“Harderintellectsthanminemighthaveattributedtheextraordinaryimpressionproducedonmetothedisorderedconditionofmymindatthattime;tothewearinessofmyownbasepleasureswhichhadbeengainingonmeformonthspast，totheundefinedlongingwhichthatwearinessimpliedfornewerinterestsandfresherhopesthananythathadpossessedmeyet。I
attemptednosuchsoberself-examinationasthis:Ibelievedindestinythen，Ibelieveindestinynow。Itwasenoughformetoknow——asIdidknow——thatthefirstsenseIhadeverfeltofsomethingbetterinmynaturethanmyanimalselfwasrousedbythatgirl’sfacelookingatmefromherpictureasnowoman’sfacehadeverlookedatmeyet。Inthosetendereyes——inthechanceofmakingthatgentlecreaturemywife——Isawmydestinywritten。Theportraitwhichhadcomeintomyhandssostrangelyandsounexpectedlywasthesilentmessengerofhappinesscloseathand，senttowarn，toencourage，torousemebeforeitwastoolate。Iputtheminiatureundermypillowatnight;Ilookedatitagainthenextmorning。Myconvictionofthedaybeforeremainedasstrongasever;mysuperstitionifyoupleasetocallitsopointedouttomeirresistiblythewayonwhichI
shouldgo。TherewasashipinportwhichwastosailforEnglandinafortnight，touchingatMadeira。InthatshipItookmypassage。”
Thusfarthereaderhadadvancedwithnointerruptiontodisturbhim。Butatthelastwordsthetonesofanothervoice，lowandbroken，mingledwithhisown。
“Wassheafairwoman。”askedthevoice，“ordark，likeme？”
Mr。Nealpaused，andlookedup。Thedoctorwasstillatthebedhead，withhisfingersmechanicallyonthepatient’spulse。Thechild，missinghismiddaysleep，wasbeginningtoplaylanguidlywithhisnewtoy。Thefather’seyeswerewatchinghimwitharaptandceaselessattention。Butonegreatchangewasvisibleinthelistenerssincethenarrativehadbegun。Mrs。Armadalehaddroppedherholdofherhusband’shand，andsatwithherfacesteadilyturnedawayfromhimThehotAfricanbloodburnedredinherduskycheeksassheobstinatelyrepeatedthequestion:“Wassheafairwoman，ordark，likeme？”
“Fair。”saidherhusband，withoutlookingather。
Herhands，lyingclaspedtogetherinherlap，wrungeachotherhard——shesaidnomore。Mr。Neal’soverhangingeyebrowsloweredominouslyashereturnedtothenarrative。Hehadincurredhisownseveredispleasure——hehadcaughthimselfintheactofsecretlypityingher。
“Ihavesaid“——theletterproceeded——“thatInglebywasadmittedtomyclosestconfidence。Iwassorrytoleavehim;andIwasdistressedbyhisevidentsurpriseandmortificationwhenheheardthatIwasgoingaway。Inmyownjustification，Ishowedhimtheletterandthelikeness，andtoldhimthetruth。Hisinterestintheportraitseemedtobehardlyinferiortomyown。
HeaskedmeaboutMissBlanchard’sfamilyandMissBlanchard’sfortunewiththesympathyofatruefriend;andhestrengthenedmyregardforhim，andmybeliefinhim，byputtinghimselfoutofthequestion，andbygenerouslyencouragingmetopersistinmynewpurpose。Whenweparted，Iwasinhighhealthandspirits。
Beforewemetagainthenextday，Iwassuddenlystruckbyanillnesswhichthreatenedbothmyreasonandmylife。
“IhavenoproofagainstIngleby。TherewasmorethanonewomanontheislandwhomIhadwrongedbeyondallforgiveness，andwhosevengeancemightwellhavereachedmeatthattime。Icanaccusenobody。Icanonlysaythatmylifewassavedbymyoldblacknurse;andthatthewomanafterwardacknowledgedhavingusedtheknownnegroantidotetoaknownnegropoisoninthoseparts。Whenmyfirstdaysofconvalescencecame，theshipinwhichmypassagehadbeentakenhadlongsincesailed。WhenI
askedforIngleby，hewasgone。Proofsofhisunpardonablemisconductinhissituationwereplacedbeforeme，whichnotevenmypartialityforhimcouldresist。Hehadbeenturnedoutoftheofficeinthefirstdaysofmyillness，andnothingmorewasknownofhimbutthathehadlefttheisland。
“Allthroughmysufferingstheportraithadbeenundermypillow。
AllthroughmyconvalescenceitwasmyoneconsolationwhenI
rememberedthepast，andmyoneencouragementwhenIthoughtofthefuture。Nowordscandescribetheholdthatfirstfancyhadnowtakenofme——withtimeandsolitudeandsufferingtohelpit。
Mymother，withallherinterestinthematch，wasstartledbytheunexpectedsuccessofherownproject。ShehadwrittentotellMr。Blanchardofmyillness，buthadreceivednoreply。Shenowofferedtowriteagain，ifIwouldpromisenottoleaveherbeforemyrecoverywascomplete。Myimpatienceacknowledgednorestraint。AnothershipinportgavemeanotherchanceofleavingforMadeira。AnotherexaminationofMr。Blanchard’sletterofinvitationassuredmethatIshouldfindhimstillintheisland，ifIseizedmyopportunityonthespot。Indefianceofmymother’sentreaties，Iinsistedontakingmypassageinthesecondship——andthistime，whentheshipsailed，Iwasonboard。
“Thechangedidmegood;thesea-airmadeamanofmeagain。
Afteranunusuallyrapidvoyage，Ifoundmyselfattheendofmypilgrimage。Onafine，stilleveningwhichIcanneverforget，I
stoodaloneontheshore，withherlikenessinmybosom，andsawthewhitewallsofthehousewhereIknewthatshelived。
“IstrolledroundtheouterlimitsofthegroundstocomposemyselfbeforeIwentin。Venturingthroughagateandashrubbery，Ilookedintothegarden，andsawaladythere，loiteringaloneonthelawn。Sheturnedherfacetowardme——andI
beheldtheoriginalofmyportrait，thefulfillmentofmydream！
Itisuseless，andworsethanuseless，towriteofitnow。Letmeonlysaythateverypromisewhichthelikenesshadmadetomyfancythelivingwomankepttomyeyesinthemomentwhentheyfirstlookedonher。Letmesaythis——andnomore。
“Iwastooviolentlyagitatedtotrustmyselfinherpresence。I
drewbackundiscovered，and，makingmywaytothefrontdoorofthehouse，askedforherfatherfirst。Mr。Blanchardhadretiredtohisroom，andcouldseenobody。UponthatItookcourage，andaskedforMissBlanchard。Theservantsmiled。’MyyoungladyisnotMissBlanchardanylonger，sir，’hesaid。’Sheismarried。’
Thosewordswouldhavestrucksomemen，inmyposition，totheearth。Theyfiredmyhotblood，andIseizedtheservantbythethroat，inafrenzyofrage’It’salie！’Ibrokeout，speakingtohimasifhehadbeenoneoftheslavesonmyownestate。
’It’sthetruth，’saidtheman，strugglingwithme;’herhusbandisinthehouseatthismoment。’’Whoishe，youscoundrel？’Theservantansweredbyrepeatingmyownname，tomyownface:
’_AllanArmadale。_’
“Youcannowguessthetruth。FergusInglebywastheoutlawedsonwhosenameandwhoseinheritanceIhadtaken。AndFergusInglebywasevenwithmefordeprivinghimofhisbirthright。
“Someaccountofthemannerinwhichthedeceptionhadbeencarriedoutisnecessarytoexplain——Idon’tsaytojustify——theshareItookintheeventsthatfollowedmyarrivalatMadeira。
