Coming Events Cast Their Shadows Before

"In short," interposed Lady Janet, "there is no such person as Mercy
Merrick."

"I can draw no other conclusion," said Julian, "unless the English
doctor's idea is the right one. After hearing what I have just told you,
he thinks the woman herself is Mercy Merrick."

Lady Janet held up her hand as a sign that she had an objection to make
here.

"You and the doctor seem to have settled everything to your entire
satisfaction on both sides," she said. "But there is one difficulty that
you have neither of you accounted for yet."

"What is it, aunt?"

"You talk glibly enough, Julian, about this woman's mad assertion that
Grace is the missing nurse, and that she is Grace. But you have not
explained yet how the idea first got into her head; and, more than that,
how it is that she is acquainted with my name and address, and perfectly
familiar with Grace's papers and Grace's affairs. These things are a
puzzle to a person of my average intelligence. Can your clever friend,
the doctor, account for them?"

"Shall I tell you what he said when I saw him this morning?"

"Will it take long?"

"It will take about a minute."

"You agreeably surprise me. Go on."

"You want to know how she gained her knowledge of your name and of Miss
Roseberry's affairs," Julian resumed. "The doctor says in one of two
ways. Either Miss Roseberry must have spoken of you and of her own
affairs while she and the stranger were together in the French cottage,
or the stranger must have obtained access privately to Miss Roseberry's
papers. Do you agree so far?"