The Purcell Papers — Volume 3Le Fanu, Joseph Sheridan
General
The Purcell Papers — Volume 3
Le Fanu, Joseph Sheridan
Fantasy fiction, English; Ireland -- Fiction
'My dearest Fanny, I know I must have appeared very strange to you and
very unkind--often even cruel. Before the end of this week I will show
you the necessity of my conduct--how impossible it was that I should
have seemed otherwise. I am conscious that many acts of mine must have
inevitably given rise to painful suspicions--suspicions which, indeed,
upon one occasion, you very properly communicated to me. I have got two
letters from a quarter which commands respect, containing information as
to the course by which I may be enabled to prove the negative of all the
crimes which even the most credulous suspicion could lay to my charge. I
expected a third by this morning's post, containing documents which will
set the matter for ever at rest, but owing, no doubt, to some neglect,
or, perhaps, to some difficulty in collecting the papers, some
inevitable delay, it has not come to hand this morning, according to my
expectation. I was finishing one to the very same quarter 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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account