“ByIngleby’sownconfession，hehadcometoBarbadoes——knowingofhisfather’sdeathandofmysuccessiontotheestates——withthesettledpurposeofplunderingandinjuringme。Myrashconfidenceputsuchanopportunityintohishandsashecouldneverhavehopedfor。HehadwaitedtopossesshimselfoftheletterwhichmymotherwrotetoMr。Blanchardattheoutsetofmyillness——hadthencausedhisowndismissalfromhissituation——andhadsailedforMadeiraintheveryshipthatwastohavesailedwithme。Arrivedattheisland，hehadwaitedagaintillthevesselwasawayoncemoreonhervoyage，andhadthenpresentedhimselfatMr。Blanchard’s——notintheassumednamebywhichIshallcontinuetospeakofhimhere，butinthenamewhichwasascertainlyhisasmine，’AllanArmadale。’Thefraudattheoutsetpresentedfewdifficulties。Hehadonlyanailingoldmanwhohadnotseenmymotherforhalfalifetime
andaninnocent，unsuspiciousgirlwhohadneverseenheratalltodealwith;andhehadlearnedenoughinmyservicetoanswerthefewquestionsthatwereputtohimasreadilyasI
mighthaveansweredthemmyself。Hislooksandmanners，hiswinningwayswithwomen，hisquicknessandcunning，didtherest。
WhileIwasstillonmysickbed，hehadwonMissBlanchard’saffections。WhileIwasdreamingoverthelikenessinthefirstdaysofmyconvalescence，hehadsecuredMr。Blanchard’sconsenttothecelebrationofthemarriagebeforeheandhisdaughterlefttheisland。
“ThusfarMr。Blanchard’sinfirmityofsighthadhelpedthedeception。Hehadbeencontenttosendmessagestomymother，andtoreceivethemessageswhichweredulyinventedinreturn。Butwhenthesuitorwasaccepted，andthewedding-daywasappointed，hefeltitduetohisoldfriendtowritetoher，askingherformalconsentandinvitinghertothemarriage。Hecouldonlycompletepartoftheletterhimself;therestwasfinished，underhisdictation，byMissBlanchard。Therewasnochanceofbeingbeforehandwiththepost-officethistime;andIngleby，sureofhisplaceintheheartofhisvictim，waylaidherasshecameoutofherfather’sroomwiththeletter，andprivatelytoldherthetruth。Shewasstillunderage，andthepositionwasaseriousone。Iftheletterwasposted，noresourcewouldbeleftbuttowaitandbepartedforever，ortoelopeundercircumstanceswhichmadedetectionalmostacertainty。Thedestinationofanyshipwhichtookthemawaywouldbeknownbeforehand;andthefast-sailingyachtinwhichMr。BlanchardhadcometoMadeirawaswaitingintheharbortotakehimbacktoEngland。Theonlyotheralternativewastocontinuethedeceptionbysuppressingtheletter，andtoconfessthetruthwhentheyweresecurelymarried。
WhatartsofpersuasionInglebyused——whatbaseadvantagehemightpreviouslyhavetakenofherloveandhertrustinhimtodegradeMissBlanchardtohisownlevel——Icannotsay。Hediddegradeher。Theletterneverwenttoitsdestination;and，withthedaughter’sprivityandconsent，thefather’sconfidencewasabusedtotheverylast。
“TheoneprecautionnowlefttotakewastofabricatetheanswerfrommymotherwhichMr。Blanchardexpected，andwhichwouldarriveinduecourseofpostbeforethedayappointedforthemarriage。Inglebyhadmymother’sstolenletterwithhim;buthewaswithouttheimitativedexteritywhichwouldhaveenabledhimtomakeuseofitforaforgeryofherhandwriting。MissBlanchard，whohadconsentedpassivelytothedeception，refusedtotakeanyactiveshareinthefraudpracticedonherfather。Inthisdifficulty，Inglebyfoundaninstrumentreadytohishandinanorphangirlofbarelytwelveyearsold，amarvelofprecociousability，whomMissBlanchardhadtakenaromanticfancytobefriendandwhomshehadbroughtawaywithherfromEnglandtobetrainedashermaid。Thatgirl’swickeddexterityremovedtheoneseriousobstaclelefttothesuccessofthefraud。Isawtheimitationofmymother’swritingwhichshehadproducedunderIngleby’sinstructionsandiftheshamefultruthmustbetold
withheryoungmistress’sknowledge——andIbelieveIshouldhavebeendeceivedbyitmyself。Isawthegirlafterward——andmybloodcurdledatthesightofher。Ifsheisalivenow，woetothepeoplewhotrusther！Nocreaturemoreinnatelydeceitfulandmoreinnatelypitilesseverwalkedthisearth。
“Theforgedletterpavedthewaysecurelyforthemarriage;andwhenIreachedthehouse，theywereastheservanthadtrulytoldmemanandwife。Myarrivalonthescenesimplyprecipitatedtheconfessionwhichtheyhadbothagreedtomake。
Ingleby’sownlipsshamelesslyacknowledgedthetruth。Hehadnothingtolosebyspeakingout——hewasmarried，andhiswife’sfortunewasbeyondherfather’scontrol。Ipassoverallthatfollowed——myinterviewwiththedaughter，andmyinterviewwiththefather——tocometoresults。Fortwodaystheeffortsofthewife，andtheeffortsoftheclergymanwhohadcelebratedthemarriage，weresuccessfulinkeepingInglebyandmyselfapart。OnthethirddayIsetmytrapmoresuccessfully，andIandthemanwhohadmortallyinjuredmemettogetheralone，facetoface。
“Rememberhowmyconfidencehadbeenabused;rememberhowtheonegoodpurposeofmylifehadbeenthwarted;remembertheviolentpassionsrooteddeepinmynature，andneveryetcontrolled——andthenimagineforyourselfwhatpassedbetweenus。AllIneedtellhereistheend。HewasatallerandastrongermanthanI，andhetookhisbrute’sadvantagewithabrute’sferocity。Hestruckme。
“ThinkoftheinjuriesIhadreceivedatthatman’shands，andthenthinkofhissettinghismarkonmyfacebyablow！
“IwenttoanEnglishofficerwhohadbeenmyfellow-passengeronthevoyagefromBarbadoes。Itoldhimthetruth，andheagreedwithmethatameetingwasinevitable。Duelinghaditsreceivedformalitiesanditsestablishedlawsinthosedays;andhebegantospeakofthem。Istoppedhim。’Iwilltakeapistolinmyrighthand，’Isaid，’andheshalltakeapistolinhis:Iwilltakeoneendofahandkerchiefinmylefthand，andheshalltaketheotherendinhis;andacrossthathandkerchieftheduelshallbefought。’Theofficergotup，andlookedatmeasifIhadpersonallyinsultedhim。’Youareaskingmetobepresentatamurderandasuicide，’hesaid;’Ideclinetoserveyou。’Helefttheroom。AssoonashewasgoneIwrotedownthewordsIhadsaidtotheofficerandsentthembyamessengertoIngleby。
WhileIwaswaitingforananswer，Isatdownbeforetheglass，andlookedathismarkonmyface。’Manyamanhashadbloodonhishandsandbloodonhisconscience，’Ithought，’forlessthanthis。’
“ThemessengercamebackwithIngleby’sanswer。Itappointedameetingforthreeo’clockthenextday，atalonelyplaceintheinterioroftheisland。Ihadresolvedwhattodoifherefused;
hisletterreleasedmefromthehorrorofmyownresolution。I
feltgratefultohim——yes，absolutelygratefultohim——forwritingit。
“ThenextdayIwenttotheplace。Hewasnotthere。Iwaitedtwohours，andhenevercame。Atlastthetruthdawnedonme。’Onceacoward，alwaysacoward，’Ithought。IwentbacktoMr。
Blanchard’shouse。BeforeIgotthere，asuddenmisgivingseizedme，andIturnedasidetotheharbor。Iwasright;theharborwastheplacetogoto。AshipsailingforLisbonthatafternoonhadofferedhimtheopportunityoftakingapassageforhimselfandhiswife，andescapingme。Hisanswertomychallengehadserveditspurposeofsendingmeoutofthewayintotheinterioroftheisland。OncemoreIhadtrustedinFergusIngleby，andoncemorethosesharpwitsofhishadbeentoomuchforme。
