Thereasongivenformakingthisdemandonmeis，thatmytestimonyiswantedintheinterestsoftruth。AsthewidowofaclergymanoftheChurchofEnglandreducedbymisfortunetothenecessityofacceptingasituation，Ihavebeentaughttoplacetheclaimsoftruthaboveallotherconsiderations。IthereforecomplywitharequestwhichImightotherwise。
throughreluctancetoconnectmyselfwithdistressingfamilyaffairs，havehesitatedtogrant。
Imadenomemorandumatthetime，andIcannotthereforebesuretoadayofthedate，butIbelieveIamcorrectinstatingthatMissHalcombe’sseriousillnessbeganduringthelastfortnightortendaysinJune。ThebreakfasthourwaslateatBlackwaterPark——sometimesaslateasten，neverearlierthanhalf-pastnine。OnthemorningtowhichIamnowreferring，MissHalcombewhowasusuallythefirsttocomedowndidnotmakeherappearanceatthetable。Afterthefamilyhadwaitedaquarterofanhour，theupperhousemaidwassenttoseeafterher，andcamerunningoutoftheroomdreadfullyfrightened。Imettheservantonthestairs，andwentatoncetoMissHalcombetoseewhatwasthematter。Thepoorladywasincapableoftellingme。Shewaswalkingaboutherroomwithapeninherhand，quitelightheaded，inastateofburningfever。
LadyGlydebeingnolongerinSirPercival’sservice，Imay，withoutimpropriety，mentionmyformermistressbyhername，insteadofcallinghermyladywasthefirsttocomeinfromherownbedroom。Shewassodreadfullyalarmedanddistressedthatshewasquiteuseless。TheCountFosco，andhislady，whocameupstairsimmediatelyafterwards，werebothmostserviceableandkind。HerladyshipassistedmetogetMissHalcombetoherbed。HislordshiptheCountremainedinthesitting-room，andhavingsentformymedicine-chest，madeamixtureforMissHalcombe，andacoolinglotiontobeappliedtoherhead，soastolosenotimebeforethedoctorcame。Weappliedthelotion，butwecouldnotgethertotakethemixture。
SirPercivalundertooktosendforthedoctor。Hedespatchedagroom，onhorseback，forthenearestmedicalman，MrDawson，ofOakLodge。