But he was not content for all that.
"Have you made any inquiries," he asked, "about the period of her infancy before she was blind?
She may be still feeling, indirectly and unconsciously, the effect of some shock to her nervous system in the time when she could see." "I have never thought of making inquiries." "Is there anybody within our reach, who was familiarly associated with her in the first year of her life?
It is hardly likely, I am afraid, at this distance of time ?" "There is a person now in the house," I said.

"Her old nurse is still living." "Send for her directly." Zillah appeared.

After first explaining what he wanted with her, Nugent went straight to the inquiry which he had in view.
"Was your young lady ever frightened when she was a baby by any dark person, or any dark thing, suddenly appearing before her ?" "Never, sir! I took good care to let nothing come near her that could frighten her--so long, poor little thing, as she could see." "Are you quite sure you can depend on your memory ?" "Quite sure, sir--when it's a long time ago." Zillah was dismissed.

Nugent--thus far, unusually grave, and unusually anxious--turned to me with an air of relief.
"When you proposed to me to join you in forcing Oscar to speak out," he said, "I was not quite easy in my mind about the consequences.

After what I have just heard, my fear is removed." "What fear ?" I asked.
"The fear of Oscar's confession producing an estrangement between them which might delay the marriage.