Youtouchedme，asIwaswalkingawayagain，andhandedmethetumblerfilledtothebrim。Atthesametime，Allanturnedroundfromthewindow;andI，inmyturn，handedthetumblerto_him。_——Isthereanymistakesofar？’
“Thequickthrobbingofmyheartalmostchokedme。Icouldjustshakemyhead——Icoulddonomore。
“’IsawAllanraisethetumblertohislips——Did_you_seeit？
Isawhisfaceturnwhiteinaninstant——Did_you？_Isawtheglassfallfromhishandonthefloor。Isawhimstagger，andcaughthimbeforehefell。Arethesethingstrue？ForGod’ssake，searchyourmemory，andtellme——arethesethingstrue？’
“Thethrobbingatmyheartseemed，foronebreathlessinstant，tostop。Thenextmomentsomethingfiery，somethingmaddening，flewthroughme。Istartedtomyfeet，withmytemperinaflame，recklessofallconsequences，desperateenoughtosayanything。
“’Yourquestionsareaninsult！Yourlooksareaninsult！’I
burstout。’_DoyouthinkItriedtopoisonhim？_’
“Thewordsrushedoutofmylipsinspiteofme。Theywerethelastwordsunderheaventhatanywoman，insuchasituationasmine，oughttohavespoken。AndyetIspokethem！
“Heroseinalarmandgavememysmelling-bottle。’Hush！hush！’
hesaid。’You，too，areoverwrought——you，too，areoverexcitedbyallthathashappenedto-night。Youaretalkingwildlyandshockingly。GoodGod！howcanyouhavesoutterlymisunderstoodme？Composeyourself——pray，composeyourself。’
“Hemightaswellhavetoldawildanimaltocomposeherself。
Havingbeenmadenoughtosaythewords，Iwasmadenoughnexttoreturntothesubjectofthelemonade，inspiteofhisentreatiestometobesilent。
“’ItoldyouwhatIhadputintheglass，themomentMr。
Armadalefainted，’Iwenton;insistingfuriouslyondefendingmyself，whennoattackwasmadeonme。’ItoldyouIhadtakentheflaskofbrandywhichyoukeptatyourbedside，andmixedsomeofitwiththelemonade。HowcouldIknowthathehadanervoushorrorofthesmellandtasteofbrandy？Didn’thesaytomehimself，whenhecametohissenses，It’smyfault;Ioughttohavewarnedyoutoputnobrandyinit？Didn’theremindyouafterwardofthetimewhenyouandhewereintheIsleofMantogether，andwhenthedoctorthereinnocentlymadethesamemistakewithhimthatImadeto-night？’
[“Ilaidagreatstressonmyinnocence——andwithsomereasontoo。WhateverelseImaybe，Ipridemyselfonnotbeingahypocrite。I_was_innocent——sofarasthebrandywasconcerned。
Ihadputitintothelemonade，inpureignoranceofArmadale’snervouspeculiarity，todisguisethetasteof——nevermindwhat！
AnotherofthethingsIpridemyselfonisthatIneverwanderfrommysubject。WhatMidwintersaidnextiswhatIoughttobewritingaboutnow。]
“Helookedatmeforamoment，asifhethoughtIhadtakenleaveofmysenses。Thenhecameroundtomysideofthetableandstoodovermeagain。
“’Ifnothingelsewillsatisfyyouthatyouareentirelymisinterpretingmymotives，’hesaid，’andthatIhaven’tanideaofblaming_you_inthematter——readthis。’
“Hetookapaperfromthebreast-pocketofhiscoat，andspreaditopenundermyeyes。ItwastheNarrativeofArmadale’sDream。
“Inaninstantthewholeweightonmymindwasliftedoffit。I
feltmistressofmyselfagain——Iunderstoodhimatlast。
“’Doyouknowwhatthisis？’heasked。’DoyourememberwhatI
saidtoyouatThorpeAmbroseaboutAllan’sDream？ItoldyouthenthattwooutofthethreeVisionshadalreadycometrue。I
tellyounowthatthethirdVisionhasbeenfulfilledinthishouseto-night。’
“Heturnedovertheleavesofthemanuscript，andpointedtothelinesthathewishedmetoread。
