第10章

"Sofar，"hesaid，"Itellyouwhatwastoldtome。Thelittlethatremainstobeaddedlieswithinmyownexperience。BetweentwoandthreemonthsaftertheeventsIhavejustbeenrelating，IsaacScatchardcametome，witheredandold—lookingbeforehistime，justasyousawhimto—day。Hehadhistestimonialstocharacterwithhim，andheaskedforemploymenthere。Knowingthatmywifeandheweredistantlyrelated，Igavehimatrialinconsiderationofthatrelationship，andlikedhiminspiteofhisqueerhabits。Heisassober，honest，andwillingamanasthereisinEngland。Asforhisrestlessnessatnight，andhissleepingawayhisleisuretimeintheday，whocanwonderatitafterhearinghisstory？Besides，heneverobjectstobeingrousedupwhenhe’swanted，sothere’snotmuchinconveniencetocomplainof，afterall。"

"Isupposeheisafraidofareturnofthatdreadfuldream，andofwakingoutofitinthedark？"saidI。

"No，"returnedthelandlord。"Thedreamcomesbacktohimsooftenthathehasgottobearwithitbythistimeresignedlyenough。It’shiswifekeepshimwakingatnightashehasoftentoldme。"

"What！Hassheneverbeenheardofyet？"

"Never。Isaachimselfhastheoneperpetualthoughtabouther，thatsheisaliveandlookingforhim。Ibelievehewouldn’tlethimselfdropofftosleeptowardtwointhemorningforaking’sransom。Twointhemorning，hesays，isthetimeshewillfindhim，oneofthesedays。Twointhemorningisthetimealltheyearroundwhenhelikestobemostcertainthathehasgotthatclasp—knifesafeabouthim。Hedoesnotmindbeingaloneaslongasheisawake，exceptonthenightbeforehisbirthday，whenhefirmlybelieveshimselftobeinperilofhislife。Thebirthdayhasonlycomeroundoncesincehehasbeenhere，andthenhesatupalongwiththenight—porter。’She’slookingforme，’isallhesayswhenanybodyspeakstohimabouttheoneanxietyofhislife；’she’slookingforme。’Hemayberight。Shemaybelookingforhim。Whocantell？"

"Whocantell？"saidI。

THEFOURTHDAY。

THEskyoncemorecloudyandthreatening。NonewsofGeorge。I

correctedMorgan’ssecondstoryto—day；numbereditSeven，andaddedittoourstock。

Undeterredbytheweather，MissJessiesetoffthismorningonthelongestrideshehadyetundertaken。Shehadheard——throughoneofmybrother’slaborers，Ibelieve——oftheactualexistence，inthisnineteenthcentury，ofnolessapersonagethanaWelshBard，whowastobefoundatadistantfarmhousefarbeyondthelimitsofOwen’sproperty。Theprospectofdiscoveringthisremarkablerelicofpasttimeshurriedheroff，undertheguidanceofherraggedgroom，inahighstateofexcitement，toseeandhearthevenerableman。Shewasawaythewholeday，andforthefirsttimesincehervisitshekeptuswaitingmorethanhalfanhourfordinner。Themomentweallsatdowntotable，sheinformedus，toMorgan’sgreatdelight，thatthebardwasarankimpostor。

"Why，whatdidyouexpecttosee？"Iasked。

"AWelshpatriarch，tobesure，withalongwhitebeard，flowingrobes，andaharptomatch，"answeredMissJessie。

"Andwhatdidyoufind？"

"Ahighly—respectablemiddle—agedrustic；asmiling，smoothly—shaven，obligingman，dressedinablueswallow—tailedcoat，withbrassbuttons，andexhibitinghisbardiclegsinapairofextremelystout。andcomfortablecorduroytrousers。"

"ButhesangoldWelshsongs，surely？"