“IaskedmyinformantifMr。Blanchardwasawareasyetofhisdaughter’sdeparture。Hehaddiscoveredit，butnotuntiltheshiphadsailed。ThistimeItookalessonincunningfromIngleby。InsteadofshowingmyselfatMr。Blanchard’shouse，I
wentfirstandlookedatMr。Blanchard’syacht。
“Thevesseltoldmewhatthevessel’smastermighthaveconcealed——thetruth。Ifoundherintheconfusionofasuddenpreparationforsea。Allthecrewwereonboard，withtheexceptionofsomefewwhohadbeenallowedtheirleaveonshore，andwhowereawayintheinterioroftheisland，nobodyknewwhere。WhenIdiscoveredthatthesailing-masterwastryingin，tosupplytheirplaceswiththebestmenhecouldpickupatamoment’snotice，myresolutionwasinstantlytaken。Iknewthedutiesonboardayachtwellenough，havinghadavesselofmyown，andhavingsailedhermyself。Hurryingintothetown，I
changedmydressforasailor’scoatandhat，and，returningtotheharbor，Iofferedmyselfasoneofthevolunteercrew。I
don’tknowwhatthesailing-mastersawinmyface。Myanswerstohisquestionssatisfiedhim，andyethelookedatmeandhesitated。Buthandswerescarce，anditendedinmybeingtakenonboard。AnhourlaterMr。Blanchardjoinedus，andwasassistedintothecabin，sufferingpitiablyinmindandbodyboth。Anhourafterthatwewereatsea，withastarlessnightoverhead，andafreshbreezebehindus。
“AsIhadsurmised，wewereinpursuitofthevesselinwhichInglebyandhiswifehadlefttheislandthatafternoon。TheshipwasFrench，andwasemployedinthetimbertrade:hernamewas_LaGracedeDieu。_NothingmorewasknownofherthanthatshewasboundforLisbon;thatshehadbeendrivenoutofhercourse;
andthatshehadtouchedatMadeira，shortofmenandshortofprovisions。Thelastwanthadbeensupplied，butnotthefirst。
Sailorsdistrustedthesea-worthinessoftheship，anddislikedthelookofthevagabondcrew。WhenthosetwoseriousfactshadbeencommunicatedtoMr。Blanchard，thehardwordshehadspokentohischildinthefirstshockofdiscoveringthatshehadhelpedtodeceivehimsmotehimtotheheart。Heinstantlydeterminedtogivehisdaughterarefugeonboardhisownvessel，andtoquietherbykeepinghervillainofahusbandoutofthewayofallharmatmyhands。Theyachtsailedthreefeetandmoretotheship’sone。Therewasnodoubtofourovertaking_LaGracedeDieu_;theonlyfearwasthatwemightpassherinthedarkness。
“Afterwehadbeensomelittletimeout，thewindsuddenlydropped，andtherefellonusanairless，sultrycalm。Whentheordercametogetthetopmastsondeck，andtoshiftthelargesails，weallknewwhattoexpect。Inlittlebetterthananhourmore，thestormwasuponus，thethunderwaspealingoverourheads，andtheyachtwasrunningforit。Shewasapowerfulschooner-riggedvesselofthreehundredtons，asstrongaswoodandironcouldmakeher;shewashandledbyasailing-masterwhothoroughlyunderstoodhiswork，andshebehavednobly。Asthenewmorningcame，thefuryofthewind，blowingstillfromthesouthwestquarter，subsidedalittle，andtheseawaslessheavy。
Justbeforedaybreakweheardfaintly，throughthehowlingofthegale，thereportofagun。Themencollectedanxiouslyondeck，lookedateachother，andsaid:’Theresheis！’
“Withthedaybreakwesawthevessel，andthetimber-shipitwas。
Shelaywallowinginthetroughofthesea，herforemastandhermainmastbothgone——awater-loggedwreck。Theyachtcarriedthreeboats;oneamidships，andtwoslungtodavitsonthequarters;
andthesailing-master，seeingsignsofthestormrenewingitsfurybeforelong，determinedonloweringthequarter-boatswhilethelulllasted。Fewasthepeoplewereonboardthewreck，theyweretoomanyforoneboat，andtheriskoftryingtwoboatsatoncewasthoughtless，inthecriticalstateoftheweather，thantheriskofmakingtwoseparatetripsfromtheyachttotheship。
Theremightbetimetomakeonetripinsafety，butnomancouldlookattheheavensandsaytherewouldbetimeenoughfortwo。
“Theboatsweremannedbyvolunteersfromthecrew，Ibeinginthesecondofthetwo。Whenthefirstboatwasgotalongsideofthetimber-ship——aserviceofdifficultyanddangerwhichnowordscandescribe——allthemenonboardmadearashtoleavethewrecktogether。Iftheboathadnotbeenpulledoffagainbeforethewholeofthemhadcrowdedin，thelivesofallmusthavebeensacrificed。Asourboatapproachedthevesselinitsturn，wearrangedthatfourofusshouldgetonboard——twoIbeingoneofthemtoseetothesafetyofMr。Blanchard’sdaughter，andtwotobeatbackthecowardlyremnantofthecrewiftheytriedtocrowdinfirst。Theotherthree——thecoxswainandtwooarsmen——wereleftintheboattokeepherfrombeingcrushedbytheship。Whattheotherssawwhentheyfirstboarded_LaGracedeDieu_Idon’tknow;whatIsawwasthewomanwhomIhadlost，thewomanvilelystolenfromme，lyinginaswoononthedeck。Weloweredher，insensible，intotheboat。Theremnantofthecrew——fiveinnumber——werecompelledbymainforcetofollowherinanorderlymanner，onebyone，andminutebyminute，asthechanceofferedforsafelytakingthemin。Iwasthelastwholeft;and，atthenextrolloftheshiptowardus，theemptylengthofthedeck，withoutalivingcreatureonitfromstemtostern，toldtheboat’screwthattheirworkwasdone。Withthelouderandlouderhowlingofthefast-risingtempesttowarnthem，theyrowedfortheirlivesbacktotheyacht。
“Asuccessionofheavysquallshadbroughtroundthecourseofthenewstormthatwascoming，fromthesouthtothenorth;andthesailing-master，watchinghisopportunity，hadworetheyachttobereadyforit。Beforethelastofourmenhadgotonboardagain，itburstonuswiththefuryofahurricane。Ourboatwasswamped，butnotalifewaslost。Oncemoreweranbeforeit，duesouth，atthemercyofthewind。Iwasondeckwiththerest，watchingtheoneragofsailwecouldventuretoset，andwaitingtosupplyitsplacewithanother，ifitblewoutofthebolt-ropes，whenthematecameclosetome，andshoutedinmyearthroughthethunderofthestorm:’Shehascometohersensesinthecabin，andhasaskedforherhusband。Whereishe？’Notamanonboardknew。Theyachtwassearchedfromoneendtoanotherwithoutfindinghim。Themenweremusteredindefianceoftheweather——hewasnotamongthem。Thecrewsofthetwoboatswerequestioned。Allthefirstcrewcouldsaywasthattheyhadpulledawayfromthewreckwhentherushintotheirboattookplace，andthattheyknewnothingofwhomtheyletinorwhomtheykeptout。
Allthesecondcrewcouldsaywasthattheyhadbroughtbacktotheyachteverylivingsoulleftbythefirstboatonthedeckofthetimber-ship。Therewasnoblaminganybody;but，atthesametime，therewasnoresistingthefactthatthemanwasmissing。
“Allthroughthatdaythestorm，ragingunabatedly，nevergaveuseventheshadowofachanceofreturningandsearchingthewreck。