“Ireadthese，ornearlyreadthesewords，fromtheNarrativeoftheDream，asMidwinterhadtakenitdownfromArmadale’sownlips:
“’Thedarknessopenedforthethirdtime，andshowedmetheShadowoftheManandtheShadowoftheWomantogether。TheMan-Shadewasthenearest;theWoman-Shadowstoodback。Fromwheresheslood，Iheardasoundlikethepouringoutofaliquidsoftly。IsawhertouchtheShadowoftheManwithonehand，andgivehimaglasswiththeother。Hetooktheglassandhandedittome。AtthemomentwhenIputittomylips，adeadlyfaintnessovercameme。WhenIrecoveredmysensesagain，theShadowshadvanished，andtheVisionwasatanend。’
“Forthemoment，IwasascompletelystaggeredbythisextraordinarycoincidenceasMidwinterhimself。
“Heputonehandontheopennarrativeandlaidtheotherheavilyonmyarm。
“’_Now_doyouunderstandmymotiveincominghere？’heasked。
’_Now_doyouseethatthelasthopeIhadtoclingtowasthehopethatyourmemoryofthenight’seventsmightprovemymemorytobewrong？_Now_doyouknowwhyIwon’thelpAllan？WhyI
won’tsailwithhim？WhyIamplottingandlying，andmakingyouplotandlietoo，tokeepmybestanddearestfriendoutofthehouse？’
“’HaveyouforgottenMr。Brock’sletter？’Iasked。
“Hestruckhishandpassionatelyontheopenmanuscript。’IfMr。
Brookhadlivedtoseewhatwehaveseento-nighthewouldhavefeltwhatIfeel，hewouldhavesaidwhatIsay！’Hisvoicesankmysteriously，andhisgreatblackeyesglitteredatmeashemadethatanswer。’ThricetheShadowsoftheVisionwarnedAllaninhissleep，’hewenton;’andthricethoseShadowshavebeenembodiedintheafter-timebyYouandbyMe！You，andnoother，stoodintheWoman’splaceatthepool。I，andnoother，stoodintheMan’splaceatthewindow。AndyouandItogether，whenthelastVisionshowedtheShadowstogether，standintheMan’splaceandtheWoman’splacestill！For蔩this，_themiserabledaydawnedwhenyouandIfirstmet。For_this，_yourinfluencedrewmetoyou，whenmybetterangelwarnedmetoflythesightofyourface。Thereisacurseonourlives！thereisafatalityinourfootsteps！Allan’sfuturedependsonhisseparationfromusatonceandforever。Drivehimfromtheplacewelivein，andtheairwebreathe。Forcehimamongstrangers——theworstandwickedestofthemwillbemoreharmless，tohimthanweare！Lethisyachtsail，thoughhegoesonhiskneestoaskus，withoutYouandwithoutMe;andlethimknowhowIlovedhiminanotherworldthanthis，wherethewickedceasefromtroubling，andthewearyareatrest！’
“Hisgriefconqueredhim;hisvoicebrokeintoasobwhenhespokethoselastwords。HetooktheNarrativeoftheDreamfromthetable，andleftmeasabruptlyashehadcomein。
“AsIheardhisdoorlockedbetweenus，mymindwentbacktowhathehadsaidtomeaboutmyself。Inremembering’themiserableday’whenwefirstsaweachother，and’thebetterangel’thathadwarnedhimto’flythesightofmyface，’Iforgotallelse。
Itdoesn’tmatterwhatIfelt——Iwouldn’townit，evenifIhadafriendtospeakto。WhocaresforthemiseryofsuchawomanasI
am？whobelievesinit？Besides，hespokeundertheinfluenceofamadsuperstitionthathasgotpossessionofhimagain。Thereiseveryexcusefor_him_——thereisnoexcusefor_me。_IfIcan’thelpbeingfondofhimthroughitall，Imusttaketheconsequencesandsuffer。Ideservetosuffer;Ideserveneitherlovenorpityfromanybody——Goodheavens，whatafoolIam！Andhowunnaturalallthiswouldbe，ifitwaswritteninabook！
“Ithasstruckone。IcanhearMidwinterstill，pacingtoandfroinhisroom。