"Sang！I’lltellyouwhathedid。HesatdownonaWindsorchair，withoutaharp；heputhishandsinhispockets，clearedhisthroat，lookedupattheceiling，andsuddenlyburstintoaseriesoftheshrillestfalsettoscreechesIeverheardinmylife。Myownprivateopinionisthathewassufferingfromhydrophobia。Ihavelostallbelief，henceforthandforever，inbards——allbeliefineverything，inshort，exceptyourverydelightfulstoriesandthisremarkablygooddinner。

Endingwiththatsmartdoublefireofcomplimentstoherhosts，theQueenofHeartshonoredusallthreewithasmileofapproval，andtransferredherattentiontoherknifeandfork。

Thenumberdrawnto—nightwasOne。OnexaminationofthePurpleVolume，itprovedtobemyturntoreadagain。

"Ourstoryto—night，"Isaid，"containsthenarrativeofaveryremarkableadventurewhichreallybefellmewhenIwasayoungman。AtthetimeofmylifewhentheseeventshappenedIwasdabblinginliteraturewhenIoughttohavebeenstudyinglaw，andtravelingontheContinentwhenIoughttohavebeenkeepingmytermsatLincoln’sInn。Attheoutsetofthestory，youwillfindthatIrefertothecountyinwhichIlivedinmyyouth，andtoaneighboringfamilypossessingalargeestateinit。ThatcountyissituatedinapartofEnglandfarawayfromTheGlenTower，andthatfamilyisthereforenottobeassociatedwithanypresentorformerneighborsofoursinthispartoftheworld。"

Aftersayingthesenecessarywordsofexplanation，Iopenedthefirstpage，andbeganthestoryofmyOwnAdventure。IobservedthatmyaudiencestartedalittleasIreadthetitle，whichI

mustadd，inmyowndefense，hadbeenalmostforcedonmychoicebythepeculiarcharacterofthenarrative。Itwas"MADMONKTON。"

BROTHERGRIFFITH’SSTORY

ofMADMONKTON

CHAPTERI。

THEMonktonsofWincotAbbeyboreasadcharacterforwantofsociabilityinourcounty。Theyneverwenttootherpeople’shouses，and，exceptingmyfather，andaladyandherdaughterlivingnearthem，neverreceivedanybodyundertheirownroof。

Proudastheyallcertainlywere，itwasnotpride，butdread，whichkeptthemthusapartfromtheirneighbors。Thefamilyhadsufferedforgenerationspastfromthehorribleafflictionofhereditaryinsanity，andthemembersofitshrankfromexposingtheircalamitytoothers，astheymusthaveexposeditiftheyhadmingledwiththebusylittleworldaroundthem。ThereisafrightfulstoryofacrimecommittedinpasttimesbytwooftheMonktons，nearrelatives，fromwhichthefirstappearanceoftheinsanitywasalwayssupposedtodate，butitisneedlessformetoshockanyonebyrepeatingit。Itisenoughtosaythatatintervalsalmosteveryformofmadnessappearedinthefamily，monomaniabeingthemostfrequentmanifestationoftheafflictionamongthem。Ihavetheseparticulars，andoneortwoyettoberelated，frommyfather。

AttheperiodofmyyouthbutthreeoftheMonktonswereleftattheAbbey——Mr。andMrs。MonktonandtheironlychildAlfred，heirtotheproperty。Theoneothermemberofthis，theelderbranchofthefamily，whowasthenalive，wasMr。Monkton’syoungerbrother，Stephen。Hewasanunmarriedman，possessingafineestateinScotland；buthelivedalmostentirelyontheContinent，andborethereputationofbeingashamelessprofligate。ThefamilyatWincotheldalmostaslittlecommunicationwithhimaswiththeirneighbors。

Ihavealreadymentionedmyfather，andaladyandherdaughter，astheonlyprivilegedpeoplewhowereadmittedintoWincotAbbey。

MyfatherhadbeenanoldschoolandcollegefriendofMr。

Monkton，andaccidenthadbroughtthemsomuchtogetherinlaterlifethattheircontinuedintimacyatWincotwasquiteintelligible。IamnotsowellabletoaccountforthefriendlytermsonwhichMrs。Elmslie（theladytowhomIhavealluded）

livedwiththeMonktons。HerlatehusbandhadbeendistantlyrelatedtoMrs。Monkton，andmyfatherwasherdaughter’sguardian。ButeventheseclaimstofriendshipandregardneverseemedtomestrongenoughtoexplaintheintimacybetweenMrs。