Theonehopefortheyachtwastoscud。Towardeveningthegale，afterhavingcarriedustothesouthwardofMadeira，beganatlasttobreak——thewindshiftedagain——andallowedustobearupfortheisland。Earlythenextmorningwegotbackintoport。Mr。
Blanchardandhisdaughterweretakenashore，thesailing-masteraccompanyingthem，andwarningusthatheshouldhavesomethingtosayonhisreturnwhichwouldnearlyconcernthewholecrew。
“Weweremusteredondeck，andaddressedbythesailing-masterassoonashecameonboardagain。HehadMr。Blanchard’sorderstogobackatoncetothetimber-shipandtosearchforthemissingman。Wewereboundtodothisforhissake，andforthesakeofhiswife，whosereasonwasdespairedofbythedoctorsifsomethingwasnotdonetoquiether。Wemightbealmostsureoffindingthevesselstillafloat，forherladlingoftimberwouldkeepherabovewateraslongasherhullheldtogether。Ifthemanwasonboard——livingordead——hemustbefoundandbroughtback。Andiftheweathercontinuedtobemoderate，therewasnoreasonwhythemen，withproperassistance，shouldnotbringtheshipback，too，andtheirmasterbeingquitewillingearntheirshareofthesalvagewiththeofficersoftheyacht。
“Uponthisthecrewgavethreecheers，andsettoworkforthwithtogettheschoonertoseaagain。Iwastheonlyoneofthemwhodrewbackfromtheenterprise。Itoldthemthestormhadupsetme——Iwasill，andwantedrest。TheyalllookedmeinthefaceasIpassedthroughthemonmywayoutoftheyacht，butnotamanofthemspoketome。
“Iwaitedthroughthatdayatatavernontheportforthefirstnewsfromthewreck。Itwasbroughttowardnight-fallbyoneofthepilot-boatswhichhadtakenpartintheenterprise——asuccessfulenterprise，astheeventproved——forsavingtheabandonedship。_LaGracedeDieu_hadbeendiscoveredstillfloating，andthebodyofInglebyhadbeenfoundonboard，drownedinthecabin。Atdawnthenextmorningthedeadmanwasbroughtbackbytheyacht;andonthesamedaythefuneraltookplaceintheProtestantcemetery。”
“Stop！“saidthevoicefromthebed，beforethereadercouldturntoanewleafandbeginthenextparagraph。
Therewasachangeintheroom，andtherewerechangesintheaudience，sinceMr。Nealhadlastlookedupfromthenarrative。A
rayofsunshinewascrossingthedeath-bed;andthechild，overcomebydrowsiness，laypeacefullyasleepinthegoldenlight。Thefather’scountenancehadalteredvisibly。Forcedintoactionbythetorturedmind，themusclesofthelowerface，whichhadnevermovedyet，weremovingdistortedlynow。Warnedbythedampsgatheringheavilyonhisforehead，thedoctorhadrisentorevivethesinkingman。Ontheothersideofthebedthewife’schairstoodempty。Atthemomentwhenherhusbandhadinterruptedthereading，shehaddrawnbackbehindthebedhead，outofhissight。Supportingherselfagainstthewall，shestoodthereinhiding，hereyesfastenedinhungeringsuspenseonthemanuscriptinMr。Neal’shand。
InaminutemorethesilencewasbrokenagainbyMr。Armadale。
“Whereisshe？”heasked，lookingangrilyathiswife’semptychair。Thedoctorpointedtotheplace。Shehadnochoicebuttocomeforward。Shecameslowlyandstoodbeforehim。
“YoupromisedtogowhenItoldyou。”hesaid。“Gonow。”
Mr。Nealtriedhardtocontrolhishandasitkepthisplacebetweentheleavesofthemanuscriptsbutittrembledinspiteofhim。Asuspicionwhichhadbeenslowlyforcingitselfonhismind，whilehewasreading，becameacertaintywhenheheardthosewords。Fromonerevelationtoanothertheletterhadgoneon，untilithadnowreachedthebrinkofalastdisclosuretocome。
Atthatbrinkthedyingmanhadpredeterminedtosilencethereader’svoice，beforehehadpermittedhiswifetohearthenarrativeread。Therewasthesecretwhichthesonwastoknowinafteryears，andwhichthemotherwasnevertoapproach。Fromthatresolution，hiswife’stenderestpleadingshadnevermovedhimaninch——andnow，fromhisownlips，hiswifeknewit。
Shemadehimnoanswer。Shestoodthereandlookedathim;lookedherlastentreaty——perhapsherlastfarewell。Hiseyesgaveherbacknoansweringglance:theywanderedfromhermercilesslytothesleepingboy。Sheturnedspeechlessfromthebed。Withoutalookatthechild——withoutawordtothetwostrangersbreathlesslywatchingher——shekeptthepromiseshehadgiven，andindeadsilencelefttheroom。
Therewassomethinginthemannerofherdeparturewhichshooktheself-possessionofboththemenwhowitnessedit。Whenthedoorclosedonher，theyrecoiledinstinctivelyfromadvancingfurtherinthedark。Thedoctor’sreluctancewasthefirsttoexpressitself。Heattemptedtoobtainthepatient’spermissiontowithdrawuntiltheletterwascompleted。Thepatientrefused。
Mr。Nealspokenextatgreaterlengthandtomoreseriouspurpose。
“Thedoctorisaccustomedinhisprofession。”hebegan，“andIamaccustomedinmine，tohavethesecretsofothersplacedinourkeeping。Butitismyduty，beforewegofurther，toaskifyoureallyunderstandtheextraordinarypositionwhichwenowoccupytowardoneanother。YouhavejustexcludedMrs。Armadale，beforeourowneyes，fromaplaceinyourconfidence。Andyouarenowofferingthatsameplacetotwomenwhoaretotalstrangerstoyou。”
“Yes。”saidMr。Armadale，“_because_youarestrangers。”
Fewasthewordswere，theinferencetobedrawnfromthemwasnotofanaturetosetdistrustatrest。Mr。Nealputitplainlyintowords。
“Youareinurgentneedofmyhelpandofthedoctor’shelp。”hesaid。“AmItounderstandsolongasyousecureourassistance
thattheimpressionwhichtheclosingpassagesofthislettermayproduceonusisamatterofindifferencetoyou？”
“Yes。Idon’tspareyou。Idon’tsparemyself。I_do_sparemywife。”
“Youforcemetoaconclusion，sir，whichisaveryseriousone。”
saidMr。Neal。“IfIamtofinishthisletterunderyourdictation，Imustclaimpermission——havingreadaloudthegreaterpartofitalready——toreadaloudwhatremains，inthehearingofthisgentleman，asawitness。”
“Readit。”
Gravelydoubting，thedoctorresumedhischair。Gravelydoubting，Mr。Nealturnedtheleaf，andreadthenextwords:
“ThereismoretotellbeforeIcanleavethedeadmantohisrest。Ihavedescribedthefindingofhisbody。ButIhavenotdescribedthecircumstancesunderwhichhemethisdeath。
“Hewasknowntohavebeenondeckwhentheyacht’sboatswereseenapproachingthewreck;andhewasafterwardmissedintheconfusioncausedbythepanicofthecrew。Atthattimethewaterwasfivefeetdeepinthecabin，andwasrisingfast。Therewaslittledoubtofhishavinggonedownintothatwaterofhisownaccord。Thediscoveryofhiswife’sjewelbox，closeunderhim，onthefloor，explainedhispresenceinthecabin。Hewasknowntohaveseenhelpapproaching，anditwasquitelikelythathehadthereupongonebelowtomakeaneffortatsavingthebox。Itwaslessprobable——thoughitmightstillhavebeeninferred——thathisdeathwastheresultofsomeaccidentindiving，whichhadforthemomentdeprivedhimofhissenses。Butadiscoverymadebytheyacht’screwpointedstraighttoaconclusionwhichstruckthemen，oneandall，withthesamehorror。Whenthecourseoftheirsearchbroughtthemtothecabin，theyfoundthescuttlebolted，andthedoorlockedontheoutside。Hadsomeoneclosedthecabin，notknowinghewasthere？Settingthepanic-strickenconditionofthecrewoutofthequestion，therewasnomotiveforclosingthecabinbeforeleavingthewreck。Butoneotherconclusionremained。Hadsomemurderoushandpurposelylockedthemanin，andlefthimtodrownasthewaterroseoverhim？
