We left Eva in charge of Jane Braithwaite, God only knows how much against my will, but we were in a corner, it was life or death with us, and to find out how much you knew was a first plain necessity.

And the means we took were the only means in our power; nor shall I say more to you on that subject than I said five years ago in my poor old house.

That is still the one part of the whole conspiracy of which I myself am most ashamed.
"And now it only remains for me to tell you why I have written all this to you, at such great length, so long after the event.

My wife wished it.

The fact is that she wants you to think better of me than I deserve; and I--yes--I confess that I should like you not to think quite as ill of me as you must have done all these years.