第13章

"Yes，yes，"herejoined，inanswertothefewwordsInowspoketotryandcalmhim，"don’tbeafraidaboutme。Afterwhatyouhavesaid，I’llanswerformyowncoolnessandcomposureunderallemergencies。IhavebeensolongusedtotheapparitionthatIhardlyfeelitspresenceatallexceptonrareoccasions。

Besides，Ihavehereinthislittlepacketoflettersthemedicineforeverymaladyofthesickheart。TheyareAda’sletters；Ireadthemtocalmmewhenevermymisfortuneseemstogetthebetterofmyendurance。Iwantedthathalfhourtoreadtheminto—nightbeforeyoucame，tomakemyselffittoseeyou，andIshallgothroughthemagainafteryouaregone；so，oncemore，don’tbeafraidaboutme。IknowIshallsucceedwithyourhelp，andAdashallthankyouasyoudeservetobethankedwhenwegetbacktoEngland。IfyouhearthefoolsatNaplestalkaboutmybeingmad，don’ttroubleyourselftocontradictthem；

thescandalissocontemptiblethatitmustendbycontradictingitself。"

Ilefthim，promisingtoreturnearlythenextday。

WhenIgotbacktomyhotel，IfeltthatanyideaofsleepingafterallthatIhadseenandheardwasoutofthequestion；soI

litmypipe，and，sittingbythewindow——howitrefreshedmymindjustthentolookatthecalmmoonlight！——triedtothinkwhatitwouldbebesttodo。Inthefirstplace，anyappealtodoctorsortoAlfred’sfriendsinEnglandwasoutofthequestion。Icouldnotpersuademyselfthathisintellectwassufficientlydisorderedtojustifyme，underexistingcircumstances，indisclosingthesecretwhichhehadintrustedtomykeeping。Inthesecondplace，allattemptsonmyparttoinducehimtoabandontheideaofsearchingouthisuncle’sremainswouldbeutterlyuselessafterwhatIhadincautiouslysaidtohim。Havingsettledthesetwoconclusions，theonlyreallygreatdifficultywhichremainedtoperplexmewaswhetherIwasjustifiedinaidinghimtoexecutehisextraordinarypurpose。

Supposingthat，withmyhelp，hefoundMr。Monkton’sbody，andtookitbackwithhimtoEngland，wasitrightinmethustolendmyselftopromotingthemarriagewhichwouldmostlikelyfollowtheseevents——amarriagewhichitmightbethedutyofeveryonetopreventatallhazards？Thissetmethinkingabouttheextentofhismadness，ortospeakmoremildlyandmorecorrectly，ofhisdelusion。Sanehecertainlywasonallordinarysubjects；

nay，inallthenarrativepartsofwhathehadsaidtomeonthisveryeveninghehadspokenclearlyandconnectedly。Asforthestoryoftheapparition，othermen，withintellectsasclearastheintellectsoftheirneighborshadfanciedthemselvespursuedbyaphantom，andhadevenwrittenaboutitinahighstrainofphilosophicalspeculation。ItwasplainthattherealhallucinationinthecasenowbeforemelayinMonkton’sconvictionofthetruthoftheoldprophecy，andinhisideathatthefanciedapparitionwasasupernaturalwarningtohimtoevadeitsdenunciations；anditwasequallyclearthatbothdelusionshadbeenproduced，inthefirstinstance，bythelonelylifehehadledactingonanaturallyexcitabletemperament，whichwasrenderedfurtherliabletomoraldiseasebyanhereditarytaintofinsanity。

Wasthiscurable？MissElmslie，whoknewhimfarbetterthanI

did，seemedbyherconducttothinkso。HadIanyreasonorrighttodetermineoffhandthatshewasmistaken？SupposingIrefusedtogotothefrontierwithhim，hewouldthenmostcertainlydepartbyhimself，tocommitallsortsoferrors，andperhapstomeetwithallsortsofaccidents；whileI，anidleman，withmytimeentirelyatmyowndisposal，wasstoppingatNaples，andleavinghimtohisfateafterIhadsuggestedtheplanofhisexpedition，andhadencouragedhimtoconfideinme。InthiswayIkeptturningthesubjectoverandoveragaininmymind，beingquitefree，letmeadd，fromlookingatitinanyotherthanapracticalpointofview。Ifirmlybelieved，asaderiderofallghoststories，thatAlfredwasdeceivinghimselfinfancyingthathehadseentheapparitionofhisunclebeforethenewsofMr。

