But people will have their say, sensitive souls or none, and their
sayings on this third occasion took a singular shape. 'Surely,'
they whispered, 'there is something more than chance in this . . .
The death of the first was possibly natural; but what of the death
of the second, who ill-used her, and whom, loving the third so
desperately, she must have wished out of the way?'
Then they pieced together sundry trivial incidents of Sir John's
illness, and dwelt upon the indubitable truth that he had grown
worse after her lover's unexpected visit; till a very sinister
theory was built up as to the hand she may have had in Sir John's
premature demise. But nothing of this suspicion was said openly,
for she was a lady of noble birth--nobler, indeed, than either of
her husbands--and what people suspected they feared to express in
formal accusation.
The mansion that she occupied had been left to her for so long a
time as she should choose to reside in it, and, having a regard for
the spot, she had coaxed Sir William to remain there. But in the
end it was unfortunate; for one day, when in the full tide of his
happiness, he was walking among the willows near the gardens, where
he overheard a conversation between some basket-makers who were
cutting the osiers for their use. In this fatal dialogue the
suspicions of the neighbouring townsfolk were revealed to him for
the first time.
'A cupboard close to his bed, and the key in her pocket.
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