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This section covers chapters 5 to 8 of the Fourth Scene, which continues the battle of wits at Aldborough between Wragge and Mrs Lecount.

Chapter summaries (beware spoilers):
(view spoiler)[
5. Wragge gains confidence in Magdalen’s ability to deceive. He thinks about how to get Mrs Lecount out of the way. Wragge and Magdalen go to see Noel and mrs Lecount. For most of the evening Wragge talks to Mrs Lecount and Magdalen talks to Noel. Wragge rises to say goodnight. On returning, Wragge tells Magdalen he has discovered that Mrs Lecount’s brother lives alone in Zurich. Magdalen seems cheerful, and mocks Noel’s voice. Mrs Lecount attempts to gauge Noel’s interest in Miss Bygrave, Noel tries to foil her. Mrs Lecount thinks she recognises something in Miss Bygrave’s voice. In bed she remembers Miss Vanstone, but since she has no evidence she is right she decides to wait. She thinks of three stratagems and decides to use all of them, and to make Mr Bygrave pay for his use of her husband’s memory. Next morning Magdalen takes Mrs Wragge for an early walk, and Mrs Wragge tells her she wants to continue her dressmaking. After the walk a messenger brings a note from Mrs Lecount suggesting a drive to Dunwich at 11 a.m. Wragge decides to accept but says that Mrs Lecount has found Magdalen out. He warns her not to provide Mrs Lecount with any evidence. They go out for the drive, and the outward trip goes smoothly. They go for a walk and Wragge contrives to separate the two pairs and get lost. Mrs Lecount sees through this ruse, but agrees to wait. They talk for an hour before Noel and Magdalen return. At the inn where the carriage is, Wragge allows Mrs Lecount to talk to Noel and talks to Magdalen, who says Noel has kissed her hand. She says she doesn’t want to sit with him on the return trip. She sits with Wragge, which allows Mrs Lecount to observe them. Mrs Lecount talks of London, and Wragge replies at length. She mentions Vauxhall Walk to Magdalen and asks if she knows a Miss Garth. Magdalen says no but hesitates for long enough to confirm her suspicions. Mrs Lecount talks about Miss Garth’s visit and Andrew Vanstone’s daughters. Wragge stops her, saying that his niece has a neuralgic attack. Noel stops the carriage, agrees to change the seating arrangements and is solicitous for the rest of the journey. As they dismount, Mrs Lecount glares at Wragge. He discusses Mrs Lecount with Magdalen, who says she has given her the courage to go on. Wragge thinks. Mrs Lecount decides to write to Norah.

6. Wragge realises that he can’t anticipate Mrs Lecount’s next move. He decides to puzzle her, and answer any enquiries by saying Miss Bygrave is worse, for two weeks. He thinks this will make it harder for Mrs Lecount to find proof, and increase Noel’s interest in Magdalen. Magdalen agrees, but proposes to move Mrs Wragge into her room. Mrs Lecount writes her letter to Norah, mentioning Mrs Garth’s visit and her suspicions, and saying her master is considering calling the police. She asks Norah to come to Aldborough or to give details of her sister’s appearance. She sends the letter to Pendril, enclosed in a letter to Noel’s solicitor. Noel calls and asks after Miss Bygrave and is told she is ill. On the third day Mrs Lecount receives three letters. One is from her brother’s medical attendant, saying his condition has worsened. The second is from Miss Garth, saying that Norah has accepted a position as a governess in the South of France and will be away for six weeks. She proposes sending Pendril to Aldborough. She also gives a description of Magdalen, mentioning two moles on her neck. Miss Garth suspects that Mrs Lecount’s suspicions are well founded. Mrs Lecount decides to visit the Bygraves. Wragge decides to adopt two different approaches with Noel and Mrs Lecount. Mrs Lecount calls, and offers her nursing services. Wragge declines in short answers. She leaves, and Noel arrives an hour later. Wragge tells him he has offended Mrs Lecount, and mentions Mrs Lecount’s jealousy of his niece’s influence on Noel. He says his niece does not want to see Mrs Lecount, and he is protecting her. Noel suggests sending Mrs Lecount away, Wragge says he shouldn’t. he tells Noel that if he meets him walking with Mrs Lecount he will walk away, but will talk to Noel if he is alone. Wragge says they will go for a walk early the next morning. He tells Noel not to discuss their conversation with Mrs Lecount, and to tell her that Wragge received him like a gentleman. Mrs Lecount says she is happy for Noel to see Miss Bygrave, but asks him for a favour, giving him a note to open, but not until he is with Miss Bygrave,

