第15章

Greatlytohissurpriseanddelight，however，Iofferedofmyownaccordtotakepassageinthebrig。ThestrangecoincidencesI

hadwitnessed，theextraordinarydiscoveryIhadhitonsinceourfirstmeetinginNaples，hadmadehisonegreatinterestinlifemyonegreatinterestforthetimebeingaswell。Isharednoneofhisdelusions，poorfellow；butitishardlyanexaggerationtosaythatmyeagernesstofollowourremarkableadventuretoitsendwasasgreatashisanxietytoseethecoffinlaidinWincotvault。Curiosityinfluencedme，Iamafraid，almostasstronglyasfriendship，whenIofferedmyselfasthecompanionofhisvoyagehome。

WesetsailforEnglandonacalmandlovelyafternoon。

ForthefirsttimesinceIhadknownhim，Monktonseemedtobeinhighspirits。Hetalkedandjestedonallsortsofsubjects，andlaughedatmeforallowingmycheerfulnesstobeaffectedbythedreadofseasickness。Ihadreallynosuchfear；itwasmyexcusetomyfriendforareturnofthatunaccountabledepressionunderwhichIhadsufferedatFondi。Everythingwasinourfavor；

everybodyonboardthebrigwasingoodspirits。Thecaptainwasdelightedwiththevessel；thecrew，ItaliansandMaltese，wereinhighgleeattheprospectofmakingashortvoyageonhighwagesinawell—provisionedship。Ialonefeltheavyatheart。

TherewasnovalidreasonthatIcouldassigntomyselfforthemelancholythatoppressedme，andyetIstruggledagainstitinvain。

Lateonourfirstnightatsea，Imadeadiscoverywhichwasbynomeanscalculatedtorestoremyspiritstotheirusualequilibrium。Monktonwasinthecabin，onthefloorofwhichhadbeenplacedthepacking—casecontainingthecoffin，andIwasondeck。Thewindhadfallenalmosttoacalm，andIwaslazilywatchingthesailsofthebrigastheyflappedfromtimetotimeagainstthemasts，whenthecaptainapproached，and，drawingmeoutofhearingofthemanatthehelm，whisperedinmyear：

"There’ssomethingwrongamongthemenforward。Didyouobservehowsuddenlytheyallbecamesilentjustbeforesunset？"

Ihadobservedit，andtoldhimso。

"There’saMalteseboyonboard，"pursuedthecaptain，"whoisasmartenoughlad，butabadonetodealwith。Ihavefoundoutthathehasbeentellingthementhereisadeadbodyinsidethatpacking—caseofyourfriend’sinthecabin。"

Myheartsankashespoke。Knowingthesuperstitiousirrationalityofsailors——offoreignsailorsespecially——Ihadtakencaretospreadareportonboardthebrig，beforethecoffinwasshipped，thatthepacking—casecontainedavaluablemarblestatuewhichMr。Monktonprizedhighly，andwasunwillingtotrustoutofhisownsight。HowcouldthisMalteseboyhavediscoveredthatthepretendedstatuewasahumancorpse？AsI

ponderedoverthequestion，mysuspicionsfixedthemselvesonMonkton’sservant，whospokeItalianfluently，andwhomIknewtobeanincorrigiblegossip。ThemandenieditwhenIchargedhimwithbetrayingus，butIhaveneverbelievedhisdenialtothisday。

"Thelittleimpwon’tsaywherehepickedupthisnotionofhisaboutthedeadbody，"continuedthecaptain。"It’snotmyplacetopryintosecrets；butIadviseyoutocallthecrewaft，andcontradicttheboy，whetherhespeaksthetruthornot。Themenareaparceloffoolswhobelieveinghosts，andalltherestofit。Someofthemsaytheywouldneverhavesignedourarticlesiftheyhadknowntheyweregoingtosailwithadeadman；othersonlygrumble；butI’mafraidweshallhavesometroublewiththemall，incaseofroughweather，unlesstheboyiscontradictedbyyouortheothergentleman。ThemensaythatifeitheryouoryourfriendtellthemonyourwordsofhonorthattheMalteseisaliar，theywillhandhimuptoberope’s—endedaccordingly；butthatifyouwon’t，theyhavemadeuptheirmindstobelievetheboy。"

