I was
brought into contact, in the first instance, with one of her male
relatives, and, in the second instance, with the lady herself, by
certain professional circumstances which I need not particularly
describe. They involved a dry question of wills and title-deeds
in no way connected with this story, but sufficiently important
to interest me as a lawyer. The case came to trial at the Assizes
on my circuit, and I won it in the face of some very strong
points, very well put, on the other side. I was in poor health at
the time, and my exertions so completely knocked me up that I was
confined to bed in my lodgings for a week or more--"
"And the grateful lady came and nursed you, I suppose," said the
Queen of Hearts, in her smart, off-h and way.
"The grateful lady did something much more natural in her
position, and much more useful in mine," I answered--"she sent
her servant to attend on me. He was an elderly man, who had been
in her service since the time of her first marriage, and he was
also one of the most sensible and well-informed persons whom I
have ever met with in his station of life. From hints which he
dropped while he was at my bedside, I discovered for the first
time that his mistress had been unfortunate in her second
marriage, and that the troubles of that period of her life had
ended in one of the most singular events which had happened in
that part of England for many a long day past.
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