7. Late that night Wragge talks to Magdalen. He says that Noel should be persuaded to make a proposal, and that they should walk early the next morning. Magdalen says she has been helping Mrs Wragge with her gown, Next morning Noel appears, and Wragge senses a change in his manner, seeing something unsettled in his face. Noel has read the note. Wragge tells him Miss Bygrave’s walk has been postponed. Noel asks him to wait and he shows Wragge the piece of paper. Wragge is disconcerted, and asks Noel what he knows about Mrs Lecount’s family. Wragge suggests there may be madness in her family, and that Mrs Lecount may have another motive. Wragge suggests that they put the description to the test, saying that the two moles are the crucial element, and says he will inspect his niece’s dress to ensure he can see the neck. He goes to see Magdalen and asks for her stage paints and powders. He tells her they are close to being caught out and proposes painting out the moles. He applies the paint and tells her to wait for five minutes to allow the paint to dry before she comes down. Magdalen realises that Mrs Lecount has written to Norah or Miss Garth. She suggests that he should leave her with Noel and take Mrs Wragge out. Magdalen passes Noel’s inspection. They go out walking and Wragge leads his wife ahead. They walk for an hour. On returning Wragge asks Noel what he thinks, and Noel says he is starting to agree that Mrs Lecount may be mad. Noel says he has enjoyed the walk, and suggests another the next day, and asks Wragge what he should say to Mrs Lecount. Wragge suggests a strategy. Next day Noel joins them early again and returns with one of Miss Bygrave’s gloves. His good mood alerts Mrs Lecount, and she decides to write to Miss Garth suggesting summoning Pendril in a few days. Magdalen talks to Wragge and suggests changing the arrangement to meeting in the parlour at 12 the next day. Wragge suggests going out, and gives her a code to use the blinds to indicate the outcome of her talk with Noel. Noel calls, and Wragge sees that the blind is up, meaning that Noel has proposed.

8. In the house, Wragge receives a message from Noel saying he will visit at 2. Magdalen has locked herself in her room, but agrees to communicate with Wragge using letters delivered by Mrs Wragge. Wragge asks her if he should ask Noel for a settlement. Magdalen says no, and Mrs Wragge reports that her hand is cold. Noel arrives, and Wragge offers him brandy. Noel makes his proposal. Wragge raises the difficulty of Mrs Lecount, and whether she has been informed. Wragge counsels him against telling her. Noel tells him that Mrs Lecount has asked him about the inspection, and thinks she knows he discussed it with Wragge. Mrs Lecount has told him she will take the bandage off his eyes in a few days. Wragge sees this as a warning. Noel proposes arranging a secret marriage without telling Mrs Lecount. Wragge mentions settlements, and Noel asks for more brandy. Wragge asks for his word of honour that he will provide for his wife. Noel shakes his hand. Wragge asks him if he has heard the saying that all is fair in love and war. Noel says yes. He asks Noel how he would feel about tricking Mrs Lecount, and proposes sending her on a trip to Zurich. Noel says she has received a letter saying her brother is better. Wragge asks him if he can obtain the letter, Noel agrees to this. He asks if Noel has any friends in Zurich who can post the letter. He drafts a letter and shows it to Noel, who says it needs to be written in French, and his letters are always dated, and offers to translate it. Wragge says Noel can decide the date. Wragge sends the letter.
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I read this section a week ago and, to make sure I knew what this section covered, I searched for some on-line chapter by chapter summaries. Unfortunately, in doing so, I accidently saw a spoiler of a future event. There is always that danger when looking up either summaries or character descriptions on-line.
So, in the future, I'm going to wait for Hugh's summaries before commenting. The summaries are appreciated, Hugh.

This was a fairly good section - some brief comments:

1) At this point, the Wragge/Lecount face-offs provide the major dynamic of the story, so sections with their dialogues are of high interest and make this a fairly good section of the story.
2) Wragge is proving to be more and more competent in the deceptive arts and is proving to be both a valuable asset to Magdalen and a character whose presence picks things up in the story. As Linda noted in the last section, Noel insulted him with his offer so this is now personal to him. Since Noel has the skills, he now also has the incentive to put in his best effort when utilizing these skills.
3) Captain KIrke seems to be set up to play a significant role coming up yet I still have no idea what that role will be. However, I like that uncertainty as I don't enjoy being able to foresee every plot event..

I'm still in the middle of reading this section, but I do like where it's headed so far. Both Wragge and Lecount seem cunning enough for a good face-off. I was actually suprised that Wragge caught on that Lecount had caught on to them. So I'm excited to see where it leads us. Also, I'm on the lookout for when Magdalen ends up wearing the same dress as she did when she initially visited Noel in disguise and Lecount took the clipping from the bottom of the dress. She may be extra careful not to wear it again now that they suspect that Lecount suspects them of deception.

Ok, so the deception of marriage is set and now to wait the ten days until Lecount is to receive the fake letter from Zurich. Ten days seems a long time for something not to go wrong, so I’m wondering what that will prove to be. I’m guessing either Kirke or Frank will reenter the picture.

I certainly enjoyed seeing Wragge turn Mr Vanstone against Lecount and have him first suspicious of her, then finally eager to be rid of her.

I wish there had been a scene about how Magdalen convinced Noel to propose to her! What a sneaky lass. Of course she is not to be outdone by the sparring subterfuge of Wragge vs. Lecount! Hilarious! You just know the fact that Lecount is staying up past her bedtime means that she is up to no good. I actually missed Mrs. Wragge in this section. Perhaps it is because of her character, or maybe just because she is the only one with purity of heart in this tale! Meanwhile, I wonder if Frank is going to reappear at any point? I'm expecting the obsessive Kirke, but not sure about Frank.