Herethecaptainpausedandawaitedmyanswer。Icouldgivehimnone。Ifelthopelessunderourdesperateemergency。Togettheboypunishedbygivingmywordofhonortosupportadirectfalsehoodwasnottobethoughtofevenforamoment。Whatothermeansofextricationfromthismiserabledilemmaremained？NonethatIcouldthinkof。Ithankedthecaptainforhisattentiontoourinterests，toldhimIwouldtaketimetoconsiderwhatcourseIshouldpursue，andbeggedthathewouldsaynothingtomyfriendaboutthediscoveryhehadmade。Hepromisedtobesilent，sulkilyenough，andwalkedawayfromme。

Wehadexpectedthebreezetospringupwiththemorning，butnobreezecame。Asitworeontowardnoontheatmospherebecameinsufferablysultry，andthesealookedassmoothasglass。Isawthecaptain’seyeturnoftenandanxiouslytowindward。Farawayinthatdirection，andaloneintheblueheaven，Iobservedalittleblackcloud，andaskedifitwouldbringusanywind。

"Morethanwewant，"thecaptainreplied，shortly；andthen，tomyastonishment，orderedthecrewalofttotakeinsail。Theexecutionofthismaneuvershowedbuttooplainlythetemperofthemen；theydidtheirworksulkilyandslowly，grumblingandmurmuringamongthemselves。Thecaptain’smanner，asheurgedthemonwithoathsandthreats，convincedmewewereindanger。I

lookedagaintowindward。Theonelittlecloudhadenlargedtoagreatbankofmurkyvapor，andtheseaatthehorizonhadchangedincolor。

"Thesquallwillbeonusbeforeweknowwhereweare，"saidthecaptain。"Gobelow；youwillbeonlyinthewayhere。"

Idescendedtothecabin，andpreparedMonktonforwhatwascoming。HewasstillquestioningmeaboutwhatIhadobservedondeckwhenthestormburstonus。Wefeltthelittlebrigstrainforaninstantasifshewouldpartintwo，thensheseemedtobeswingingroundwithus，thentobequitestillforamoment，tremblingineverytimber。Lastcameashockwhichhurledusfromourseats，adeafeningcrash，andafloodofwaterpouringintothecabin。Weclambered，halfdrowned，tothedeck。Thebrighad，inthenauticalphrase，"broachedto，"andshenowlayonherbeam—ends。

BeforeIcouldmakeoutanythingdistinctlyinthehorribleconfusionexcepttheonetremendouscertaintythatwewereentirelyatthemercyofthesea，Iheardavoicefromtheforepartoftheshipwhichstilledtheclamoringandshoutingoftherestofthecrewinaninstant。ThewordswereinItalian，butI

understoodtheirfatalmeaningonlytooeasily。Wehadsprungaleak，andtheseawaspouringintotheship’sholdliketheraceofamill—stream。Thecaptaindidnotlosehispresenceofmindinthisfreshemergency。Hecalledforhisaxtocutawaytheforemast，and，orderingsomeofthecrewtohelphim，directedtheotherstorigoutthepumps。

Thewordshadhardlypassedhislipsbeforethemenbrokeintoopenmutiny。Withasavagelookatme，theirringleaderdeclaredthatthepassengersmightdoastheypleased，butthatheandhismessmatesweredeterminedtotaketotheboat，andleavetheaccursedship，and_thedeadmaninher，_togotothebottomtogether。Ashespoketherewasashoutamongthesailors，andI

observedsomeofthempointingderisivelybehindme。Lookinground，IsawMonkton，whohadhithertokeptcloseatmyside，makinghiswaybacktothecabin。Ifollowedhimdirectly，butthewaterandconfusionondeck，andtheimpossibility，fromthepositionofthebrig，ofmovingthefeetwithouttheslowassistanceofthehands，soimpededmyprogressthatitwasimpossibleformetoovertakehim。WhenIhadgotbelowhewascroucheduponthecoffin，withthewateronthecabinfloorwhirlingandsplashingabouthimastheshipheavedandplunged。

