He spoke of it to Mr. Eyrle.
“Will you fetch it, Kenelm?” he said, “and I will read it here in her presence. I have a conviction that there we shall find the key to the mystery.”
Kenelm went in search of it. It lay on the table in the room where she died. He brought it at once to the earl, who took it from him.
“Before I read what may be her justification, Kenelm,” said Lord Lorriston, “look at her face. Was anything ever so fair, so noble, so true? That face is but the index of a soul more fair, more noble, and truer still. Nor murder, nor jealousy, nor unholy hate ever marred the perfect beauty of that soul, or ever found a home there. That is the temple of a pure spirit—how could you so misjudge her?”
“Only from her own words; and those I heard against my own will.”
Lord Lorriston bent down and kissed that white brow.
“There was no justification necessary, in my eyes,” he said; “still I will read what is written here.”
CHAPTER LII.
SIR RONALD’S CONFESSION.
“Not to be opened until after my death,” was written on the outer cover of the packet in Sir Ronald’s bold, clear hand, “and then to be read by no one save my wife. Should she die first, under penalty of my curse I forbid this to be opened, and command it to be destroyed.”
When Lord Lorriston had read that he showed it to Mr. Eyrle.