AdayortwoaftertheservantsallleftIwasagainsentfortoseeSirPercival。Theundeservedslurwhichhehadcastonmymanagementofthehouseholddidnot，Iamhappytosay，preventmefromreturninggoodforeviltothebestofmyability，bycomplyingwithhisrequestasreadilyandrespectfullyasever。Itcostmeastrugglewiththatfallennature，whichweallshareincommon，beforeIcouldsuppressmyfeelings。Beingaccustomedtoself-discipline，Iaccomplishedthesacrifice。IfoundSirPercivalandCountFoscosittingtogetheragain。Onthisoccasionhislordshipremainedpresentattheinterview，andassistedinthedevelopmentofSirPercival’sviews。ThesubjecttowhichtheynowrequestedmyattentionrelatedtothehealthychangeofairbywhichweallhopedthatMissHalcombeandLadyGlydemightsoonbeenabledtoprofit。SirPercivalmentionedthatboththeladieswouldprobablypasstheautumnbyinvitationofFrederickFairlie，EsquireatLimmeridgeHouse，Cumberland。Butbeforetheywentthere，itwashisopinion，confirmedbyCountFoscowhoheretookuptheconversationandcontinuedittotheend。thattheywouldbenefitbyashortresidencefirstinthegenialclimateofTorquay。Thegreatobject，therefore，wastoengagelodgingsatthatplace，affordingallthecomfortsandadvantagesofwhichtheystoodinneed，andthegreatdifficultywastofindanexperiencedpersoncapableofchoosingthesortofresidencewhichtheywanted。InthisemergencytheCountbeggedtoinquire，onSirPercival’sbehalf，whetherIwouldobjecttogivetheladiesthebenefitofmyassistance，byproceedingmyselftoTorquayintheirinterests。Itwasimpossibleforapersoninmysituationtomeetanyproposal，madeintheseterms，withapositiveobjection。IcouldonlyventuretorepresenttheseriousinconvenienceofmyleavingBlackwaterParkintheextraordinaryabsenceofalltheindoorservants，withtheoneexceptionofMargaretPorcher。ButSirPercivalandhislordshipdeclaredthattheywerebothwillingtoputupwithinconvenienceforthesakeoftheinvalids。InextrespectfullysuggestedwritingtoanagentatTorquay，butIwasmetherebybeingremindedoftheimprudenceoftakinglodgingswithoutfirstseeingthem。IwasalsoinformedthattheCountesswhowouldotherwisehavegonetoDevonshireherselfcouldnot，inLadyGlyde’spresentcondition，leaveherniece，andthatSirPercivalandtheCounthadbusinesstotransacttogetherwhichwouldobligethemtoremainatBlackwaterPark。Inshort，itwasclearlyshownmethatifIdidnotundertaketheerrand，nooneelsecouldbetrustedwithit。Underthesecircumstances，IcouldonlyinformSirPercivalthatmyserviceswereatthedisposalofMissHalcombeandLadyGlyde。
ItwasthereuponarrangedthatIshouldleavethenextmorning，thatIshouldoccupyoneortwodaysinexaminingallthemostconvenienthousesinTorquay，andthatIshouldreturnwithmyreportassoonasIconvenientlycould。Amemorandumwaswrittenformebyhislordship，statingtherequisiteswhichtheplaceIwassenttotakemustbefoundtopossess，andanoteofthepecuniarylimitassignedtomewasaddedbySirPercival。
Myownideaonreadingovertheseinstructionswas，thatnosuchresidenceasIsawdescribedcouldbefoundatanywatering-placeinEngland，andthat，evenifitcouldbychancebediscovered，itwouldcertainlynotbepartedwithforanyperiodonsuchtermsasIwaspermittedtooffer。
Ihintedatthesedifficultiestoboththegentlemen，butSirPercivalwhoundertooktoanswermedidnotappeartofeelthem。Itwasnotformetodisputethequestion。Isaidnomore，butIfeltaverystrongconvictionthatthebusinessonwhichIwassentawaywassobesetbydifficultiesthatmyerrandwasalmosthopelessatstarting。
BeforeIleftItookcaretosatisfymyselfthatMissHalcombewasgoingonfavourably。