Isawawarningbrightnessinhiseyes，awarningflushonhischeek，asIapproachedandsaidtohim：

"Thereisnothingleftforit，Alfred，buttobowtoourmisfortune，anddothebestwecantosaveourlives。"

"Saveyours，"hecried，wavinghishandtome，"for_you_haveafuturebeforeyou。Mineisgonewhenthiscoffingoestothebottom。Iftheshipsinks，Ishallknowthatthefatalityisaccomplished，andshallsinkwithher。"

Isawthathewasinnostatetobereasonedwithorpersuaded，andraisedmyselfagaintothedeck。Themenwerecuttingawayallobstaclessoastolaunchthelongboatplacedamidshipsoverthedepressedbulwarkofthebrigasshelayonherside，andthecaptain，afterhavingmadealastvainexertiontorestorehisauthority，waslookingonattheminsilence。Theviolenceofthesquallseemedalreadytobespendingitself，andIaskedwhethertherewasreallynochanceforusifweremainedbytheship。Thecaptainansweredthattheremighthavebeenthebestchanceifthemenhadobeyedhisorders，butthatnowtherewasnone。

KnowingthatIcouldplacenodependenceonthepresenceofmindofMonkton’sservant，Iconfidedtothecaptain，inthefewestandplainestwords，theconditionofmyunhappyfriend，andaskedifImightdependonhishelp。Henoddedhishead，andwedescendedtogethertothecabin。EvenatthisdayitcostsmepaintowriteoftheterriblenecessitytowhichthestrengthandobstinacyofMonkton’sdelusionreducedusinthelastresort。Wewerecompelledtosecurehishands，anddraghimbymainforcetothedeck。Themenwereonthepointoflaunchingtheboat，andrefusedatfirsttoreceiveusintoit。

"Youcowards！"criedthecaptain，"havewegotthedeadmanwithusthistime？Isn’thegoingtothebottomalongwiththebrig？

Whoareyouafraidofwhenwegetintotheboat？"

Thissortofappealproducedthedesiredeffect；themenbecameashamedofthemselves，andretractedtheirrefusal。

JustaswepushedofffromthesinkingshipAlfredmadeanefforttobreakfromme，butIheldhimfirm，andheneverrepeatedtheattempt。Hesatbymewithdroopinghead，stillandsilent，whilethesailorsrowedawayfromthevessel；stillandsilentwhen，withoneaccord，theypausedatalittledistanceoff，andweallwaitedandwatchedtoseethebrigsink；stillandsilent，evenwhenthatsinkinghappened，whenthelaboringhullplungedslowlyintoahollowofthesea——hesitated，asitseemed，foronemoment，rosealittleagain，thensanktorisenomore。

Sankwithherdeadfreight——sank，andsnatchedforeverfromourpowerthecorpsewhichwehaddiscoveredalmostbyamiracle——thosejealously—preservedremains，onthesafe—keepingofwhichrestedsostrangelythehopesandthelove—destiniesoftwolivingbeings！Asthelastsignsoftheshipinthedepthsofthewaters，IfeltMonktontremblingalloverashesatcloseatmyside，andheardhimrepeatingtohimself，sadly，andmanytimesover，thenameof"Ada。"

Itriedtoturnhisthoughtstoanothersubject，butitwasuseless。Hepointedovertheseatowherethebrighadoncebeen，andwherenothingwaslefttolookatbuttherollingwaves。

"TheemptyplacewillnowremainemptyforeverinWincotvault。"

Ashesaidthesewords，hefixedhiseyesforamomentsadlyandearnestlyonmyface，thenlookedaway，leanedhischeekonhishand，andspokenomore。

Weweresightedlongbeforenightfallbyatradingvessel，weretakenonboard，andlandedatCartagenainSpain。Alfredneverhelduphishead，andneveroncespoketomeofhisownaccordthewholetimewewereatseainthemerchantman。Iobserved，however，withalarm，thathetalkedoftenandincoherentlytohimself——constantlymutteringthelinesoftheoldprophecy——constantlyreferringtothefatalplacethatwasemptyinWincotvault——constantlyrepeatinginbrokenaccents，whichitaffectedmeinexpressiblytohear，thenameofthepoorgirlwhowasawaitinghisreturntoEngland。NorwerethesetheonlycausesfortheapprehensionthatInowfeltonhisaccount。