“Yes。Amurderoushandhadlockedhimin，andlefthimtodrown。
Thathandwasmine。“
TheScotchmanstartedupfromthetable;thedoctorshrankfromthebedside。Thetwolookedatthedyingwretch，masteredbythesameloathing，chilledbythesamedread。Helaythere，withhischild’sheadonhisbreast;abandonedbythesympathiesofman，accursedbythejusticeofGod——helaythere，intheisolationofCain，andlookedbackatthem。
Atthemomentwhenthetwomenrosetotheirfeet，thedoorleadingintothenextroomwasshakenheavilyontheouterside，andasoundlikethesoundofafall，strikingdullontheirears，silencedthemboth。Standingnearesttothedoor，thedoctoropenedit，passedthrough，andcloseditinstantly。Mr。
Nealturnedhisbackonthebed，andwaitedtheeventinsilence。
Thesound，whichhadfailedtoawakenthechild，hadfailedalsotoattractthefather’snotice。Hisownwordshadtakenhimfarfromallthatwaspassingathisdeathbed。Hishelplessbodywasbackonthewreck，andtheghostofhislifelesshandwasturningthelockofthecabindoor。
Abellranginthenextroom——eagervoicestalked;hurriedfootstepsmovedinit——anintervalpassed，andthedoctorreturned。“Wasshelistening？”whisperedMr。Neal，inGerman。
“Thewomenarerestoringher。”thedoctorwhisperedback。“Shehashearditall。InGod’sname，whatarewetodonext？”Beforeitwaspossibletoreply，Mr。Armadalespoke。Thedoctor’sreturnhadrousedhimtoasenseofpresentthings。
“Goon。”hesaid，asifnothinghadhappened。
“Irefusetomeddlefurtherwithyourinfamoussecret。”returnedMr。Neal。“Youareamurdereronyourownconfession。Ifthatletteristobefinished，don’task_me_toholdthepenforyou。”
“Yougavemeyourpromise。”wasthereply，spokenwiththesameimmovableself-possession。“Youmustwriteforme，orbreakyourword。”
Forthemoment，Mr。Nealwassilenced。Therethemanlay——shelteredfromtheexecrationofhisfellow-creatures，undertheshadowofDeath——beyondthereachofallhumancondemnation，beyondthedreadofallmortallaws;sensitivetonothingbuthisonelastresolutiontofinishtheletteraddressedtohisson。
Mr。Nealdrewthedoctoraside。“Awordwithyou。”hesaid，inGerman。“DoyoupersistinassertingthathemaybespeechlessbeforewecansendtoStuttgart？”
“Lookathislips。”saidthedoctor，“andjudgeforyourself。”
Hislipsansweredforhim:thereadingofthenarrativehadleftitsmarkonthemalready。Adistortionatthecornersofhismouth，whichhadbeenbarelynoticeablewhenMr。Nealenteredtheroom，wasplainlyvisiblenow。Hisslowarticulationlaboredmoreandmorepainfullywitheverywordheuttered。Thepositionwasemphaticallyaterribleone。Afteramomentmoreofhesitation，Mr。Nealmadealastattempttowithdrawfromit。
“Nowmyeyesareopen。”hesaid，sternly，“doyoudareholdmetoanengagementwhichyouforcedonmeblindfold？”
“No。”answeredMr。Armadale。“Ileaveyoutobreakyourword。”
ThelookwhichaccompaniedthatreplystungtheScotchman’spridetothequick。Whenhespokenext，hespokeseatedinhisformerplaceatthetable。
“NomaneveryetsaidofmethatIbrokemyword。”heretorted，angrily;“andnotevenyoushallsayitofmenow。Mindthis！Ifyouholdmetomypromise，Iholdyoutomycondition。Ihavereservedmyfreedomofaction，andIwarnyouIwilluseitatmyownsolediscretion，assoonasIamreleasedfromthesightofyou。”
“Rememberheisdying。”pleadedthedoctor，gently。
“Takeyourplace，sir。”saidMr。Neal，pointingtotheemptychair。“Whatremainstoberead，Iwillonlyreadinyourhearing。Whatremainstobewritten，Iwillonlywriteinyourpresence。_You_broughtmehere。Ihavearighttoinsist——andI
doinsist——onyourremainingasawitnesstothelast。”
Thedoctoracceptedhispositionwithoutremonstrance。Mr。Nealreturnedtothemanuscript，andreadwhatremainedofituninterruptedlytotheend:
“Withoutawordinmyowndefense，Ihaveacknowledgedmyguilt。
Withoutawordinmyowndefense，Iwillrevealhowthecrimewascommitted。
“Nothoughtofhimwasinmymind，whenIsawhiswifeinsensibleonthedeckofthetimber-ship。Ididmypartinloweringhersafelyintotheboat。Then，andnottillthen，Ifeltthethoughtofhimcomingback。Intheconfusionthatprevailedwhilethemenoftheyachtwereforcingthemenoftheshiptowaittheirtime，Ihadanopportunityofsearchingforhimunobserved。Isteppedbackfromthebulwark，notknowingwhetherhewasawayinthefirstboat，orwhetherhewasstillonboard——Isteppedback，andsawhimmountthecabinstairsempty-handed，withthewaterdrippingfromhim。Afterlookingeagerlytowardtheboatwithoutnoticingme，hesawtherewastimetosparebeforethecrewweretaken。’Oncemore！’hesaidtohimself——anddisappearedagain，tomakealasteffortatrecoveringthejewelbox。Thedevilatmyelbowwhispered，’Don’tshoothimlikeaman:drownhimlikeadog！’HewasunderwaterwhenIboltedthescuttle。ButhisheadrosetothesurfacebeforeIcouldclosethecabindoor。Ilookedathim，andhelookedatme——andIlockedthedoorinhisface。
Thenextminute，Iwasbackamongthelastmenleftondeck。Theminuteafter，itwastoolatetorepent。Thestormwasthreateninguswithdestruction，andtheboat’screwwerepullingfortheirlivesfromtheship。
“Myson！Ihavepursuedyoufrommygravewithaconfessionwhichmylovemighthavesparedyou。Readon，andyouwillknowwhy。
“Iwillsaynothingofmysufferings;Iwillpleadfornomercytomymemory。Thereisastrangesinkingatmyheart，astrangetremblinginmyhand，whileIwritetheselines，whichwarnsmetohastentotheend。IlefttheislandwithoutdaringtolookforthelasttimeatthewomanwhomIhadlostsomiserably，whomIhadinjuredsovilely。WhenIleft，thewholeweightofthesuspicionrousedbythemannerofIngleby’sdeathrestedonthecrewoftheFrenchvessel。Nomotiveforthesupposedmurdercouldbebroughthometoanyofthem;buttheywereknowntobe，forthemostpart，outlawedruffianscapableofanycrime，andtheyweresuspectedandexaminedaccordingly。ItwasnottillafterwardthatIheardbyaccidentofthesuspicionshiftingroundatlasttome。Thewidowalonerecognizedthevaguedescriptiongivenofthestrangemanwhohadmadeoneoftheyacht’screw，andwhohaddisappearedthedayafterward。Thewidowaloneknew，fromthattimeforth，whyherhusbandhadbeenmurdered，andwhohaddonethedeed。Whenshemadethatdiscovery，afalsereportofmydeathhadbeenpreviouslycirculatedintheisland。PerhapsIwasindebtedtothereportformyimmunityfromalllegalproceedings;perhapsnoeyebutIngleby’shavingseenmelockthecabindoortherewasnotevidenceenoughtojustifyaninquiry;perhapsthewidowshrankfromthedisclosureswhichmusthavefollowedapublicchargeagainstme，basedonherownbaresuspicionofthetruth。Howeveritmightbe，thecrimewhichIhadcommittedunseenhasremainedacrimeunpunishedfromthattimetothis。
