Afterthissingularintroduction——inthecourseofwhichnonames，tothebestofLadyGlyde’srecollection，hadbeenmentioned——shewasleftalonewiththestranger。Hewasperfectlycivil，buthestartledandconfusedherbysomeoddquestionsaboutherself，andbylookingather，whileheaskedthem，inastrangemanner。Afterremainingashorttimehewentout，andaminuteortwoafterwardsasecondstranger——alsoanEnglishman——camein。ThispersonintroducedhimselfasanotherfriendofCountFosco’s，andhe，inhisturn，lookedatherveryoddly，andaskedsomecuriousquestions——never，aswellasshecouldremember，addressingherbyname，andgoingoutagain，afteralittlewhile，likethefirstman。Bythistimeshewassofrightenedaboutherself，andsouneasyabouthersister，thatshehadthoughtsofventuringdownstairsagain，andclaimingtheprotectionandassistanceoftheonlywomanshehadseeninthehouse——theservantwhoansweredthedoor。
Justasshehadrisenfromherchair，theCountcamebackintotheroom。
Themomentheappearedsheaskedanxiouslyhowlongthemeetingbetweenhersisterandherselfwastobestilldelayed。Atfirsthereturnedanevasiveanswer，butonbeingpressed，heacknowledged，withgreatapparentreluctance，thatMissHalcombewasbynomeanssowellashehadhithertorepresentedhertobe。Histoneandmanner，inmakingthisreply，soalarmedLadyGlyde，orrathersopainfullyincreasedtheuneasinesswhichshehadfeltinthecompanyofthetwostrangers，thatasuddenfaintnessovercameher，andshewasobligedtoaskforaglassofwater。TheCountcalledfromthedoorforwater，andforabottleofsmelling-salts。Bothwerebroughtinbytheforeign-lookingmanwiththebeard。Thewater，whenLadyGlydeattemptedtodrinkit，hadsostrangeatastethatitincreasedherfaintness，andshehastilytookthebottleofsaltsfromCountFosco，andsmeltatit。Herheadbecamegiddyontheinstant。TheCountcaughtthebottleasitdroppedoutofherhand，andthelastimpressionofwhichshewasconsciouswasthatheheldittohernostrilsagain。
Fromthispointherrecollectionswerefoundtobeconfused，fragmentary，anddifficulttoreconcilewithanyreasonableprobability。
Herownimpressionwasthatsherecoveredhersenseslaterintheevening，thatshethenleftthehouse，thatshewentasshehadpreviouslyarrangedtogo，atBlackwaterParktoMrsVesey’s——thatshedrankteathere，andthatshepassedthenightunderMrsVesey’sroof。Shewastotallyunabletosayhow，orwhen，orinwhatcompanysheleftthehousetowhichCountFoscohadbroughther。ButshepersistedinassertingthatshehadbeentoMrsVesey’s，andstillmoreextraordinary，thatshehadbeenhelpedtoundressandgettobedbyMrsRubelle！ShecouldnotrememberwhattheconversationwasatMrsVesey’s，orwhomshesawtherebesidesthatlady，orwhyMrsRubelleshouldhavebeenpresentinthehousetohelpher。