Monkton’sdeathreachedEngland，andIwasonthisaccount，therefore，uninfluencedbytheslightestinfectionofmyunhappyfriend’sdelusionswhenIatlastfairlydecidedtoaccompanyhiminhisextraordinarysearch。Possiblymyharum—scarumfondnessforexcitementatthattimebiasedmealittleinformingmyresolution；butImustadd，incommonjusticetomyself，thatI

alsoactedfrommotivesofrealsympathyforMonkton，andfromasincerewishtoallay，ifIcould，theanxietyofthepoorgirlwhowasstillsofaithfullywaitingandhopingforhimfarawayinEngland。

Certainarrangementspreliminarytoourdeparture，whichIfoundmyselfobligedtomakeafterasecondinterviewwithAlfred，betrayedtheobjectofourjourneytomostofourNeapolitanfriends。Theastonishmentofeverybodywasofcourseunbounded，andthenearlyuniversalsuspicionthatImustbeasmadinmywayasMonktonhimselfshoweditselfprettyplainlyinmypresence。SomepeopleactuallytriedtocombatmyresolutionbytellingmewhatashamelessprofligateStephenMonktonhadbeen——asifIhadastrongpersonalinterestinhuntingouthisremains！Ridiculemovedmeaslittleasanyargumentsofthissort；mymindwasmadeup，andIwasasobstinatethenasIamnow。

Intwodays’timeIhadgoteverythingready，andhadorderedthetravelingcarriagetothedoorsomehoursearlierthanwehadoriginallysettled。Wewerejoviallythreatenedwith"apartingcheer"byallourEnglishacquaintances，andIthoughtitdesirabletoavoidthisonmyfriend’saccount；forhehadbeenmoreexcited，asitwas，bythepreparationsforthejourneythanIatallliked。Accordingly，soonaftersunrise，withoutasoulinthestreettostareatus，weprivatelyleftNaples。

Nobodywillwonder，Ithink，thatIexperiencedsomedifficultyinrealizingmyownposition，andshrankinstinctivelyfromlookingforwardasingledayintothefuture，whenInowfoundmyselfstarting，incompanywith"MadMonkton，"tohuntforthebodyofadeadduelistallalongthefrontierlineoftheRomanStates！

CHAPTERV。

IHADsettleditinmyownmindthatwehadbettermakethetownofFondi，closeonthefrontier，ourheadquarters，tobeginwith，andIhadarranged，withtheassistanceoftheembassy，thattheleadencoffinshouldfollowussofar，securelynailedupinitspacking—case。Besidesourpassports，wewerewellfurnishedwithlettersofintroductiontothelocalauthoritiesatmostoftheimportantfrontiertowns，and，tocrownall，wehadmoneyenoughatourcommand（thankstoMonkton’svastfortune）tomakesureoftheservicesofanyonewhomwewantedtoassistusallalongourlineofsearch。Thesevariousresourcesinsureduseveryfacilityforaction，providedalwaysthatwesucceededindiscoveringthebodyofthedeadduelist。But，intheveryprobableeventofourfailingtodothis，ourfutureprospects——moreespeciallyaftertheresponsibilityIhadundertaken——wereofanythingbutanagreeablenaturetocontemplate。IconfessIfeltuneasy，almosthopeless，asweposted，inthedazzlingItaliansunshine，alongtheroadtoFondi。

Wemadeaneasytwodays’journeyofit；forIhadinsisted，onMonkton’saccount，thatweshouldtravelslowly。

Onthefirstdaytheexcessiveagitationofmycompanionalittlealarmedme；heshowed，inmanyways，moresymptomsofadisorderedmindthanIhadyetobservedinhim。Onthesecondday，however，heseemedtogetaccustomedtocontemplatecalmlythenewideaofthesearchonwhichwewerebent，and，exceptononepoint，hewascheerfulandcomposedenough。Wheneverhisdeaduncleformedthesubjectofconversation，hestillpersisted——onthestrengthoftheoldprophecy，andundertheinfluenceoftheapparitionwhichhesaw，orthoughthesawalways——inassertingthatthecorpseofStephenMonkton，whereveritwas，layyetunburied。Oneveryothertopichedeferredtomewiththeutmostreadinessanddocility；onthishemaintainedhisstrangeopinionwithanobstinacywhichsetreasonandpersuasionalikeatdefiance。

