[
449]
enable me to prove it to the world, but to ask my opinion whether she should show it to the world before leaving it. The whole consultation was upon the assumption that she had at her command such proofs as could not be questioned.
Concerning what they were I did not minutely inquire, only, in answer to a general question, she said that she had letters and documents in proof of her story.
Knowing
Lady Byron's strength of mind, her clear-headedness, her accurate habits, and her perfect knowledge of the matter, I considered her judgment on this point decisive.
I told her that I would take the subject into consideration and give my opinion in a few days.
That night, after my sister and myself had retired to our own apartment, I related to her the whole history, and we spent the night in talking it over.
I was powerfully impressed with the justice and propriety of an immediate disclosure; while she, on the contrary, represented the fatal consequences that would probably come upon
Lady Byron from taking such a step.
Before we parted the next day, I requested Lady Byron to give me some memoranda of such dates and outlines of the general story as would enable me better to keep it in its connection, which she did. On giving me the paper, Lady Byron requested me to return it to her when it had ceased to be of use to me for the purpose intended.
Accordingly, a day or two after, I inclosed it to her in a hasty note, as I was then leaving London for Paris, and had not yet had time fully to consider the subject.
On reviewing my note I can recall that then the whole history appeared to me like one of those singular cases where unnatural impulses to