“Heisthinking，Isuppose？Well！Icanthinktoo。WhatamItodonext？Ishallwaitandsee。Eventstakeoddturnssometimes;
andeventsmayjustifythefatalismoftheamiablemaninthenextroom，whocursesthedaywhenhefirstsawmyface。Hemaylivetocurseitforotherreasonsthanhehasnow。IfIamtheWomanpointedatintheDream，therewillbeanothertemptationputinmywaybeforelong;andtherewillbenobrandyinArmadale’slemonadeifImixitforhimasecondtime。
“October24th——BarelytwelvehourshavepassedsinceIwrotemyyesterday’sentry;andthatothertemptationhascome，tried，amidconqueredmealready！
“Thistimetherewasnoalternative。Instantexposureandruinstaredmeintheface:Ihadnochoicebuttoyieldinmyowndefense。Inplainerwordsstill，itwasnoaccidentalresemblancethatstartledmeatthetheaterlastnight。Thechorus-singerattheoperawasManuelhimself！
“NottenminutesafterMidwinterhadleftthesitting-roomforhisstudy，thewomanofthehousecameinwithadirtylittlethree-cornerednoteinherhand。Onelookatthewritingontheaddresswasenough。Hehadrecognizedmeinthebox;andtheballetbetweentheactsoftheoperahadgivenhimtimetotracemehome。IdrewthatplainconclusioninthemomentthatelapsedbeforeIopenedtheletter。Itinformedme，intwolines，thathewaswaitinginaby-streetleadingtothebeach;andthat，ifI
failedtomakemyappearanceintenminutes，heshouldinterpretmyabsenceasmyinvitationtohimtocallatthehouse。
“WhatIwentthroughyesterdaymusthavehardenedme，Isuppose。
Atanyrate，afterreadingtheletter，IfeltmorelikethewomanIoncewasthanIhavefeltformonthspast。Iputonmybonnetandwentdownstairs，andleftthehouseasifnothinghadhappened。
“Hewaswaitingformeattheentrancetothestreet。
“Intheinstantwhenwestoodfacetoface，allmywretchedlifewithhimcamebacktome。Ithoughtofmytrustthathehadbetrayed;Ithoughtofthecruelmockeryofamarriagethathehadpracticedonme，whenheknewthathehadawifeliving;I
thoughtofthetimewhenIhadfeltdespairenoughathisdesertionofmetoattemptmyownlife。WhenIrecalledallthis，andwhenthecomparisonbetweenMidwinterandthemean，miserablevillainwhomIhadoncebelievedinforceditselfintomymind，I
knewforthefirsttimewhatawomanfeelswheneveryatomofrespectforherselfhaslefther。Ifhehadpersonallyinsultedmeatthatmoment，IbelieveIshouldhavesubmittedtoit。
“Buthehadnoideaofinsultingme，inthemorebrutalmeaningoftheword。Hehadmeathismercy，andhiswayofmakingmefeelitwastobehavewithanelaboratemockeryofpenitenceandrespect。Ilethimspeakashepleased，withoutinterruptinghim，withoutlookingathimasecondtime，withoutevenallowingmydresstotouchhim，aswewalkedtogethertowardthequieterpartofthebeach。Ihadnoticedthewretchedstateofhisclothes，andthegreedyglitterinhiseyes，inmyfirstlookathim。AndIknewitwouldend——asitdidend——inademandonmeformoney。
“Yes！AftertakingfrommethelastfarthingIpossessedofmyown，andthelastfarthingIcouldextortforhimfrommyoldmistress，heturnedonmeaswestoodbythemarginofthesea，andaskedifIcouldreconcileittomyconsciencetolethimbewearingsuchacoatashethenhadonhisback，andearninghismiserablelivingasachorus-singerattheopera！
“Mydisgust，ratherthanmyindignation，rousedmeintospeakingtohimatlast。
“’Youwantmoney，’Isaid。’SupposeIamtoopoortogiveittoyou？’