OnthethirddaywerestedatFondi。Thepacking—case，withthecoffininit，reachedus，andwasdepositedinasafeplaceunderlockandkey。Weengagedsomemules，andfoundamantoactasguidewhoknewthecountrythoroughly。Itoccurredtomethatwehadbetterbeginbyconfidingtherealobjectofourjourneyonlytothemosttrustworthypeoplewecouldfindamongthebetter—educatedclasses。Forthisreasonwefollowed，inonerespect，theexampleofthefataldueling—party，bystarting，earlyonthemorningofthefourthday，withsketch—booksandcolor—boxes，asifwewereonlyartistsinsearchofthepicturesque。

AftertravelingsomehoursinanortherlydirectionwithintheRomanfrontier，wehaltedtorestourselvesandourmulesatawildlittlevillagefaroutofthetrackoftouristsingeneral。

Theonlypersonofthesmallestimportanceintheplacewasthepriest，andtohimIaddressedmyfirstinquiries，leavingMonktontoawaitmyreturnwiththeguide。IspokeItalianquitefluently，andcorrectlyenoughformypurpose，andwasextremelypoliteandcautiousinintroducingmybusiness，butinspiteofallthepainsItook，IonlysucceededinfrighteningandbewilderingthepoorpriestmoreandmorewitheveryfreshwordI

saidtohim。Theideaofadueling—partyandadeadmanseemedtoscarehimoutofhissenses。Hebowed，fidgeted，casthiseyesuptoheaven，andpiteouslyshrugginghisshoulders，toldme，withrapidItaliancircumlocution，thathehadnotthefaintestideaofwhatIwastalkingabout。Thiswasmyfirstfailure。IconfessIwasweakenoughtofeelalittledispiritedwhenIrejoinedMonktonandtheguide。

Aftertheheatofthedaywasoverweresumedourjourney。

Aboutthreemilesfromthevillage，theroad，orrathercart—track，branchedoffintwodirections。Thepathtotheright，ourguideinformedus，ledupamongthemountainstoaconventaboutsixmilesoff。IfwepenetratedbeyondtheconventweshouldsoonreachtheNeapolitanfrontier。ThepathtotheleftledfarinwardontheRomanterritory，andwouldconductustoasmalltownwherewecouldsleepforthenight。NowtheRomanterritorypresentedthefirstandfittestfieldforoursearch，andtheconventwasalwayswithinreach，supposingwereturnedtoFondiunsuccessful。Besides，thepathtotheleftledoverthewidestpartofthecountrywewerestartingtoexplore，andIwasalwaysforvanquishingthegreatestdifficultyfirst；sowedecidedmanfullyonturningtotheleft。Theexpeditioninwhichthisresolutioninvolveduslastedawholeweek，andproducednoresults。Wediscoveredabsolutelynothing，andreturnedtoourheadquartersatFondisocompletelybaffledthatwedidnotknowwhithertoturnourstepsnext。

IwasmademuchmoreuneasybytheeffectofourfailureonMonktonthanbythefailureitself。Hisresolutionappearedtobreakdownaltogetherassoonaswebegantoretraceoursteps。

Hebecamefirstfretfulandcapricious，thensilentanddesponding。Finally，hesankintoalethargyofbodyandmindthatseriouslyalarmedme。OnthemorningafterourreturntoFondiheshowedastrangetendencytosleepincessantly，whichmademesuspecttheexistenceofsomephysicalmaladyinhisbrain。Thewholedayhehardlyexchangedawordwithme，andseemedtobeneverfairlyawake。EarlythenextmorningIwentintohisroom，andfoundhimassilentandlethargicasever。Hisservant，whowaswithus，informedmethatAlfredhadonceortwicebeforeexhibitedsuchphysicalsymptomsofmentalexhaustionaswewerenowobservingduringhisfather’slifetimeatWincotAbbey。Thispieceofinformationmademefeeleasier，andleftmymindfreetoreturntotheconsiderationoftheerrandwhichhadbroughtustoFondi。

