“You may possibly wonder why all this was not told you last night; but I was not then master enough of myself to know what could or ought to be revealed.For the truth of everything here related,I can appeal more particularly to the testimony of Colonel Fitzwilliam,who,from our near relationship and constant intimacy, and, still more, as one of the executors of my father's will, has been unavoidably acquainted with every particular of these transactions. If your abhorrence of me should make my assertions valueless,you cannot be prevented by the same cause from confiding in my cousin;and that there may be the possibility of consulting him,I shall endeavour to find some opportunity of putting this letter in your hands in the course of the morning.I will only add,God bless you.
“This, madam, is a faithful narrative of every event in which we have been concerned together; and if you do not absolutely reject it as false,you will,I hope,acquit me henceforth of cruelty towards Mr.Wickham.I know not in what manner,under what form of falsehood he had imposed on you;but his success is not perhaps to be wondered at. Ignorant as you previously were of everything concerning either, detection could not be in your power,and suspicion certainly not in your inclination.
“My excellent father died