ElmslieandtheinhabitantsoftheAbbey。Intimate，however，theycertainlywere，andoneresultoftheconstantinterchangeofvisitsbetweenthetwofamiliesinduetimedeclareditself：Mr。

Monkton’ssonandMrs。Elmslie’sdaughterbecameattachedtoeachother。

Ihadnoopportunitiesofseeingmuchoftheyounglady；Ionlyrememberheratthattimeasadelicate，gentle，lovablegirl，theveryoppositeinappearance，andapparentlyincharacteralso，toAlfredMonkton。Butperhapsthatwasonereasonwhytheyfellinlovewitheachother。Theattachmentwassoondiscovered，andwasfarfrombeingdisapprovedbytheparentsoneitherside。

Inallessentialpointsexceptthatofwealth，theElmslieswerenearlytheequalsoftheMonktons，andwantofmoneyinabridewasofnoconsequencetotheheirofWincot。Alfred，itwaswellknown，wouldsucceedtothirtythousandayearonhisfather’sdeath。

Thus，thoughtheparentsonbothsidesthoughttheyoungpeoplenotoldenoughtobemarriedatonce，theysawnoreasonwhyAdaandAlfredshouldnotbeengagedtoeachother，withtheunderstandingthattheyshouldbeunitedwhenyoungMonktoncameofage，intwoyears’time。Thepersontobeconsultedinthematter，aftertheparents，wasmyfather，inhiscapacityofAda’sguardian。HeknewthatthefamilymiseryhadshownitselfmanyyearsagoinMrs。Monkton，whowasherhusband’scousin。The_illness，_asitwassignificantlycalled，hadbeenpalliatedbycarefultreatment，andwasreportedtohavepassedaway。Butmyfatherwasnottobedeceived。Heknewwherethehereditarytaintstilllurked；heviewedwithhorrorthebarepossibilityofitsreappearingonedayinthechildrenofhisfriend’sonlydaughter；andhepositivelyrefusedhisconsenttothemarriageengagement。

TheresultwasthatthedoorsoftheAbbeyandthedoorsofMrs。

Elmslie’shousewereclosedtohim。ThissuspensionoffriendlyintercoursehadlastedbutaveryshorttimewhenMrs。Monktondied。Herhusband，whowasfondlyattachedtoher，caughtaviolentcoldwhileattendingherfuneral。Thecoldwasneglected，andsettledonhislungs。Inafewmonths’timehefollowedhiswifetothegrave，andAlfredwasleftmasterofthegrandoldAbbeyandthefairlandsthatspreadallaroundit。

AtthisperiodMrs。Elmsliehadtheindelicacytoendeavorasecondtimetoprocuremyfather’sconsenttothemarriageengagement。Herefuseditagainmorepositivelythanbefore。Morethanayearpassedaway。ThetimewasapproachingfastwhenAlfredwouldbeofage。Ireturnedfromcollegetospendthelongvacationathome，andmadesomeadvancestowardbetteringmyacquaintancewithyoungMonkton。Theywereevaded——certainlywithperfectpoliteness，butstillinsuchawayastopreventmefromofferingmyfriendshiptohimagain。AnymortificationImighthavefeltatthispettyrepulseunderordinarycircumstanceswasdismissedfrommymindbytheoccurrenceofarealmisfortuneinourhousehold。Forsomemonthspastmyfather’shealthhadbeenfailing，and，justatthetimeofwhichIamnowwriting，hissonshadtomourntheirreparablecalamityofhisdeath。

