Remembering this, I took the bold resolution of profiting by this weakness of hers to gain admission to her presence, she being the only one sharing Mr.Blake's mysterious secret.

Borrowing a valuable antique from a friend of mine at that time in the business, I made my appearance the very next day at her apartments, and sending in an urgent request to see Madame, by the trim negress who answered my summons, waited in some doubt for her reply.
It came all too soon; Madame was ill and could see no one.

I was not, however, to be baffled by one rebuff.

Handing the basket I held to the girl, I urged her to take it in and show her mistress what it contained, saying it was a rare article which might never again come her way.
The girl complied, though with a doubtful shake of the head which was anything but encouraging.

Her incredulity, however, must have been speedily rebuked, for she almost immediately returned without the basket, saying Madame would see me.
My first thoughts upon entering the grand lady's presence, was that the girl had been mistaken, for I found the Countess walking the floor in an abstracted way, drying a letter she had evidently but just completed, by shaking it to and fro with an unsteady hand; the placque I had brought, lying neglected on the table.
But at sight of my respectful form standing with bent head in the doorway, she hurriedly thrust the letter into a book and took up the placque.