Lady Catherine did not move, but looked even yet more distressed. Darcy was himself quite tired, and weary of the seemingly unending succession of calamitous events: “Is there something else, Madam, that is troubling you?”

Lady Catherine took a large folio of papers from the valise she carried and handed them to Darcy.

“This is all I have in the world, Fitzwilliam. When I gave Sir William my money, he gave me these papers. I wanted to have you look at them, but he told me that secrecy was of paramount importance, and that we had to act immediately.”

“Good Lord!” cried Darcy, sinking back into his chair. “How much did you give him?”

“The £7,000, which is all of my jointure,” she replied in a voice so low as to be nearly inaudible.

Darcy took the papers and quickly leafed through them. In a few minutes he replied, “Lady Catherine, I am not hopeful, but I am also no proficient in matters of philosophical science such as these. I have an acquaintance, who I believe has not yet left town, and who may be able to give us some advice on the value of such a scheme. I recommend that we rest ourselves now, in order that we will be better able to think and act with clarity on the morrow. Good night. I am extremely sorry for your present distress.” Making his bow, he left for his chamber.

The house-keeper came in directly and shewed Lady Catherine upstairs to an unused apartment. For the first time did the seriousness of her situation manifest itself clearly in her mind: she truly was a guest, and, as such, dependent upon the kindness of others for her every comfort. This was not the last of many long, sleepless nights for the widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh.

Darcy was downstairs, and had despatched a note to Mr. Parker before Lady Catherine made her appearance in the breakfast-room. Mr. Parker bounded in mid-morning, cheerful as ever, and full of curiosity as to the identity of the mysterious “complication” that could have resulted “in such an early summons, and on a Saturday, too! You must have a very high opinion of yourself, Darcy, indeed! To ask a man to leave his…”

He was taking off his hat and coat, and handing them to the butler, when he noticed the countenances of Mr. Darcy and an older woman sitting next to him in the drawing-room. He paused mid-sentence and said,

“I am afraid I have come at a bad moment. We are just this day leaving for our seat in Sussex,” he said, bowing to Lady Catherine. “I am not sure why I am here, but I came as quickly as I could after receiving your message.”