The doctor
still kept the battery to the heart all the time, and I still held the
left hand with my finger on the pulse. By the clasp of the hand, and a
little trickle of blood running under the finger, I judged there was a
little life until seven, and then I knew that . . . I was alone and
desolate for ever."[2]
* * * * * * * * *
I have given the foregoing in Lady Burton's own words, as unfortunately a
fierce controversy has raged round her husband's death-bed, and therefore
it is desirable to repeat her testimony on the subject. This testimony
was given to the world in 1893, when all the witnesses of Sir Richard
Burton's death were living, and it was never publicly contradicted or
called into question until December of last year (1896), eight months
after Lady Burton's death, when Miss Stisted's book made its appearance.
In consequence of the attack made upon Lady Burton by her niece, which
has been repeated and echoed elsewhere, it is necessary to defend Lady
Burton on this point, since she is no longer able to defend herself.
But I should like to reiterate that the question of Sir Richard Burton's
religion did not enter into the original scheme of this book. I only
approach it now with reluctance, and that not so much for the purpose of
arguing as to what was Sir Richard Burton's religion (that was a matter
for himself alone) as of upholding the good faith of his wife.
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