Towardtheendofourvoyagehebegantosufferfromalternationsoffever—fitsandshivering—fits，whichIignorantlyimaginedtobeattacksofague。Iwassoonundeceived。WehadhardlybeenadayonshorebeforehebecamesomuchworsethatIsecuredthebestmedicalassistanceCartagenacouldafford。Foradayortwothedoctorsdiffered，asusual，aboutthenatureofhiscomplaint，buterelongalarmingsymptomsdisplayedthemselves。

Themedicalmendeclaredthathislifewasindanger，andtoldmethathisdiseasewasbrainfever。

ShockedandgrievedasIwas，Ihardlyknewhowtoactatfirstunderthefreshresponsibilitynowlaiduponme。UltimatelyI

decidedonwritingtotheoldpriestwhohadbeenAlfred’stutor，andwho，asIknew，stillresidedatWincotAbbey。Itoldthisgentlemanallthathadhappened，beggedhimtobreakmymelancholynewsasgentlyaspossibletoMissElmslie，andassuredhimofmyresolutiontoremainwithMonktontothelast。

AfterIhaddispatchedmyletter，andhadsenttoGibraltartosecurethebestEnglishmedicaladvicethatcouldbeobtained，I

feltthatIhaddonemybest，andthatnothingremainedbuttowaitandhope。

ManyasadandanxioushourdidIpassbymypoorfriend’sbedside。ManyatimedidIdoubtwhetherIhaddonerightingivinganyencouragementtohisdelusion。Thereasonsfordoingsowhichhadsuggestedthemselvestomeaftermyfirstinterviewwithhimseemed，however，onreflection，tobevalidreasonsstill。TheonlywayofhasteninghisreturntoEnglandandtoMissElmslie，whowaspiningforthatreturn，wasthewayIhadtaken。Itwasnotmyfaultthatadisasterwhichnomancouldforeseehadoverthrownallhisprojectsandallmine。But，nowthatthecalamityhadhappenedandwasirretrievable，how，intheeventofhisphysicalrecovery，washismoralmaladytobecombated？

WhenIreflectedonthehereditarytaintinhismentalorganization，onthatfirstchildishfrightofStephenMonktonfromwhichhehadneverrecovered，ontheperilously—secludedlifethathehadledattheAbbey，andonhisfirmpersuasionoftherealityoftheapparitionbywhichhebelievedhimselftobeconstantlyfollowed，IconfessIdespairedofshakinghissuperstitiousfaithineverywordandlineoftheoldfamilyprophecy。Iftheseriesofstrikingcoincidenceswhichappearedtoattestitstruthhadmadeastrongandlastingimpressionon_me_（andthiswasassuredlythecase），howcouldIwonderthattheyhadproducedtheeffectofabsoluteconvictionon_his_

mind，constitutedasitwas？IfIarguedwithhim，andheansweredme，howcouldIrejoin？Ifhesaid，"Theprophecypointsatthelastofthefamily：_I_amthelastofthefamily。TheprophecymentionsanemptyplaceinWincotvault；thereissuchanemptyplacethereatthismoment。OnthefaithoftheprophecyItoldyouthatStephenMonkton’sbodywasunburied，andyoufoundthatitwasunburied"——ifhesaidthis，whatusewoulditbeformetoreply，"Theseareonlystrangecoincidencesafterall？"

ThemoreIthoughtofthetaskthatlaybeforeme，ifherecovered，themoreIfeltinclinedtodespond。TheoftenertheEnglishphysicianwhoattendedonhimsaidtome，"Hemaygetthebetterofthefever，buthehasafixedidea，whichneverleaveshimnightorday，whichhasunsettledhisreason，andwhichwillendinkillinghim，unlessyouorsomeofhisfriendscanremoveit"——theoftenerIheardthis，themoreacutelyIfeltmyownpowerlessness，themoreIshrankfromeveryideathatwasconnectedwiththehopelessfuture。

