She knew there were wards in every such institution, where the harmless patients were allowed to mingle with each other, and she meant to obtain permission to go among them. She also knew that visitors were frequently admitted to these wards, and she hoped she would either find some one among them who would befriend her, or who would at least secretly take a letter to post outside for her. Having decided upon this course, she immediately wrote a note, telling Harriet something of what had occurred during the last three weeks; that she had been entrapped and was now confined in an insane asylum, of which a physician, calling himself Dr. Arnot, had charge. She charged her to take instant measures for her release—to go to the mother-superior of the convent, tell her the circumstance, when she felt sure she would manage some way to have her set at liberty. She always carried postage stamps about with her, so she could easily prepare this epistle for the mail. She had written on some leaves which she had torn from a note-book, but she had no envelopes. She managed to fashion something that answered from more leaves of her book, then addressed the missive, and concealed it about her person, so as to have it in readiness in case she should find any one willing to take it out for her. Feeling that there was now no longer any necessity for her to go about disguised, she threw aside her awkward bandages, cap, and glasses, and was once more her natural self, save for the loose and unbecoming nun’s dress, which of course she was still obliged to wear, as she had no other. CHAPTER XXXIV. SALOME IS MISSED. A few days passed. Salome was kindly treated in every respect save that of being kept a close prisoner. She was served by a pretty and good-natured maid; she had every luxury of the season provided to tempt her appetite, and was provided with a variety of entertaining reading, also with materials for fancy work to occupy her time. But she became terribly tired of her solitary confinement, and irritated at being so hedged about that she could find no way to send out her letter. She had tried to sound the fidelity of the girl who waited upon her, but found that she was entirely devoted to the interests of her employer, and that it would be worse than useless to attempt to bribe her to assist to escape; so she wisely refrained from exciting suspicions that she was contemplating any such measure, and even feigned a content and cheerfulness in her presence which she was far from feeling. Dr. Arnot paid her a visit every day, but she always received him with a cool dignity which rather awed and held him at arm’s length, in spite of his habitual composure and assurance. One morning, however, she told him firmly that she could not remain shut up in that one room any longer—that she must have more liberty or her health would suffer.