“IleftMadeirafortheWestIndiesindisguise。ThefirstnewsthatmetmewhentheshiptouchedatBarbadoeswasthenewsofmymother’sdeath。Ihadnohearttoreturntotheoldscenes。Theprospectoflivingathomeinsolitude，withthetormentofmyownguiltyremembrancesgnawingatmedayandnight，wasmorethanIhadthecouragetoconfront。Withoutlanding，ordiscoveringmyselftoanyoneonshore，Iwentonasfarastheshipwouldtakeme——totheislandofTrinidad。
“AtthatplaceIfirstsawyourmother。Itwasmydutytotellherthetruth——andItreacherouslykeptmysecret。Itwasmydutytospareherthehopelesssacrificeofherfreedomandherhappinesstosuchanexistenceasmine——andIdidhertheinjuryofmarryingher。Ifsheisalivewhenyoureadthis，grantherthemercyofstillconcealingthetruth。TheoneatonementIcanmaketoheristokeepherunsuspicioustothelastofthemanshehasmarried。Pityher，asIhavepitiedher。Letthisletterbeasacredconfidencebetweenfatherandson。
“Thetimewhenyouwerebornwasthetimewhenmyhealthbegantogiveway。Somemonthsafterward，inthefirstdaysofmyrecovery，youwerebroughttome;andIwastoldthatyouhadbeenchristenedduringmyillness。Yourmotherhaddoneasotherlovingmothersdo——shehadchristenedherfirst-bornbyhisfather’sname。You，too，wereAllanArmadale。Eveninthatearlytime——evenwhileIwashappilyignorantofwhatIhavediscoveredsince——mymindmisgavemewhenIlookedatyou，andthoughtofthatfatalname。
“AssoonasIcouldbemoved，mypresencewasrequiredatmyestatesinBarbadoes。Itcrossedmymind——wildastheideamayappeartoyou——torenouncetheconditionwhichcompelledmysonaswellasmyselftotaketheArmadalename，orlosethesuccessiontotheArmadaleproperty。But，eveninthosedays，therumorofacontemplatedemancipationoftheslaves——theemancipationwhichisnowcloseathand——wasspreadingwidelyinthecolony。NomancouldtellhowthevalueofWestIndianpropertymightbeaffectedifthatthreatenedchangeevertookplace。Nomancouldtell——ifIgaveyoubackmyownpaternalname，andleftyouwithoutotherprovisioninthefuturethanmyownpaternalestate——howyoumightonedaymissthebroadArmadaleacres，ortowhatfuturepenuryImightbeblindlycondemningyourmotherandyourself。Markhowthefatalitiesgatheredoneontheother！MarkhowyourChristiannamecametoyou，howyoursurnameheldtoyou，inspiteofme！
“Myhealthhadimprovedinmyoldhome——butitwasforatimeonly。Isankagain，andthedoctorsorderedmetoEurope。
AvoidingEnglandwhy，youmayguess，Itookmypassage，withyouandyourmother，forFrance。FromFrancewepassedintoItaly。Welivedhere;welivedthere。Itwasuseless。DeathhadgotmetandDeathfollowedme，gowhereImight。Iboreit，forI
hadanalleviationtoturntowhichIhadnotdeserved。Youmayshrinkinhorrorfromtheverymemoryofmenow。Inthosedays，youcomfortedme。TheonlywarmthIstillfeltatmyheartwasthewarmthyoubroughttoit。Mylastglimpsesofhappinessinthisworldweretheglimpsesgivenmebymyinfantson。
“WeremovedfromItaly，andwentnexttoLausanne——theplacefromwhichIamnowwritingtoyou。Thepostofthismorninghasbroughtmenews，laterandfullerthananyIhadreceivedthusfar，ofthewidowofthemurderedman。TheletterliesbeforemewhileIwrite。Itcomesfromafriendofmyearlydays，whohasseenher，andspokentoher——whohasbeenthefirsttoinformherthatthereportofmydeathinMadeirawasfalse。Hewrites，atalosstoaccountfortheviolentagitationwhichsheshowedonhearingthatIwasstillalive，thatIwasmarried，andthatI
hadaninfantson。HeasksmeifIcanexplainit。Hespeaksintermsofsympathyforher——ayoungandbeautifulwoman，buriedintheretirementofafishing-villageontheDevonshirecoast;herfatherdead;herfamilyestrangedfromher，inmercilessdisapprovalofhermarriage。Hewriteswordswhichmighthavecutmetotheheart，butforaclosingpassageinhisletter，whichseizedmywholeattentiontheinstantIcametoit，andwhichhasforcedfrommethenarrativethatthesepagescontain。
“Inowknowwhatneverevenenteredmymindasasuspiciontilltheletterreachedme。Inowknowthatthewidowofthemanwhosedeathliesatmydoorhasborneaposthumouschild。Thatchildisaboy——ayearolderthanmyownson。Secureinherbeliefinmydeath，hismotherhasdonewhatmyson’smotherdid:shehaschristenedherchildbyhisfather’sname。Again，inthesecondgeneration，therearetwoAllanArmadalesastherewereinthefirst。Afterworkingitsdeadlymischiefwiththefathers，thefatalresemblanceofnameshasdescendedtoworkitsdeadlymischiefwiththesons。
“Guiltlessmindsmayseenothingthusfarbuttheresultofaseriesofeventswhichcouldleadnootherway。I——withthatman’slifetoanswerfor——I，goingdownintomygrave，withmycrimeunpunishedandunatoned，seewhatnoguiltlessmindscandiscern。Iseedangerinthefuture，begottenofthedangerinthepast——treacherythatistheoffspringof_his_treachery，andcrimethatisthechildof_my_crime。Isthedreadthatnowshakesmetothesoulaphantomraisedbythesuperstitionofadyingman？IlookintotheBookwhichallChristendomvenerates，andtheBooktellsmethatthesinofthefathershallbevisitedonthechild。Ilookoutintotheworld，andIseethelivingwitnessesroundmetothatterribletruth。Iseetheviceswhichhavecontaminatedthefatherdescending，andcontaminatingthechild;Iseetheshamewhichhasdisgracedthefather’snamedescending，anddisgracingthechild’s。Ilookinonmyself，andIseemycrimeripeningagainforthefutureintheself-samecircumstancewhichfirstsowedtheseedsofitinthepast，anddescending，ininheritedcontaminationofevil，frommetomyson。”
Atthoselinesthewritingended。Therethestrokehadstruckhim，andthepenhaddroppedfromhishand。
Heknewtheplace;herememberedthewords。Attheinstantwhenthereader’svoicestopped，helookedeagerlyatthedoctor。“I
havegotwhatcomesnextinmymind。”hesaid，withslowerandslowerarticulation。“Helpmetospeakit。”
Thedoctoradministeredastimulant，andsignedtoMr。Nealtogivehimtime。Afteralittledelay，theflameofthesinkingspiritleapedupinhiseyesoncemore。Resolutelystrugglingwithhisfailingspeech，hesummonedtheScotchmantotakethepen，andpronouncedtheclosingsentencesofthenarrative，ashismemorygavethembacktohim，onebyone，inthesewords:
“Despisemydyingconvictionifyouwill，butgrantme，I
solemnlyimploreyou，onelastrequest。Myson！theonlyhopeI