Iresolvedtooccupythetimeuntilmycompaniongotbetterinprosecutingoursearchbymyself。Thatpathtotherighthandwhichledtotheconventhadnotyetbeenexplored。IfIsetofftotraceit，IneednotbeawayfromMonktonmorethanonenight，andIshouldatleastbeable，onmyreturn，togivehimthesatisfactionofknowingthatonemoreuncertaintyregardingtheplaceoftheduelhadbeenclearedup。Theseconsiderationsdecidedme。IleftamessageformyfriendincaseheaskedwhereIhadgone，andsetoutoncemoreforthevillageatwhichwehadhaltedwhenstartingonourfirstexpedition。

Intendingtowalktotheconvent，Ipartedcompanywiththeguideandthemuleswherethetrackbranchedoff，leavingthemtogobacktothevillageandawaitmyreturn。

Forthefirstfourmilesthepathgentlyascendedthroughanopencountry，thenbecameabruptlymuchsteeper，andledmedeeperanddeeperamongthicketsandendlesswoods。BythetimemywatchinformedmethatImusthavenearlywalkedmyappointeddistance，theviewwasboundedonallsidesandtheskywasshutoutoverheadbyanimperviousscreenofleavesandbranches。Istillfollowedmyonlyguide，thesteeppath；andintenminutes，emergingsuddenlyonaplotoftolerablyclearandlevelground，Isawtheconventbeforeme。

Itwasadark，low，sinister—lookingplace。Notasignoflifeormovementwasvisibleanywhereaboutit。Greenstainsstreakedtheoncewhitefacadeofthechapelinalldirections。Mossclusteredthickineverycreviceoftheheavyscowlingwallthatsurroundedtheconvent。Longlankweedsgrewoutofthefissuresofroofandparapet，and，droopingfardownward，wavedwearilyinandoutofthebarreddormitorywindows。Theverycrossoppositetheentrance—gate，withashockinglife—sizedfigureinwoodnailedtoit，wassobesetatthebasewithcrawlingcreatures，andlookedsoslimy，green，androttenallthewayup，thatI

absolutelyshrankfromit。

Abell—ropewithabrokenhandlehungbythegate。Iapproachedit——hesitated，Ihardlyknewwhy——lookedupattheconventagain，andthenwalkedroundtothebackofthebuilding，partlytogaintimetoconsiderwhatIhadbetterdonext，partlyfromanunaccountablecuriositythaturgedme，strangelytomyself，toseeallIcouldoftheoutsideoftheplacebeforeIattemptedtogainadmissionatthegate。

AtthebackoftheconventIfoundanouthouse，builtontothewall——aclumsy，decayedbuilding，withthegreaterpartoftherooffallenin，andwithajaggedholeinoneofitssides，whereinallprobabilityawindowhadoncebeen。Behindtheouthousethetreesgrewthickerthanever。AsIlookedtowardthemIcouldnotdeterminewhetherthegroundbeyondmeroseorfell——whetheritwasgrassy，orearthy，orrocky。Icouldseenothingbuttheall—pervadingleaves，brambles，ferns，andlonggrass。

Notasoundbroketheoppressivestillness。Nobird’snoterosefromtheleafywildernessaroundme；novoicesspokeintheconventgardenbehindthescowlingwall；noclockstruckinthechapel—tower；nodogbarkedintheruinedouthouse。Thedeadsilencedeepenedthesolitudeoftheplaceinexpressibly。Ibegantofeelitweighingonmyspirits——themore，becausewoodswereneverfavoriteplaceswithmetowalkin。Thesortofpastoralhappinesswhichpoetsoftenrepresentwhentheysingoflifeinthewoodsnever，tomymind，hashalfthecharmoflifeonthemountainorintheplain。WhenIaminawood，Imisstheboundlesslovelinessofthesky，andthedelicioussoftnessthatdistancegivestotheearthlyviewbeneath。Ifeeloppressivelythechangewhichthefreeairsufferswhenitgetsimprisonedamongleaves，andIamalwaysawed，ratherthanpleased，bythatmysteriousstilllightwhichshineswithsuchastrangedimlusterindeepplacesamongtrees。Itmayconvictmeofwantoftasteandabsenceofduefeelingforthemarvelousbeautiesofvegetation，butImustfranklyownthatIneverpenetratefarintoawoodwithoutfindingthatthegettingoutofitagainisthepleasantestpartofmywalk——thegettingoutontothebarestdown，thewildesthill—side，thebleakestmountaintop——thegettingoutanywhere，sothatIcanseetheskyovermeandtheviewbeforemeasfarasmyeyecanreach。

