Clear as daylight, isn't it, William?
The steward suspected something wrong--the steward waited and watched--the steward wrote that anonymous letter to your mistress.

We can find him, if we want him, by inquiring at Cowes; and we can send to the church for legal evidence of the marriage as soon as we are instructed to do so.

All that we have got to do now is to go back to your mistress, and see what course she means to take under the circumstances.

It's a pretty case, William, so far--an uncommonly pretty case, as it stands at present." We returned to Darrock Hall as fast as coaches and post-horses could carry us.
Having from the first believed that the statement in the anonymous letter was true, my mistress received the bad news we brought calmly and resignedly--so far, at least, as outward appearances went.

She astonished and disappointed Mr.Dark by declining to act in any way on the information that he had collected for her, and by insisting that the whole affair should still be buried in the profoundest secrecy.