haveleftforyouhangsonagreatdoubt——thedoubtwhetherweare，orarenot，themastersofourowndestinies。Itmaybethatmortalfree-willcanconquermortalfate;andthatgoing，aswealldo，inevitablytodeath，wegoinevitablytonothingthatisbeforedeath。Ifthisbeso，indeed，respect——thoughyourespectnothingelse——thewarningwhichIgiveyoufrommygrave。Never，toyourdyingday，letanylivingsoulapproachyouwhoisassociated，directlyorindirectly，withthecrimewhichyourfatherhascommitted。AvoidthewidowofthemanIkilled——ifthewidowstilllives。Avoidthemaidwhosewickedhandsmoothedthewaytothemarriage——ifthemaidisstillinherservice。Andmorethanall，avoidthemanwhobearsthesamenameasyourown。
Offendyourbestbenefactor，ifthatbenefactor’sinfluencehasconnectedyouonewiththeother。Desertthewomanwholovesyou，ifthatwomanisalinkbetweenyouandhim。Hideyourselffromhimunderanassumedname。Putthemountainsandtheseasbetweenyou;beungrateful，beunforgiving;beallthatismostrepellenttoyourowngentlernature，ratherthanliveunderthesameroof，andbreathethesameair，withthatman。NeverletthetwoAllanArmadalesmeetinthisworld:never，never，never！
“Thereliesthewaybywhichyoumayescape——ifanywaytherebe。
Takeit，ifyouprizeyourowninnocenceandyourownhappiness，throughallyourlifetocome！
“Ihavedone。IfIcouldhavetrustedanyweakerinfluencethantheinfluenceofthisconfessiontoinclineyoutomywill，I
wouldhavesparedyouthedisclosurewhichthesepagescontain。
Youarelyingonmybreast，sleepingtheinnocentsleepofachild，whileastranger’shandwritesthesewordsforyouastheyfallfrommylips。Thinkwhatthestrengthofmyconvictionmustbe，whenIcanfindthecourage，onmydeath-bed，todarkenallyouryounglifeatitsoutsetwiththeshadowofyourfather’scrime。Think，andbewarned。Think，andforgivemeifyoucan。”
Thereitended。Thosewerethefather’slastwordstotheson。
Inexorablyfaithfultohisforcedduty，Mr。Neallaidasidethepen，andreadoveraloudthelineshehadjustwritten。“Istheremoretoadd？”heasked，withhispitilesslysteadyvoice。Therewasnomoretoadd。
Mr。Nealfoldedthemanuscript，incloseditinasheetofpaper，andsealeditwithMr。Armadale’sownseal。“Theaddress？”hesaid，withhismercilessbusinessformality。“ToAllanArmadale，junior。”hewrote，asthewordsweredictatedfromthebed。“CareofGodfreyHammick，Esq。，OfficesofMessrs。HammickandRidge，Lincoln’sInnFields，London。”Havingwrittentheaddress，hewaited，andconsideredforamoment。“Isyourexecutortoopenthis？”heasked。
“No！heistogiveittomysonwhenmysonisofanagetounderstandit。”
“Inthatcase。”pursuedMr。Neal，withallhiswitsinremorselessworkingorder，“Iwilladdadatednotetotheaddress，repeatingyourownwordsasyouhavejustspokenthem，andexplainingthecircumstancesunderwhichmyhandwritingappearsonthedocument。”Hewrotethenoteinthebriefestandplainestterms，readitoveraloudashehadreadoverwhatwentbefore，signedhisnameandaddressattheend，andmadethedoctorsignnext，aswitnessoftheproceedings，andasmedicalevidenceoftheconditioninwhichMr。Armadalethenlay。Thisdone，heplacedtheletterinasecondinclosure，sealeditasbefore，anddirectedittoMr。Hammick，withthesuperscriptionof“private“addedtotheaddress。“Doyouinsistonmypostingthis？”heasked，risingwiththeletterinhishand。
“Givehimtimetothink。”saidthedoctor。“Forthechild’ssake，givehimtimetothink！Aminutemaychangehim。”
“Iwillgivehimfiveminutes。”answeredMr。Neal，placinghiswatchonthetable，implacablyjusttotheverylast。
Theywaited，bothlookingattentivelyatMr。Armadale。Thesignsofchangewhichhadappearedinhimalreadyweremultiplyingfast。Themovementwhichcontinuedmentalagitationhadcommunicatedtothemusclesofhisfacewasbeginning，underthesamedangerousinfluence，tospreaddownward。Hisoncehelplesshandslaystillnolonger;theystruggledpitiablyonthebedclothes。Atsightofthatwarningtoken，thedoctorturnedwithagestureofalarm，andbeckonedMr。Nealtocomenearer。
“Putthequestionatonce。”hesaid;“ifyouletthefiveminutespass，youmaybetoolate。”
Mr。Nealapproachedthebed。He，too，noticedthemovementofthehands。“Isthatabadsign？”heasked。
Thedoctorbenthisheadgravely。“Putyourquestionatonce。”herepeated，“oryoumaybetoolate。”
Mr。Nealheldtheletterbeforetheeyesofthedyingman“Doyouknowwhatthisis？”
“Myletter。”
“Doyouinsistonmypostingit？”
Hemasteredhisfailingspeechforthelasttime，andgavetheanswer:“Yes！“
Mr。Nealmovedtothedoor，withtheletterinhishand。TheGermanfollowedhimafewsteps，openedhislipstopleadforalongerdelay，mettheScotchman’sinexorableeye，anddrewbackagaininsilence。Thedoorclosedandpartedthem，withoutawordhavingpassedoneitherside。
Thedoctorwentbacktothebedandwhisperedtothesinkingman:
“Letmecallhimback;thereistimetostophimyet！“Itwasuseless。Noanswercame;nothingshowedthatheheeded，orevenheard。Hiseyeswanderedfromthechild，restedforamomentonhisownstrugglinghand，andlookedupentreatinglyinthecompassionatefacethatbentoverhim。Thedoctorliftedthehand，paused，followedthefather’slongingeyesbacktothechild，and，interpretinghislastwish，movedthehandgentlytowardtheboy’shead。Thehandtouchedit，andtrembledviolently。Inanotherinstantthetremblingseizedonthearm，andspreadoverthewholeupperpartofthebody。Thefaceturnedfrompaletored，fromredtopurple，frompurpletopaleagain。
Thenthetoilinghandslaystill，andtheshiftingcolorchangednomore。
Thewindowofthenextroomwasopen，whenthedoctorentereditfromthedeathchamber，withthechildinhisarms。Helookedoutashepassedby，andsawMr。Nealinthestreetbelow，slowlyreturningtotheinn。
“Whereistheletter？”heasked。
ThreewordssufficedfortheScotchman’sanswer。
“Inthepost。”
THEENDOFTHEPROLOGUE。
THESTORY。
_BOOKTHEFIRST。_
CHAPTERI。
THEMYSTERYOFOZIASMIDWINTER。
ONawarmMaynight，intheyeareighteenhundredandfifty-one，theReverendDecimusBrock——atthattimeavisitortotheIsleofMan——retiredtohisbedroomatCastletown，withaseriouspersonalresponsibilityinclosepursuitofhim，andwithnodistinctideaofthemeansbywhichhemightrelievehimselffromthepressureofhispresentcircumstances。
Theclergymanhadreachedthatmatureperiodofhumanlifeatwhichasensiblemanlearnstodeclineasoftenashistemperwilllethimalluselessconflictwiththetyrannyofhisowntroubles。Abandoninganyfurtherefforttoreachadecisionintheemergencythatnowbesethim，Mr。Brocksatdownplacidlyinhisshirtsleevesonthesideofhisbed，andappliedhismindtoconsidernextwhethertheemergencyitselfwasasseriousashehadhithertobeeninclinedtothinkit。Followingthisnewwayoutofhisperplexities，Mr。Brockfoundhimselfunexpectedlytravelingtotheendinviewbytheleastinspiritingofallhumanjourneys——ajourneythroughthepastyearsofhisownlife。
