I don't know whether that was a
blackmailer's adroitness or just a trick of destiny. He may have
known of it all the time or he may not. At any rate, he got hold of,
just about then, some letters and things. It cost Edward three
hundred pounds immediately. I do not know how it was arranged;
I cannot imagine how even a blackmailer can make his demands. I
suppose there is some sort of way of saving your face. I figure the
Major as disclosing the letters to Edward with furious oaths, then
accepting his explanations that the letters were perfectly innocent
if the wrong construction were not put upon them. Then the Major
would say: "I say, old chap, I'm deuced hard up. Couldn't you lend
me three hundred or so?" I fancy that was how it was. And, year
by year, after that there would come a letter from the Major,
saying that he was deuced hard up and couldn't Edward lend him
three hundred or so? Edward was pretty hard hit when Mrs Basil
had to go away. He really had been very fond of her, and he
remained faithful to her memory for quite a long time. And Mrs
Basi had loved him very much and continued to cherish a hope of
reunion with him. Three days ago there came a quite proper but
very lamentable letter from her to Leonora, asking to be given
particulars as to Edward's death.
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