Thisevent，throughsomeinformalityorerrorinthelateMr。

Elmslie’swill，leftthefutureofAda’slifeentirelyathermother’sdisposal。Theconsequencewastheimmediateratificationofthemarriageengagementtowhichmyfatherhadsosteadilyrefusedhisconsent。Assoonasthefactwaspubliclyannounced，someofMrs。Elmslie’smoreintimatefriends，whowereacquaintedwiththereportsaffectingtheMonktonfamily，venturedtominglewiththeirformalcongratulationsoneortwosignificantreferencestothelateMrs。Monktonandsomesearchinginquiriesastothedispositionofherson。

Mrs。Elmsliealwaysmetthesepolitehintswithoneboldformofanswer。ShefirstadmittedtheexistenceofthesereportsabouttheMonktonswhichherfriendswereunwillingtospecifydistinctly，andthendeclaredthattheywereinfamouscalumnies。

Thehereditarytainthaddiedoutofthefamilygenerationsback。

Alfredwasthebest，thekindest，thesanestofhumanbeings。Helovedstudyandretirement；Adasympathizedwithhistastes，andhadmadeherchoiceunbiased；ifanymorehintsweredroppedaboutsacrificingherbyhermarriage，thosehintswouldbeviewedassomanyinsultstohermother，whoseaffectionforheritwasmonstroustocallinquestion。Thiswayoftalkingsilencedpeople，butdidnotconvincethem。Theybegantosuspect，whatwasindeedtheactualtruth，thatMrs。Elmsliewasaselfish，worldly，graspingwoman，whowantedtogetherdaughterwellmarried，andcarednothingforconsequencesaslongasshesawAdamistressofthegreatestestablishmentinthewholecounty。

Itseemed，however，asiftherewassomefatalityatworktopreventtheattainmentofMrs。Elmslie’sgreatobjectinlife。

Hardlywasoneobstacletotheill—omenedmarriageremovedbymyfather’sdeathbeforeanothersucceededitintheshapeofanxietiesanddifficultiescausedbythedelicatestateofAda’shealth。Doctorswereconsultedinalldirections，andtheresultoftheiradvicewasthatthemarriagemustbedeferred，andthatMissElmsliemustleaveEnglandforacertaintime，toresideinawarmerclimate——thesouthofFrance，ifIrememberrightly。

ThusithappenedthatjustbeforeAlfredcameofageAdaandhermotherdepartedfortheContinent，andtheunionofthetwoyoungpeoplewasunderstoodtobeindefinitelypostponed。SomecuriositywasfeltintheneighborhoodastowhatAlfredMonktonwoulddounderthesecircumstances。Wouldhefollowhislady—love？wouldhegoyachting？wouldhethrowopenthedoorsoftheoldAbbeyatlast，andendeavortoforgettheabsenceofAdaandthepostponementofhismarriageinaroundofgayeties？Hedidnoneofthesethings。HesimplyremainedatWincot，livingassuspiciouslystrangeandsolitaryalifeashisfatherhadlivedbeforehim。Literally，therewasnownocompanionforhimattheAbbeybuttheoldpriest——theMonktons，Ishouldhavementionedbefore，wereRomanCatholics——whohadheldtheofficeoftutortoAlfredfromhisearliestyears。Hecameofage，andtherewasnotevensomuchasaprivatedinner—partyatWincottocelebratetheevent。Familiesintheneighborhooddeterminedtoforgettheoffensewhichhisfather’sreservehadgiventhem，andinvitedhimtotheirhouses。Theinvitationswerepolitelydeclined。

CivilvisitorscalledresolutelyattheAbbey，andwereasresolutelybowedawayfromthedoorsassoonastheyhadlefttheircards。UnderthiscombinationofsinisterandaggravatingcircumstancespeopleinalldirectionstooktoshakingtheirheadsmysteriouslywhenthenameofMr。AlfredMonktonwasmentioned，hintingatthefamilycalamity，andwonderingpeevishlyorsadly，astheirtempersinclinedthem，whathecouldpossiblydotooccupyhimselfmonthaftermonthinthelonelyoldhouse。