Onebyonetheeventsofthoseyears——allconnectedwiththesamelittlegroupofcharacters，andallmoreorlessanswerablefortheanxietywhichwasnowintrudingitselfbetweentheclergymanandhisnight’srest——rose，inprogressiveseries，onMr。Brock’smemory。Thefirstoftheseriestookhimback，throughaperiodoffourteenyears，tohisownrectoryontheSomersetshireshoresoftheBristolChannel，andclosetedhimataprivateinterviewwithaladywhohadpaidhimavisitinthecharacterofatotalstrangertotheparsonandtheplace。
Thelady’scomplexionwasfair，thelady’sfigurewaswellpreserved;shewasstillayoungwoman，andshelookedevenyoungerthanherage。Therewasashadeofmelancholyinherexpression，andanundertoneofsufferinginhervoice——enough，ineachcase，toindicatethatshehadknowntrouble，butnotenoughtoobtrudethattroubleonthenoticeofothers。Shebroughtwithherafine，fair-hairedboyofeightyearsold，whomshepresentedasherson，andwhowassentoutoftheway，atthebeginningoftheinterview，toamusehimselfintherectorygarden。Hercardhadprecededherentranceintothestudy，andhadannouncedherunderthenameof“Mrs。Armadale。”Mr。Brockbegantofeelinterestedinherbeforeshehadopenedherlips;
andwhenthesonhadbeendismissed，heawaitedwithsomeanxietytohearwhatthemotherhadtosaytohim。
Mrs。Armadalebeganbyinformingtherectorthatshewasawidow。
Herhusbandhadperishedbyshipwreckashorttimeaftertheirunion，onthevoyagefromMadeiratoLisbon。ShehadbeenbroughttoEngland，afterheraffliction，underherfather’sprotection;
andherchild——aposthumousson——hadbeenbornonthefamilyestateinNorfolk。Herfather’sdeath，shortlyafterward，haddeprivedherofheronlysurvivingparent，andhadexposedhertoneglectandmisconstructiononthepartofherremainingrelativestwobrothers，whichhadestrangedherfromthem，shefeared，fortherestofherdays。ForsometimepastshehadlivedintheneighboringcountyofDevonshire，devotingherselftotheeducationofherboy，whohadnowreachedanageatwhichherequiredotherthanhismother’steaching。Leavingoutofthequestionherownunwillingnesstopartwithhim，inhersolitaryposition，shewasespeciallyanxiousthatheshouldnotbethrownamongstrangersbybeingsenttoschool。Herdarlingprojectwastobringhimupprivatelyathome，andtokeephim，asheadvancedinyears，fromallcontactwiththetemptationsandthedangersoftheworld。
Withtheseobjectsinview，herlongersojourninherownlocalitywheretheservicesoftheresidentclergyman，inthecapacityoftutor，werenotobtainablemustcometoanend。Shehadmadeinquiries，hadheardofahousethatwouldsuitherinMr。Brock’sneighborhood，andhadalsobeentoldthatMr。Brockhimselfhadformerlybeeninthehabitoftakingpupils。
Possessedofthisinformation，shehadventuredtopresentherself，withreferencesthatvouchedforherrespectability，butwithoutaformalintroduction;andshehadnowtoaskwhetherintheeventofherresidingintheneighborhoodanytermsthatcouldbeofferedwouldinduceMr。Brocktoopenhisdoorsoncemoretoapupil，andtoallowthatpupiltobeherson。
IfMrs。Armadalehadbeenawomanofnopersonalattractions，orifMr。Brockhadbeenprovidedwithanintrenchmenttofightbehindintheshapeofawife，itisprobablethatthewidow’sjourneymighthavebeentakeninvain。Asthingsreallywere，therectorexaminedthereferenceswhichwereofferedtohim，andaskedtimeforconsideration。Whenthetimehadexpired，hedidwhatMrs。Armadalewishedhimtodo——heofferedhisbacktotheburden，andletthemotherloadhimwiththeresponsibilityoftheson。
Thiswasthefirsteventoftheseries;thedateofitbeingtheyeareighteenhundredandthirty-seven。Mr。Brock’smemory，travelingforwardtowardthepresentfromthatpoint，pickedupthesecondeventinitsturn，andstoppednextattheyeareighteenhundredandforty-five——
Thefishing-villageontheSomersetshirecoastwasstillthescene，andthecharacterswereonceagain——Mrs。Armadaleandherson。
Throughtheeightyearsthathadpassed，Mr。Brock’sresponsibilityhadrestedonhimlightlyenough。Theboyhadgivenhismotherandhistutorbutlittletrouble。Hewascertainlyslowoverhisbooks，butmorefromaconstitutionalinabilitytofixhisattentiononhistasksthanfromwantofcapacitytounderstandthem。Histemperament，itcouldnotbedenied，washeedlesstothelastdegree:heactedrecklesslyonhisfirstimpulses，andrushedblindfoldatallhisconclusions。
Ontheotherhand，itwastobesaidinhisfavorthathisdispositionwasopenastheday;amoregenerous，affectionate，sweet-temperedladitwouldhavebeenhardtofindanywhere。A
certainquaintoriginalityofcharacter，andanaturalhealthinessinallhistastes，carriedhimfreeofmostofthedangerstowhichhismother’ssystemofeducationinevitablyexposedhim。HehadathoroughlyEnglishloveoftheseaandofallthatbelongstoit;andashegrewinyears，therewasnoluringhimawayfromthewater-side，andnokeepinghimoutoftheboat-builder’syard。Incourseoftimehismothercaughthimactuallyworkingthere，toherinfiniteannoyanceandsurprise，asavolunteer。Heacknowledgedthathiswholefutureambitionwastohaveayardofhisown，andthathisonepresentobjectwastolearntobuildaboatforhimself。Wiselyforeseeingthatsuchapursuitasthisforhisleisurehourswasexactlywhatwaswantedtoreconciletheladtoapositionofisolationfromcompanionsofhisownrankandage，Mr。BrockprevailedonMrs。
Armadale，withnosmalldifficulty，tolethersonhavehisway。
Attheperiodofthatsecondeventintheclergyman’slifewithhispupilwhichisnowtoberelated，youngArmadalehadpracticedlongenoughinthebuilder’syardtohavereachedthesummitofhiswishes，bylayingwithhisownhandsthekeelofhisownboat。
Lateonacertainsummerday，notlongafterAllanhadcompletedhissixteenthyear，Mr。Brocklefthispupilhardatworkintheyard，andwenttospendtheeveningwithMrs。Armadale，takingthe_Times_newspaperwithhiminhishand。
Theyearsthathadpassedsincetheyhadfirstmethadlongsinceregulatedthelivesoftheclergymanandhisneighbor。ThefirstadvanceswhichMr。Brock’sgrowingadmirationforthewidowhadledhimtomakeintheearlydaysoftheirintercoursehadbeenmetonhersidebyanappealtohisforbearancewhichhadclosedhislipsforthefuture。Shehadsatisfiedhim，atonceandforever，thattheoneplaceinherheartwhichhecouldhopetooccupywastheplaceofafriend。Helovedherwellenoughtotakewhatshewouldgivehim:friendstheybecame，andfriendstheyremainedfromthattimeforth。Nojealousdreadofanotherman’ssucceedingwherehehadfailedimbitteredtheclergyman’splacidrelationswiththewomanwhomheloved。Ofthefewresidentgentlemenintheneighborhood，nonewereeveradmittedbyMrs。Armadaletomorethanthemerestacquaintancewithher。
Contentedlyself-buriedinhercountryretreat，shewasproofagainsteverysocialattractionthatwouldhavetemptedotherwomeninherpositionandatherage。Mr。Brockandhisnewspaper，appearingwithmonotonousregularityathertea-tablethreetimesaweek，toldherallshekneworcaredtoknowofthegreatouterworldwhichcircledroundthenarrowandchangelesslimitsofherdailylife。