your hosts and your guests; we now ask you to watch our property and our legal rights, so long as through injustice and cruelty my husband is a prisoner, his wife a fugitive.” “There,” said the gentleman, “these papers are going all round the county.” Wheeler was most indignant, and said he had never been consulted, and had never advised a trespass. He begged a loan of the paper, and took it to Bassett's that very same afternoon. “So you have been acting without advice,” said he, angrily; “and a fine mess you have made of it.” And, though not much given to violent anger, he dashed the paper down on the table, and hurt his hand a little. Anger must be paid for, like other luxuries. Bassett read it, and was staggered a moment; but he soon recovered himself, and said, “What is the foolish woman talking about?” He then took a sheet of paper, and said he would soon give her a Roland for an Oliver. “Ay,” said Wheeler, grimly, “let us see how you will put down _the foolish woman._ I'll smoke a cigar in the garden, and recover my temper.” Richard Bassett's retort ran thus: “I never wrote an anonymous letter in my life; and if I put restraint upon Sir Charles, it was done to protect the estate. Experienced physicians represented him homicidal and suicidal; and I protected both Lady Bassett and himself by the act she has interpreted so harshly. “As for her last grievance, it is imaginary. My dog is gentle as a lamb. I did not foresee Lady Bassett would be there, nor that the poor dog would run and welcome her. She is playing a comedy: the real truth is, a gentleman had left Huntercombe whose company is necessary to her. She has gone to join him, and thrown the blame very adroitly upon “RICHARD BASSETT.” When he had written this Bassett ordered his dog-cart. Wheeler came in, read the letter, and said the last suggestion in it was a libel, and an indictable one into the bargain. “What, if it is true--true to the letter?” “Even then you would not be safe, unless you could prove it by disinterested witnesses.”