AftersuchaconfessionasIhavenowmade，itwillappearsurprisingtonoonethatIshouldhavefeltthestrongestpossibleinclination，whileIstoodbytheruinedouthouse，toretracemystepsatonce，andmakethebestofmywayoutofthewood。Ihad，indeed，actuallyturnedtodepart，whentheremembranceoftheerrandwhichhadbroughtmetotheconventsuddenlystayedmyfeet。ItseemeddoubtfulwhetherIshouldbeadmittedintothebuildingifIrangthebell；andmorethandoubtful，ifIwereletin，whethertheinhabitantswouldbeabletoaffordmeanyclewtotheinformationofwhichIwasinsearch。However，itwasmydutytoMonktontoleavenomeansofhelpinghiminhisdesperateobjectuntried；soIresolvedtogoroundtothefrontoftheconventagain，andringatthegate—bellatallhazards。

BythemerestchanceIlookedupasIpassedthesideoftheouthousewherethejaggedholewas，andnoticedthatitwaspiercedratherhighinthewall。

AsIstoppedtoobservethis，theclosenessoftheatmosphereinthewoodseemedtobeaffectingmemoreunpleasantlythanever。

Iwaitedaminuteanduntiedmycravat。

Closeness？surelyitwassomethingmorethanthat。Theairwasevenmoredistastefultomynostrilsthantomylungs。Therewassomefaint，indescribablesmellloadingit——somesmellofwhichI

hadneverhadanypreviousexperience——somesmellwhichIthought（nowthatmyattentionwasdirectedtoit）grewmoreandmorecertainlytraceabletoitssourcethenearerIadvancedtotheouthouse，BythetimeIhadtriedtheexperimenttwoorthreetimes，andhadmademyselfsureofthisfact，mycuriositybecameexcited。

Therewereplentyoffragmentsofstoneandbricklyingaboutme。

Igatheredsomeofthemtogether，andpiledthemupbelowthehole，thenmountedtothetop，and，feelingratherashamedofwhatIwasdoing，peepedintotheouthouse。

ThesightofhorrorthatmetmyeyestheinstantIlookedthroughtheholeisaspresenttomymemorynowasifIhadbeheldityesterday。Icanhardlywriteofitatthisdistanceoftimewithoutathrilloftheoldterrorrunningthroughmeagaintotheheart。

Thefirstimpressionconveyedtome，asIlookedin，wasofalong，recumbentobject，tingedwithalightishbluecolorallover，extendedontrestles，andbearingacertainhideous，half—formedresemblancetothehumanfaceandfigure。Ilookedagain，andfeltcertainofit。Thereweretheprominencesoftheforehead，nose，andchin，dimlyshownasunderaveil——there，theroundoutlineofthechestandthehollowbelowit——there，thepointsoftheknees，andthestiff，ghastly，upturnedfeet。I

lookedagain，yetmoreattentively。Myeyesgotaccustomedtothedimlightstreaminginthroughthebrokenroof，andIsatisfiedmyself，judgingbythegreatlengthofthebodyfromheadtofoot，thatIwaslookingatthecorpseofaman——acorpsethathadapparentlyoncehadasheetspreadoverit，andthathadlainrottingonthetrestlesundertheopenskylongenoughforthelinentotakethelivid，light—bluetingeofmildewanddecaywhichnowcoveredit。

HowlongIremainedwithmyeyesfixedonthatdreadsightofdeath，onthattombless，terriblewreckofhumanity，poisoningthestillair，andseemingeventostainthefaintdescendinglightthatdisclosedit，Iknownot。Irememberadull，distantsoundamongthetrees，asifthebreezewererising——theslowcreepingonofthesoundtoneartheplacewhereIstood——thenoiselesswhirlingfallofadeadleafonthecorpsebelowme，throughthegapintheouthouseroof——andtheeffectofawakeningmyenergies，ofrelaxingtheheavystrainonmymind，whicheventheslightchangewroughtinthesceneIbeheldbythefallingleafproducedinmeimmediately。Idescendedtotheground，and，sittingdownontheheapofstones，wipedawaythethickperspirationwhichcoveredmyface，andwhichInowbecameawareofforthefirsttime。ItwassomethingmorethanthehideousspectacleunexpectedlyofferedtomyeyeswhichhadshakenmynervesasIfeltthattheywereshakennow。Monkton’spredictionthat，ifwesucceededindiscoveringhisuncle’sbody，weshouldfinditunburied，recurredtometheinstantIsawthetrestlesandtheirghastlyburden。IfeltassuredontheinstantthatI

