Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-02-28
Countess l1alODa.
By wILKIE COLLINS.

"sWe both saw the patient at intervals III the course of the night. The disease, steadily advancing, set our utmost resistance at de- fiance. In the morning Doctor Torello took his leave. Il can be of no further use," he said to me. "The man is past all help-and he ought to know it."
 Later ill the day warned my lord, as gently as l could, that his time had come. am informed that there are serious reasons for my stating what passed between us on this occasion. in detail, and without any re- serve. I comply with the request
 Z. < afs1 Seen seHcted "live the intelligence or4tardaX saw the first at'V1l I becoming com posture, but with a certain Goubt. He signed to me to put my ear to his mouth. He whis- pered, faintly, Are you sure!" 1t was no time to deceive him; said, "Postively sure." He waited a little, gaspng for breath, and then he whispered again, Feel under my pillow" I found under his pillow letter, sealed and stamped, ready for the post. His next words were just audible and no more "Post it yourself" l answered, of course, that I would do so-and did post the letter with my own hand. l looked at the address. 1t was directed to lady in London. The street 1 cannot remember. The name can perfectly recall; it was an Italian name Mrs. Ferrari."
 
 phyxia. l got him through it for the time; and his eyes showed that he understood me when 1 told him, the next morning, that 1 had posted the letter. This was his last effort of consciousness. Whec 1 saw him again he was sunk in apathy. He fingered in state of insensbiity, supported by stimulants, ull- til the 25th, and died Unconscious to the last) on the evening of that day
 A to tnS caIiSta of his 6patn if seams if 1 may be excused for saying so, simply ab- surd to ask the question: Bronchitis, termi- hating in pneumonia-there is no more doubt that this, and this only, was the malady of which he expired, than that two and two make four Doctor TOrello's own note of the case is added here to duplicate of my certificate, ill order, as 1 am informed, to satisfy some English offices in which his lord ships life insured The English offices must have been founded by that celebrated saint and doubter, mentioned in the New Testament, whose name was Thomasr
 "Doctor Blumo's narrative ends here
 "Reverting for moment to our inquiries addressed to Lady MontIiarry, we have to report that she can 2 i've Us no information on the subject of the letter which the doctor posted at Lord Montbarry's request. When his lordship wrote it? what 1t con aimed? W by he kept it a secret from Lady Montbarry (and from the baron also)! and why he should write at all to the wife of his courier? these are questions to which we find it simply i'm possible to obtain any replies. It seems even useless to say that the matter is open to sus- picion. Suspicion implies conjecture of some kind-and the lett under my lords pillow batt1es all conjecture. Application to Mrs. Ferrari may perhaps clear up the mystery H. I ho T iS- covered at the Italian couriers office, Golden square.
 'Having arrived at the close of the present report, we have now to draw your attention to the conclusion which is justified by the re- suits of our investigation.
 "The plain question before our directors and ourselves appears to be this: Has the in- quirv revealed any extraordinary circum- stances which render the death of Lord Mont barry open to suspicion? The inquiry has revealed extraordinary circumstances be- yond all doubt-such as the disappearance of Ferrari, the remarkable absence of the GUS tomary establishment of servants in the house, and the mysterious letter which his lordship asked the doctor to post. But where is the proof that any one of these circum- stances is associated-suspiciously and direct ly associated-with the only event which concerns us, the event of Lord Montbarry s death? In the ansence of any such proof, and in the face of the evidence of two eminent physicians, it is impossible to dispute the statement on the certificate that his lordship dsed a natural death We are bound, there fore, to report that there are no valid grounds for refusing the payment of the sum for which the late Lord Montbarry's life was as sured.
 "We shall send these lines to you by the post tomorrow, Dec. 10, leaving time to re- ceive your further instructions If any) in reply to telegram of this evening an nouncing the conclusion of the inquiry"