The last chance of penetrating the mystery of Ferrari's disappearance seemed to rest now on what Ferrari's former fellow-servant might be able to tell.

With highly-wrought expectations, Agnes followed her friend into the room in which Mrs.Rolland was waiting.
A tall bony woman, in the autumn of life, with sunken eyes and iron-grey hair, rose stiffly from her chair, and saluted the ladies with stern submission as they opened the door.

A person of unblemished character, evidently--but not without visible drawbacks.

Big bushy eyebrows, an awfully deep and solemn voice, a harsh unbending manner, a complete absence in her figure of the undulating lines characteristic of the sex, presented Virtue in this excellent person under its least alluring aspect.

Strangers, on a first introduction to her, were accustomed to wonder why she was not a man.
'Are you pretty well, Mrs.Rolland ?' 'I am as well as I can expect to be, my lady, at my time of life.' 'Is there anything I can do for you ?' 'Your ladyship can do me a great favour, if you will please speak to my character while I was in your service.