IhadonlyexpectedtoreceivemyanswerfromWincotintheshapeofaletter。Itwasconsequentlyagreatsurprise，aswellasagreatrelief，tobeinformedonedaythattwogentlemenwishedtospeakwithme，andtofindthatofthesetwogentlementhefirstwastheoldpriest，andthesecondamalerelativeofMrs。

Elmslie。

Justbeforetheirarrivalthefeversymptomshaddisappeared，andAlfredhadbeenpronouncedoutofdanger。Boththepriestandhiscompanionwereeagertoknowwhenthesuffererwouldbestrongenoughtotravel。TheyhadcometoCartagenaexpresslytotakehimhomewiththem，andfeltfarmorehopefulthanIdidoftherestorativeeffectsofhisnativeair。AfterallthequestionsconnectedwiththefirstimportantpointofthejourneytoEnglandhadbeenaskedandanswered，IventuredtomakesomeinquiriesafterMissElmslie。HerrelativeinformedmethatshewassufferingbothinbodyandinmindfromexcessofanxietyonAlfred’saccount。TheyhadbeenobligedtodeceiveherastothedangerousnatureofhisillnessinordertodeterherfromaccompanyingthepriestandherrelationontheirmissiontoSpain。

Slowlyandimperfectly，astheweeksworeon，Alfredregainedsomethingofhisformerphysicalstrength，butnoalterationappearedinhisillnessasitaffectedhismind。

Fromtheveryfirstdayofhisadvancetowardrecovery，ithadbeendiscoveredthatthebrainfeverhadexercisedthestrangestinfluenceoverhisfacultiesofmemory。Allrecollectionofrecenteventswasgonefromhim。EverythingconnectedwithNaples，withme，withhisjourneytoItaly，haddroppedinsomemysteriousmannerentirelyoutofhisremembrance。Socompletelyhadalllatecircumstancespassedfromhismemorythat，thoughherecognizedtheoldpriestandhisownservanteasilyonthefirstdaysofhisconvalescence，heneverrecognizedme，butregardedmewithsuchawistful，doubtingexpression，thatIfeltinexpressiblypainedwhenIapproachedhisbedside。AllhisquestionswereaboutMissElmslieandWincotAbbey，andallhistalkreferredtotheperiodwhenhisfatherwasyetalive。

Thedoctorsauguredgoodratherthanillfromthislossofmemoryofrecentincidents，sayingthatitwouldturnouttobetemporary，andthatitansweredthefirstgreathealingpurposeofkeepinghismindatease。Itriedtobelievethem——triedtofeelassanguine，whenthedaycameforhisdeparture，astheoldfriendsfeltwhoweretakinghimhome。Buttheeffortwastoomuchforme。AforebodingthatIshouldneverseehimagainoppressedmyheart，andthetearscameintomyeyesasIsawthewornfigureofmypoorfriendhalfhelped，halfliftedintothetraveling—carriage，andborneawaygentlyontheroadtowardhome。

Hehadneverrecognizedme，andthedoctorshadbeggedthatI

wouldgivehim，forsometimetocome，asfewopportunitiesaspossibleofdoingso。ButforthisrequestIshouldhaveaccompaniedhimtoEngland。Asitwas，nothingbetterremainedformetodothantochangethescene，andrecruitasIbestcouldmyenergiesofbodyandmind，depressedoflatebymuchwatchingandanxiety。ThefamouscitiesofSpainwerenotnewtome，butIvisitedthemagainandrevivedoldimpressionsoftheAlhambraandMadrid。OnceortwiceIthoughtofmakingapilgrimagetotheEast，butlateeventshadsoberedandalteredme。Thatyearning，unsatisfiedfeelingwhichwecall"homesickness"begantopreyuponmyheart，andIresolvedtoreturntoEngland。

IwentbackbywayofParis，havingsettledwiththepriestthatheshouldwritetomeatmybanker’sthereassoonashecouldafterAlfredhadreturnedtoWincot。IfIhadgonetotheEast，theletterwouldhavebeenforwardedtome。Iwrotetopreventthis；and，onmyarrivalatParis，stoppedatthebanker’sbeforeIwenttomyhotel。

