{{prxprp176.jpg}} || 176 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

'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 has

imposed on you; but his success is not perhaps to be wondered at,

ignorant as you previously were of every thing concerning either.

Detection could not be in your power, and suspicion certainly not in

your inclination. 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.

'Fitzwilliam Darcy.'

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