No Name · Chapter
V: From Mrs. Lecount to Mr. de Bleriot, General Agent, London explained
Mrs.
What happens
Mrs. Lecount writes to Mr. de Bleriot, a general agent in London, seeking his help to locate Noel Vanstone, who has secretly married and disappeared. She explains her long service as housekeeper to the Vanstone family, her illness, and her belief that Noel and his wife are hiding from her. She intends to confront them and demand financial provision, leveraging her knowledge of a danger threatening Noel's marriage. She provides details of their last known movements and asks de Bleriot to trace them.
Themes in this chapter
Secrecy and Revelation
Mrs. Lecount seeks to uncover Noel Vanstone's hidden whereabouts and reveal a secret danger threatening his marriage.
Revenge and Justice
Mrs. Lecount aims to force Noel to pay her due, framing it as a just claim and a form of retribution for his ingratitude.
Class and Social Mobility
The power dynamics between a housekeeper and her employer highlight class tensions, as Mrs. Lecount asserts her right to a provision.
Characters to notice
- Mrs. Lecount
Writes the letter, recovering from illness, seeking to locate Noel Vanstone to demand her due.
- Noel Vanstone
Subject of the search; secretly married and in hiding, described as mean and ungrateful.
- Miss Bygrave
Referred to as Noel's wife, vilified by Mrs. Lecount as the vilest of living women.
- John Loscombe
Noel's lawyer, who has declined to disclose Noel's whereabouts.
- Admiral Bartram
Owner of St. Crux, where Mrs. Lecount is staying; his nephew is the correspondent.
- Alfred de Bleriot
The general agent to whom the letter is addressed, former commercial associate of Mrs. Lecount's brother.
Key passages
“I have lived, for many years past, in this gentleman’s service as housekeeper; and not having received my formal dismissal, I consider myself in his service still.”
I have been his housekeeper for many years, and since he never officially fired me, I still see myself as his employee.
Mrs. Lecount asserts her ongoing connection to Noel Vanstone to justify her search.
“He is the meanest of living men, and his wife is the vilest of living women.”
He is the stingiest man alive, and his wife is the most wicked woman alive.
Mrs. Lecount expresses her contempt for Noel and his new wife.
“His security from the danger that threatens him is in my hands alone; and he shall pay the price of his rescue to the last farthing of the debt that justice claims for me as my due—no more, and no less.”
Only I can protect him from the danger he faces, and he will pay me every penny he owes me for that protection—exactly what is fair, nothing more.
Mrs. Lecount reveals her leverage and her intention to demand payment.