‘No, sir. I found lodgings and sent the address to Lady Glyde, but after two weeks we’d still heard nothing. Then one day a lady called in a cab. She said she came from Lady Glyde, who was staying at a hotel and wanted to arrange an interview with Anne. I agreed to go with this lady to make the arrangement, leaving Anne alone in our lodgings. But it was a wicked plot, sir. On the way the lady stopped the cab, saying she just had to collect something from a shop and would I wait for a few minutes. She never came back, sir I waited for some time, and then I hurried home – and found Anne gone. Just disappeared.’
I asked Mrs Clements to describe this ‘lady’ , it seemed clear from her descriotion that it was Madame Fosco. So I now knew how the Count had got Anne Catherick to London and separated her from Mrs Clements.
‘I never found out what happened to Anne,’ Mrs Clements said sadly. ‘I made enquiries. I even wrote to her mother, but she didn’t know anything. I miss poor Anne so much. She was like a daughter to me, you see,sir.’
‘And I’m sure you were akind mother to her,’ I said.’ A better mother than her own mother.’
‘That wasn’t difficult,’ said Mrs Clements. ‘Mrs Catherick is a hard woman. She seemed to hate child, and was only too pleased when I offered to bring her up. Then one day she took Anne to Limmeridge to stay with a sister, and after that she kept Anne from me. Ididn’t see Anne again till she escaped from the Asylum – with your help, sir And then she was always talking about asecret her mother had which could ruin Sir Percival. But you know, sir, I don’t think Anne really knew what this secret was. If she had know, I’m sure she would have told me.’ I had wondered about that myself, and now I tried to turn the conversation on to Mrs Catherick.
‘Did you know Mrs Catherick before Anne was born?’
‘Yes, for about four months. We were neighbours in Welmingham. Mr and Mrs Catherick had just got married, and Mr Catherick had a job as cleck at Welmingham church. Before that, Mrs Catherick had been a servant at a large house. She was a selfish, heartless woman, and treated her poor husband very badly. Before long, there was a lot of talk about her and a young gentleman, who was staying at a hotel nearby . And Mr Catherick told my husband that he’d found expensive present, gold rings and suchlike, hidden in this wife’s drawer.’
‘And who was this gentlemn?’ I asked.
‘You know him,sir. And so did my poor dear Anne.’
‘Sir Percival Glyde?’ My heart began to beat faster.was I getting close to the secret?