“I have just received your letter, and shall devote this whole morning to answering it,as I foresee that a little writing will not comprise what I have to tell you.I must confess myself surprised by your application;I did not expect it from you.Don't think me angry,however,for I only mean to let you know that I had not imagined such inquiries to be necessary on your side.If you do not choose to understand me,forgive my impertinence.Your uncle is as much surprised as I am―and nothing but the belief of your being a party concerned would have allowed him to act as he has done.But if you are really innocent and ignorant,I must be more explicit.

“There is a lady,it seems,a Mrs.Younge,who was some time ago governess to Miss Darcy,and was dismissed from her charge on some cause of disapprobation, though he did not say what. She then took a large house in Edward-street, and has since maintained herself by letting lodgings.This Mrs.Younge was, he knew, intimately acquainted with Wickham; and he went to her for intelligence of him as soon as he got to town.But it was two or three days before he could get from her what he wanted. She would not betray her trust, I suppose, without bribery an