"I know now why it came; it was to warn me of my unhappy wife's death."
He said no more. I could not enlighten him, and he is unlikely now ever
to learn the truth.
The following day I left Studley Grange. I took with me, without asking
leave of any-one, a certain long black cloak, a small electric lamp,
and a magnifying glass of considerable power.
It may be of interest to explain how Lady Studley in her unhealthy
condition of mind and body performed the extraordinary trick by which
she hoped to undermine her husband's health, and ultimately cause
his death.
I experimented with the materials which I carried away with me, and
succeeded, so my friends told me, in producing a most ghastly effect.
I did it in this way. I attached the mirror of a laryngoscope to my
forehead in such a manner as to enable it to throw a strong reflection
into one of my eyes. In the centre of the bright side of the
laryngoscope a small electric lamp was fitted. This was connected with a
battery which I carried in my hand. The battery was similar to those
used by the ballet girls in Drury Lane Theatre, and could be brought
into force by a touch and extinguished by the removal of the pressure.
The eye which was thus brilliantly illumined looked through a lens of
some power. All the rest of the face and figure was completely covered
by the black cloak. Thus the brightest possible light was thrown on the
magnified eye, while there was corresponding increased gloom around.
When last I heard of Studley Grange it was let for a term of years and
Sir Henry had gone abroad. I have not heard that he has married again,
but he probably will, sooner or later.
* * * * *
_The Queen of Holland._