Therightanswertothisquestionwasnoteasytofind。Itwasquiteuseless，forexample，toapplytothepriestforit。Hewasaveryquiet，politeoldgentleman；hisreplieswerealwaysexcessivelyreadyandcivil，andappearedatthetimetoconveyanimmensequantityofinformation；butwhentheycametobereflectedon，itwasuniversallyobservedthatnothingtangiblecouldeverbegotoutofthem。Thehousekeeper，aweirdoldwoman，withaveryabruptandrepellingmanner，wastoofierceandtaciturntobesafelyapproached。Thefewindoorservantshadallbeenlongenoughinthefamilytohavelearnedtoholdtheirtonguesinpublicasaregularhabit。Itwasonlyfromthefarm—servantswhosuppliedthetableattheAbbeythatanyinformationcouldbeobtained，andvagueenoughitwaswhentheycametocommunicateit。

Someofthemhadobservedthe"youngmaster"walkingaboutthelibrarywithheapsofdustypapersinhishands。OthershadheardoddnoisesintheuninhabitedpartsoftheAbbey，hadlookedup，andhadseenhimforcingopentheoldwindows，asiftoletlightandairintotheroomssupposedtohavebeenshutcloseforyearsandyears，orhaddiscoveredhimstandingontheperiloussummitofoneofthecrumblingturrets，neverascendedbeforewithintheirmemories，andpopularlyconsideredtobeinhabitedbytheghostsofthemonkswhohadoncepossessedthebuilding。Theresultoftheseobservationsanddiscoveries，whentheywerecommunicatedtoothers，wasofcoursetoimpresseveryonewithafirmbeliefthat"pooryoungMonktonwasgoingthewaythattherestofthefamilyhadgonebeforehim，"whichopinionalwaysappearedtobeimmenselystrengthenedinthepopularmindbyaconviction——foundedonnoparticleofevidence——thatthepriestwasatthebottomofallthemischief。

ThusfarIhavespokenfromhearsayevidencemostly。WhatIhavenexttotellwillbetheresultofmyownpersonalexperience。

CHAPTERII。

ABOUTfivemonthsafterAlfredMonktoncameofageIleftcollege，andresolvedtoamuseandinstructmyselfalittlebytravelingabroad。

AtthetimewhenIquittedEnglandyoungMonktonwasstillleadinghissecludedlifeattheAbbey，andwas，intheopinionofeverybody，sinkingrapidly，ifhehadnotalreadysuccumbed，underthehereditarycurseofhisfamily。AstotheElmslies，reportsaidthatAdahadbenefitedbyhersojournabroad，andthatmotheranddaughterwereontheirwaybacktoEnglandtoresumetheiroldrelationswiththeheirofWincot。BeforetheyreturnedIwasawayonmytravels，andwanderedhalfoverEurope，hardlyeverplanningwhitherIshouldshapemycoursebeforehand。

Chance，whichthusledmeeverywhere，ledmeatlasttoNaples。

ThereImetwithanoldschoolfriend，whowasoneofthe_attaches_attheEnglishembassy，andtherebegantheextraordinaryeventsinconnectionwithAlfredMonktonwhichformthemaininterestofthestoryIamnowrelating。

Iwasidlingawaythetimeonemorningwithmyfriendthe_attache_inthegardenoftheVillaReale，whenwewerepassedbyayoungman，walkingalone，whoexchangedbowswithmyfriend。

IthoughtIrecognizedthedark，eagereyes，thecolorlesscheeks，thestrangely—vigilant，anxiousexpressionwhichI

rememberedinpasttimesascharacteristicofAlfredMonkton’sface，andwasabouttoquestionmyfriendonthesubject，whenhegavemeunaskedtheinformationofwhichIwasinsearch。

"ThatisAlfredMonkton，"saidhe；"hecomesfromyourpartofEngland。Yououghttoknowhim。"

"Idoknowalittleofhim，"Ianswered；"hewasengagedtoMissElmsliewhenIwaslastintheneighborhoodofWincot。Ishemarriedtoheryet？"

"No，andheneveroughttobe。Hehasgonethewayoftherestofthefamily——or，inplainerwords，hehasgonemad。"

"Mad！ButIoughtnottobesurprisedathearingthat，afterthereportsabouthiminEngland。"