Themomenttheletterwasputintomyhands，theblackborderontheenvelopetoldmetheworst。Hewasdead。

Therewasbutoneconsolation——hehaddiedcalmly，almosthappily，withoutoncereferringtothosefatalchanceswhichhadwroughtthefulfillmentoftheancientprophecy。"Mybelovedpupil，"theoldpriestwrote，"seemedtorallyalittlethefirstfewdaysafterhisreturn，buthegainednorealstrength，andsoonsufferedaslightrelapseoffever。Afterthishesankgraduallyandgentlydaybyday，andsodepartedfromusonthelastdreadjourney。MissElmslie（whoknowsthatIamwritingthis）desiresmetoexpressherdeepandlastinggratitudeforallyourkindnesstoAlfred。Shetoldmewhenwebroughthimbackthatshehadwaitedforhimashispromisedwife，andthatshewouldnursehimnowasawifeshould；andsheneverlefthim。hisfacewasturnedtowardher，hishandwasclaspedinherswhenhedied。ItwillconsoleyoutoknowthathenevermentionedeventsatNaples，ortheshipwreckthatfollowedthem，fromthedayofhisreturntothedayofhisdeath。"

ThreedaysafterreadingtheletterIwasatWincot，andheardallthedetailsofAlfred’slastmomentsfromthepriest。IfeltashockwhichitwouldnotbeveryeasyformetoanalyzeorexplainwhenIheardthathehadbeenburied，athisowndesire，inthefatalAbbeyvault。

Thepriesttookmedowntoseetheplace——agrim，cold，subterraneanbuilding，withalowroof，supportedonheavySaxonarches。Narrowniches，withtheendsonlyofcoffinsvisiblewithinthem，randowneachsideofthevault。Thenailsandsilverornamentsflashedhereandthereasmycompanionmovedpastthemwithalampinhishand。Atthelowerendoftheplacehestopped，pointedtoaniche，andsaid，"Heliesthere，betweenhisfatherandmother。"Ilookedalittlefurtheron，andsawwhatappearedatfirstlikealongdarktunnel。"Thatisonlyanemptyniche，"saidthepriest，followingme。"IfthebodyofMr。

StephenMonktonhadbeenbroughttoWincot，hiscoffinwouldhavebeenplacedthere。"

Achillcameoverme，andasenseofdreadwhichIamashamedofhavingfeltnow，butwhichIcouldnotcombatthen。Theblessedlightofdaywaspouringdowngaylyattheotherendofthevaultthroughtheopendoor。Iturnedmybackontheemptyniche，andhurriedintothesunlightandthefreshair。

AsIwalkedacrossthegrassgladeleadingdowntothevault，I

heardtherustleofawoman’sdressbehindme，andturninground，sawayoungladyadvancing，cladindeepmourning。Hersweet，sadface，hermannerassheheldoutherhand，toldmewhoitwasinaninstant。

"Iheardthatyouwerehere，"shesaid，"andIwished——"Hervoicefalteredalittle。MyheartachedasIsawhowherliptrembled，butbeforeIcouldsayanythingsherecoveredherselfandwenton："Iwishedtotakeyourhand，andthankyouforyourbrotherlykindnesstoAlfred；andIwantedtotellyouthatIamsureinallyoudidyouactedtenderlyandconsideratelyforthebest。Perhapsyoumaybesoongoingawayfromhomeagain，andwemaynotmeetanymore。Ishallnever，neverforgetthatyouwerekindtohimwhenhewantedafriend，andthatyouhavethegreatestclaimofanyoneonearthtobegratefullyrememberedinmythoughtsaslongasIlive。"

Theinexpressibletendernessofhervoice，tremblingalittleallthewhileshespoke，thepalebeautyofherface，theartlesscandorinhersad，quieteyes，soaffectedmethatIcouldnottrustmyselftoanswerheratfirstexceptbygesture。BeforeI

recoveredmyvoiceshehadgivenmeherhandoncemoreandhadleftme。

Ineversawheragain。Thechancesandchangesoflifekeptusapart。WhenIlastheardofher，yearsandyearsago，shewasfaithfultothememoryofthedead，andwasAdaElmsliestillforAlfredMonkton’ssake。

