sentences, to let out what she wished to be overheard about _that_ poor young gentleman’s _strange fits_; and she questioned the apothecary whether they had come on ever _very_ lately, and hoped that for the family’s sake, as well as his own, it would never break out publicly. All which observations and questions the apothecary seemed discreetly and mysteriously to evade answering. Fowler confessed that she could not get out on this occasion the whole of what she had been instructed to say, because Miss Montenero grew so pale, they thought she would have dropped on the floor. The apothecary pretended to think the young lady had been made sick by the smell of the shop. It passed off--nothing more was done at that time. Mr. Montenero, before he left the house, made inquiries who Fowler was--learned that she had been, for many years, a servant in the Harrington family,--children’s maid. Her evidence, and that of the apothecary who had attended me in my _extraordinary illness_, agreed; and there seemed no reason to suspect its truth. Mr. and Miss Montenero went with a party from General B----‘s to see Brantefield Priory. Fowler attended the company through the house: Mr. Montenero took occasion to question her most minutely--asked, in particular, about a tapestry room--a picture of Sir Josseline and the Jew--received such answers as Lord Mowbray had prepared Fowler to give: so artfully had he managed, that his interference could not be suspected. Fowler pretended to know scarcely any thing of her young lord--she had always lived here at the Priory--his lordship had been abroad--was in the army--always _on the move_--did not know where he was now--probably in town: her present ladies had her good word--but her heart, she confessed, was always with her first mistress, Mrs. Harrington, and poor Master Harrington--_never to be mentioned without a sigh_--that was noted in her instructions. All that I or Mowbray had mentioned before Mr. Montenero of my aversion to Fowler, now appeared to be but the dislike which an insane person is apt to take against those about them, even to those who treat them most kindly. Fowler was a good actress, and she was well prompted--she produced, in her own justification, instructions, in unsigned letters of Lord Mowbray’s. I knew his hand, however disguised. She was directed to take particular care not to go too far--to let things be _drawn_ from her--to refuse to give further information lest she should do mischief. When assured that the Monteneros were friends, then to tell _circumstances agreed upon_--to end with a promise to produce a _keeper_ who had attended the poor gentleman not long since, who could satisfy all doubts. Lord Mowbray noted that this must be promised to be done within the ensuing month--something about a ship’s sailing for America was scratched out in these last instructions.