"Ispeakfromnoreports；Ispeakfromwhathehassaidanddonebeforeme，andbeforehundredsofotherpeople。Surelyyoumusthaveheardofit？"

"Never。IhavebeenoutofthewayofnewsfromNaplesorEnglandformonthspast。"

"ThenIhaveaveryextraordinarystorytotellyou。Youknow，ofcourse，thatAlfredhadanuncle，StephenMonkton。Well，sometimeagothisunclefoughtaduelintheRomanStateswithaFrenchman，whoshothimdead。ThesecondsandtheFrenchman（whowasunhurt）tooktoflightindifferentdirections，asitissupposed。Weheardnothinghereofthedetailsofthedueltillamonthafterithappened，whenoneoftheFrenchjournalspublishedanaccountofit，takenfromthepapersleftbyMonkton’ssecond，whodiedatParisofconsumption。Thesepapersstatedthemannerinwhichtheduelwasfought，andhowitterminated，butnothingmore。ThesurvivingsecondandtheFrenchmanhaveneverbeentracedfromthattimetothis。Allthatanybodyknows，therefore，oftheduelisthatStephenMonktonwasshot；aneventwhichnobodycanregret，foragreaterscoundrelneverexisted。Theexactplacewherehedied，andwhatwasdonewiththebodyarestillmysteriesnottobepenetrated。"

"ButwhathasallthistodowithAlfred？"

"Waitamoment，andyouwillhear。Soonafterthenewsofhisuncle’sdeathreachedEngland，whatdoyouthinkAlfreddid？HeactuallyputoffhismarriagewithMissElmslie，whichwasthenabouttobecelebrated，tocomeouthereinsearchoftheburial—placeofhiswretchedscampofanuncle；andnopoweronearthwillnowinducehimtoreturntoEnglandandtoMissElmslieuntilhehasfoundthebody，andcantakeitbackwithhim，tobeburiedwithalltheotherdeadMonktonsinthevaultunderWincotAbbeyChapel。Hehassquanderedhismoney，pesteredthepolice，andexposedhimselftotheridiculeofthemenandtheindignationofthewomenforthelastthreemonthsintryingtoachievehisinsanepurpose，andisnowasfarfromitasever。

Hewillnotassigntoanybodythesmallestmotiveforhisconduct。Youcan’tlaughhimoutofitorreasonhimoutofit。

Whenwemethimjustnow，Ihappentoknowthathewasonhiswaytotheofficeofthepoliceminister，tosendoutfreshagentstosearchandinquirethroughtheRomanStatesfortheplacewherehisunclewasshot。And，mind，allthistimeheprofessestobepassionatelyinlovewithMissElmslie，andtobemiserableathisseparationfromher。Justthinkofthat！Andthenthinkofhisself—imposedabsencefromherhere，tohuntaftertheremainsofawretchwhowasadisgracetothefamily，andwhomheneversawbutonceortwiceinhislife。Ofallthe’MadMonktons，’astheyusedtocalltheminEngland，Alfredisthemaddest。Heisactuallyourprincipalexcitementinthisdulloperaseason；

though，formyownpart，whenIthinkofthepoorgirlinEngland，Iamagreatdealmorereadytodespisehimthantolaughathim。"

"YouknowtheElmsliesthen？"

"Intimately。TheotherdaymymotherwrotetomefromEngland，afterhavingseenAda。ThisescapadeofMonkton’shasoutragedallherfriends。Theyhavebeenentreatinghertobreakoffthematch，whichitseemsshecoulddoifsheliked。Evenhermother，sordidandselfishassheis，hasbeenobligedatlast，incommondecency，tosidewiththerestofthefamily；butthegood，faithfulgirlwon’tgiveMonktonup。Shehumorshisinsanity；

declareshegaveheragoodreasoninsecretforgoingaway；saysshecouldalwaysmakehimhappywhentheyweretogetherintheoldAbbey，andcanmakehimstillhappierwhentheyaremarried；

inshort，sheloveshimdearly，andwillthereforebelieveinhimtothelast。Nothingshakesher。Shehasmadeuphermindtothrowawayherlifeonhim，andshewilldoit。"

