"_July_ 16, 9 A.M.--You may imagine that my indignation is
boundless. I can scarcely believe it. There must be some mistake,
because there is no _sense_ in it. _You_ were not in England when
the will was made: it is Miss Paul, if any one, from whom they
ought to extort money, if they wish it.
"2 P.M.--All morning I have been out in your service. I went first
to Farm Street, to see if I could see any of the priests who knew
anything of the matter, but only two were in, who knew nothing.
Then I went to Lady G. Fullerton, she was out; to Lady Lothian, she
was out; then to find out Monsignor Paterson's direction, and
happily I found _it_ and _him_. I wish you could have heard all he
said. The _moment_ I mentioned the name principally concerned he
stopped me--'You need say no more; I can believe _anything_ of that
person.' _Nothing_ could be stronger than his words about her....
He was just as indignant at the whole transaction as you and I are.
He said Francis, finding all else fail, was now trading on his
faith. The Abbess Pierina had told him _all_ that your sister said
on her deathbed, and Monsignor Paterson desired me to say that you
had only to command his services, and he would keep _her_ to her
words."
Meanwhile the action for libel was declared, an action which openly
avowed its object, to extort £5000. Meanwhile, also, it was found that
Mr. and Mrs. Monteith of Carstairs had joined the conspirators, and were
hand in hand with Mrs. Dunlop and Mrs. Montgomery. Soon after I reached
home, Mrs. Monteith had written to me, expressing her great devotion to
my sister's memory, and begging me to send all the sad details connected
with her death. I answered to the effect that those who were present
could better tell the story of my sister's death. Had I written to Mrs.
Monteith, doubtless my letter to _her_ would have been used in the
action, instead of that which I wrote, when I fell into the more skilful
trap laid by Mrs. Montgomery. The Monteiths before this were intimate
friends of mine. I had spent a week at Carstairs in the preceding
October. With Francis they were previously unacquainted. Therefore it
could have been only the interests of their Church which incited them to
the course they pursued.