THEFIFTHDAY。

STILLcloudy，butnoraintokeepouryoungladyindoors。Thepaper，asusual，withoutinterestto_me_。

To—dayOwenactuallyvanquishedhisdifficultiesandfinishedhisstory。InumbereditEight，andthrewthecorrespondingnumber（asIhaddonethedaybeforeinMorgan’scase）intothechinabowl。

AlthoughIcoulddiscovernodirectevidenceagainsther，I

stronglysuspectedTheQueenofHeartsoftamperingwiththelotsonthefifthevening，toirritateMorganbymakingithisturntoreadagain，aftertheshortestpossibleintervalofrepose。

Howeverthatmightbe，thenumberdrawnwascertainlySeven，andthestorytobereadwasconsequentlythestorywhichmybrotherhadfinishedonlytwodaysbefore。

IfIhadnotknownthatitwaspartofMorgan’scharacteralwaystodoexactlythereverseofwhatmightbeexpectedfromhim，I

shouldhavebeensurprisedattheextraordinarydocilityheexhibitedthemomenthismanuscriptwasplacedinhishands。

"Myturnagain？"hesaid。"Howverysatisfactory！Iwasanxioustoescapefromthisabsurdpositionofmineassoonaspossible，andhereistheopportunitymostconsideratelyputintomyhands。

Lookout，allofyou！Iwon’twasteanothermoment。Imeantobegininstantly。"

"Dotellme，"interposedJessie，mischievously，"shallIbeverymuchinterestedto—night’？’

"Notyou！"retortedMorgan。"Youwillbeverymuchfrightenedinstead。Youhairisuncommonlysmoothatthepresentmoment，butitwillbeallstandingonendbeforeI’vedone。Don’tblameme，miss，ifyouareanobjectwhenyougotobedto—night！"

Withthiscuriousintroductoryspeechhebegantoread。Iwasobligedtointerrupthimtosaythefewwordsofexplanationwhichthestoryneeded。

"Beforemybrotherbegins，"Isaid，"itmaybeaswelltomentionthatheishimselfthedoctorwhoissupposedtorelatethisnarrative。TheeventshappenedatatimeofhislifewhenhehadleftLondon，andhadestablishedhimselfinmedicalpracticeinoneofourlargenortherntowns。"

Withthatbriefexplanation，Iapologizedforinterruptingthereader，andMorganbeganoncemore。

BROTHERMORGAN’SSTORY

ofTHEDEADHAND

WHENthispresentnineteenthcenturywasyoungerbyagoodmanyyearsthanitisnow，acertainfriendofmine，namedArthurHolliday，happenedtoarriveinthetownofDoncasterexactlyinthemiddleoftherace—week，or，inotherwords，inthemiddleofthemonthofSeptember。

Hewasoneofthosereckless，rattle—pated，open—hearted，andopen—mouthedyounggentlemenwhopossessthegiftoffamiliarityinitshighestperfection，andwhoscramblecarelesslyalongthejourneyoflife，makingfriends，asthephraseis，wherevertheygo。Hisfatherwasarichmanufacturer，andhadboughtlandedpropertyenoughinoneofthemidlandcountiestomakeallthebornsquiresinhisneighborhoodthoroughlyenviousofhim。

Arthurwashisonlyson，possessorinprospectofthegreatestateandthegreatbusinessafterhisfather’sdeath；wellsuppliedwithmoney，andnottoorigidlylookedafterduringhisfather’slifetime。Report，orscandal，whicheveryouplease，saidthattheoldgentlemanhadbeenratherwildinhisyouthfuldays，andthat，unlikemostparents，hewasnotdisposedtobeviolentlyindignantwhenhefoundthathissontookafterhim。

Thismaybetrueornot。ImyselfonlyknewtheelderMr。

Hollidaywhenhewasgettingoninyears，andthenhewasasquietandasrespectableagentlemanaseverImetwith。