"Ihopenot。Madashisconductlookstous，hemayhavesomesensiblereasonforitthatwecannotimagine。Doeshismindseematalldisorderedwhenhetalksonordinarytopics？"

"Notintheleast。Whenyoucangethimtosayanything，whichisnotoften，hetalkslikeasensible，well—educatedman。Keepsilenceabouthispreciouserrandhere，andyouwouldfancyhimthegentlestandmosttemperateofhumanbeings；buttouchthesubjectofhisvagabondofanuncle，andtheMonktonmadnesscomesoutdirectly。Theothernightaladyaskedhim，jestinglyofcourse，whetherhehadeverseenhisuncle’sghost。Hescowledatherlikeaperfectfiend，andsaidthatheandhisunclewouldanswerherquestiontogethersomeday，iftheycamefromhelltodoit。Welaughedathiswords，buttheladyfaintedathislooks，andwehadasceneofhystericsandhartshorninconsequence。Anyothermanwouldhavebeenkickedoutoftheroomfornearlyfrighteningaprettywomantodeathinthatway；but’MadMonkton，’aswehavechristenedhim，isaprivilegedlunaticinNeapolitansociety，becauseheisEnglish，good—looking，andworththirtythousandayear。Hegoesouteverywhereundertheimpressionthathemaymeetwithsomebodywhohasbeenletintothesecretoftheplacewherethemysteriousduelwasfought。Ifyouareintroducedtohimheissuretoaskyouwhetheryouknowanythingaboutit；butbewareoffollowingupthesubjectafteryouhaveansweredhim，unlessyouwanttomakesurethatheisoutofhissenses。Inthatcase，onlytalkofhisuncle，andtheresultwillrathermorethansatisfyyou。"

Adayortwoafterthisconversationwithmyfriendthe_attache，_ImetMonktonataneveningparty。

Themomentheheardmynamementioned，hisfaceflushedup；hedrewmeawayintoacorner，andreferringtohiscoolreceptionofmyadvanceyearsagotowardmakinghisacquaintance，askedmypardonforwhathetermedhisinexcusableingratitudewithanearnestnessandanagitationwhichutterlyastonishedme。Hisnextproceedingwastoquestionme，asmyfriendhadsaidhewould，abouttheplaceofthemysteriousduel。

Anextraordinarychangecameoverhimwhileheinterrogatedmeonthispoint。Insteadoflookingintomyfaceastheyhadlookedhitherto，hiseyeswanderedaway，andfixedthemselvesintensely，almostfiercely，eitherontheperfectlyemptywallatourside，oronthevacantspacebetweenthewallandourselves，itwasimpossibletosaywhich。IhadcometoNaplesfromSpainbysea，andbrieflytoldhimso，asthebestwayofsatisfyinghimthatI

couldnotassisthisinquiries。Hepursuedthemnofurther；and，mindfulofmyfriend’swarning，Itookcaretoleadtheconversationtogeneraltopics。Helookedbackatmedirectly，and，aslongaswestoodinourcorner，hiseyesneverwanderedawayagaintotheemptywallorthevacantspaceatourside。

Thoughmorereadytolistenthantospeak，hisconversation，whenhedidtalk，hadnotraceofanythingtheleastlikeinsanityaboutit。Hehadevidentlyread，notgenerallyonly，butdeeplyaswell，andcouldapplyhisreadingwithsingularfelicitytotheillustrationofalmostanysubjectunderdiscussion，neitherobtrudinghisknowledgeabsurdly，norconcealingitaffectedly。

Hismannerwasinitselfastandingprotestagainstsuchanicknameas"MadMonkton。"Hewassoshy，soquiet，socomposedandgentleinallhisactions，thatattimesIshouldhavebeenalmostinclinedtocallhimeffeminate。Wehadalongtalktogetheronthefirsteveningofourmeeting；weoftensaweachotherafterward，andneverlostasingleopportunityofbetteringour