hadfoundthedeadman——theoldprophecyrecurredtomymemory——astrangeyearningsorrow，avagueforebodingofill，aninexplicableterror，asIthoughtofthepoorladwhowasawaitingmyreturninthedistanttown，struckthroughmewithachillofsuperstitiousdread，robbedmeofmyjudgmentandresolution，andleftmewhenIhadatlastrecoveredmyself，weakanddizzy，asifIhadjustsufferedundersomepangofoverpoweringphysicalpain。

Ihastenedroundtotheconventgateandrangimpatientlyatthebell——waitedalittlewhileandrangagain——thenheardfootsteps。

Inthemiddleofthegate，justoppositemyface，therewasasmallslidingpanel，notmorethanafewincheslong；thiswaspresentlypushedasidefromwithin。Isaw，throughabitofirongrating，twodull，lightgrayeyesstaringvacantlyatme，andheardafeeblehuskyvoicesaying：

"Whatmayyoupleasetowant？’

"Iamatraveler——"Ibegan。

"Weliveinamiserableplace。Wehavenothingtoshowtravelershere。"

"Idon’tcometoseeanything。Ihaveanimportantquestiontoask，whichIbelievesomeoneinthisconventwillbeabletoanswer。Ifyouarenotwillingtoletmein，atleastcomeoutandspeaktomehere。"

"Areyoualone？"

"Quitealone。"

"Aretherenowomenwithyou？"

"None。"

Thegatewasslowlyunbarred，andanoldCapuchin，veryinfirm，verysuspicious，andverydirty，stoodbeforeme。Iwasfartooexcitedandimpatienttowasteanytimeinprefatoryphrases；so，tellingthemonkatoncehowIhadlookedthroughtheholeintheouthouse，andwhatIhadseeninside，Iaskedhim，inplainterms，whothemanhadbeenwhosecorpseIhadbeheld，andwhythebodywasleftunburied？

TheoldCapuchinlistenedtomewithwateryeyesthattwinkledsuspiciously。Hehadabatteredtinsnuff—boxinhishand，andhisfingerandthumbslowlychasedafewscatteredgrainsofsnuffroundandroundtheinsideoftheboxallthetimeIwasspeaking。WhenIhaddone，heshookhisheadandsaid："Thatwascertainlyanuglysightintheirouthouse；oneoftheugliestsights，hefeltsure，thateverIhadseeninallmylife！"

"Idon’twanttotalkofthesight，"Irejoined，impatiently；"I

wanttoknowwhothemanwas，howhedied，andwhyheisnotdecentlyburied。Canyoutellme？"

Themonk’sfingerandthumbhavingcapturedthreeorfourgrainsofsnuffatlast，heslowlydrewthemintohisnostrils，holdingtheboxopenunderhisnosethewhile，topreventthepossibilityofwastingevenonegrain，sniffedonceortwiceluxuriously——closedthebox——thenlookedatmeagainwithhiseyeswateringandtwinklingmoresuspiciouslythanbefore。

"Yes，"saidthemonk，"that’sanuglysightinourouthouse——averyuglysight，certainly！"

Ineverhadmoredifficultyinkeepingmytemperinmylifethanatthatmoment。Isucceeded，however，inrepressingaverydisrespectfulexpressiononthesubjectofmonksingeneral，whichwasonthetipofmytongue，andmadeanotherattempttoconquertheoldman’sexasperatingreserve。Fortunatelyformychancesofsucceedingwithhim，Iwasasnuff—takermyself，andI

hadaboxfullofexcellentEnglishsnuffinmypocket，whichI

nowproducedasabribe。Itwasmylastresource。

"Ithoughtyourboxseemedemptyjustnow，"saidI；"willyoutryapinchoutofmine？"