“’Inthatcase，’hereplied，’Ishallbeforcedtorememberthatyouareatreasureinyourself。AndIshallbeunderthepainfulnecessityofpressingmyclaimtoyouontheattentionofoneofthosetwogentlemenwhomIsawwithyouattheopera——thegentleman，ofcourse，whoisnowhonoredbyyourpreference，andwholivesprovisionallyinthelightofyoursmiles。’
“Imadehimnoanswer，forIhadnoanswertogive。Disputinghisrighttoclaimmefromanybodywouldhavebeenamerewasteofwords。HeknewaswellasIdidthathehadnottheshadowofaclaimonme。Butthemereattempttoraiseitwould，ashewaswellaware，leadnecessarilytotheexposureofmywholepastlife。
“Stillkeepingsilence，Ilookedoutoverthesea。Idon’tknowwhy，exceptthatIinstinctivelylookedanywhereratherthanlookat_him。_
“Alittlesailing-boatwasapproachingtheshore。Themansteeringwashiddenfrommebythesail;buttheboatwassonearthatIthoughtIrecognizedtheflagonthemast。Ilookedatmywatch。Yes！ItwasArmadalecomingoverfromSantaLuciaathisusualtime，tovisitusinhisusualway。
“BeforeIhadputmywatchbackinmybelt，themeansofextricatingmyselffromthefrightfulpositionIwasplacedinshowedthemselvestomeasplainlyasIseethemnow。
“Iturnedandledthewaytothehigherpartofthebeach，wheresomefishing-boatsweredrawnupwhichcompletelyscreenedusfromtheviewofanyonelandingontheshorebelow。SeeingprobablythatIhadapurposeofsomekind，Manuelfollowedmewithoututteringaword。Assoonasweweresafelyundertheshelteroftheboats，Iforcedmyself，inmyowndefense，tolookathimagain。
“’Whatshouldyousay，’Iasked，’ifIwasrichinsteadofpoor？
WhatshouldyousayifIcouldaffordtogiveyouahundredpounds？’
“Hestarted。IsawplainlythathehadnotexpectedsomuchashalfthesumIhadmentioned。Itisneedlesstoaddthathistonguelied，whilehisfacespokethetruth，andthatwhenherepliedtometheanswerwas，’Nothinglikeenough。’
“’Suppose，’Iwenton，withouttakinganynoticeofwhathehadsaid，’thatIcouldshowyouawayofhelpingyourselftotwiceasmuch——threetimesasmuch——fivetimesasmuchasahundredpounds，areyouboldenoughtoputoutyourhandandtakeit？’
“Thegreedyglittercameintohiseyesoncemore。Hisvoicedroppedlow，inbreathlessexpectationofmynextwords。
“’Whoistheperson？’heasked。’Andwhatistherisk？’
“Iansweredhimatonce，intheplainestterms。IthrewArmadaletohim，asImighthavethrownapieceofmeattoawildbeastwhowaspursuingme。
“’ThepersonisarichyoungEnglishman，’Isaid。’Hehasjusthiredtheyachtcalledthe_Dorothea，_intheharborhere;andhestandsinneedofasailing-masterandacrew。YouwereonceanofficerintheSpanishnavy——youspeakEnglishandItalianperfectly——youarethoroughlywellacquaintedwithNaplesandallthatbelongstoit。TherichyoungEnglishmanisignorantofthelanguage，andtheinterpreterwhoassistshimknowsnothingofthesea。Heisathiswits’endforwantofusefulhelpinthisstrangeplace;hehasnomoreknowledgeoftheworldthanthatchildwhoisdiggingholeswithastickthereinthesand;andhecarriesallhismoneywithhimincircularnotes。Somuchfortheperson。Asfortherisk，estimateitforyourself。’
“ThegreedyglitterinhiseyesgrewbrighterandbrighterwitheverywordIsaid。HewasplainlyreadytofacetheriskbeforeI
haddonespeaking。
“’WhencanIseetheEnglishman？’heasked，eagerly。
“Imovedtotheseawardendofthefishing-boat，andsawthatArmadalewasatthatmomentdisembarkingontheshore。
“’Youcanseehimnow，’Ianswered，andpointedtotheplace。
“AfteralonglookatArmadalewalkingcarelesslyuptheslopeofthebeach，Manueldrewbackagainundertheshelteroftheboat。
Hewaitedamoment，consideringsomethingcarefullywithhimself，andputanotherquestiontome，inawhisperthistime。
“’Whenthevesselismanned，’hesaid，’andtheEnglishmansailsfromNaples，howmanyfriendssailwithhim？’
“’Hehasbuttwofriendshere，’Ireplied;’thatothergentlemanwhomyousawwithmeattheopera，andmyself。Hewillinviteusbothtosailwithhim;andwhenthetimecomes，weshallbothrefuse。’
“’Doyouanswerforthat？’
“’Ianswerforitpositively。’
“Hewalkedafewstepsaway，andstoodwithhisfacehiddenfromme，thinkingagain。AllIcouldseewasthathetookoffhishatandpassedhishandkerchiefoverhisforehead。AllIcouldhearwasthathetalkedtohimselfexcitedlyinhisownlanguage。
“Therewasachangeinhimwhenhecameback。Hisfacehadturnedtoalividyellow，andhiseyeslookedatmewithahideousdistrust。
“’Onelastquestion，’hesaid，andsuddenlycameclosertome，suddenlyspokewithamarkedemphasisonhisnextwords:’_Whatisyourinterestinthis？_’
“Istartedbackfromhim。ThequestionremindedmethatI_had_
aninterestinthematter，whichwasentirelyunconnectedwiththeinterestofkeepingManuelandMidwinterapart。ThusfarI
hadonlyrememberedthatMidwinter’sfatalismhadsmoothedthewayforme，byabandoningArmadalebeforehandtoanystrangerwhomightcomeforwardtohelphim。ThusfarthesoleobjectIhadkeptinviewwastoprotectmyself，bythesacrificeofArmadale，fromtheexposurethatthreatenedme。ItellnoliestomyDiary。
Idon’taffecttohavefeltamoment’sconsiderationfortheinterestsofArmadale’spurseorthesafetyofArmadale’slife。I
hatedhimtoosavagelytocarewhatpitfallsmytonguemightbethemeansofopeningunderhisfeet。ButIcertainlydidnotseeuntilthatlastquestionwasputtomethat，inservinghisowndesigns，Manuelmight——ifhedaredgoalllengthsforthemoney——beservingmydesignstoo。TheoneoverpoweringanxietytoprotectmyselffromexposurebeforeMidwinterhadIsuppose
filledallmymind，totheexclusionofeverythingelse。
“FindingthatImadenoreplyforthemoment，Manuelreiteratedhisquestion，puttingitinanewform。
“’YouhavecastyourEnglishmanatme，’hesaid，’likethesoptoCerberus。Wouldyouhavebeenquitesoreadytodothatifyouhadnothadamotiveofyourown？Irepeatmyquestion。Youhaveaninterestinthis——whatisit？’
“’Ihavetwointerests，’Ianswered。’Theinterestofforcingyoutorespectmypositionhere，andtheinterestofriddingmyselfofthesightofyouatonceandforever！’Ispokewithaboldnesshehadnotyetheardfromme。ThesensethatIwasmakingthevillainaninstrumentinmyhands，andforcinghimtohelpmypurposeblindly，whilehewashelpinghisown，rousedmyspirits，andmademefeellikemyselfagain。
“Helaughed。’Stronglanguage，oncertainoccasions，isalady’sprivilege，’hesaid。’Youmay，ormaynot，ridyourselfofthesightofme，atonceandforever。Wewillleavethatquestiontobesettledinthefuture。Butyourotherinterestinthismatterpuzzlesme。YouhavetoldmeallIneedknowabouttheEnglishmanandhisyacht，andyouhavemadenoconditionsbeforeyouopenedyourlips。Pray，howareyoutoforceme，asyousay，torespectyourpositionhere？’
“’Iwilltellyouhow，’Irejoined。’Youshallhearmyconditionsfirst。Iinsistonyourleavingmeinfiveminutesmore。IinsistonyourneveragaincomingnearthehousewhereI
live;andIforbidyourattemptingtocommunicateinanywayeitherwithmeorwiththatothergentlemanwhomyousawwithmeatthetheater——’
“’AndsupposeIsayno？’heinterposed。’Inthatcase，whatwillyoudo？’
“’Inthatcase，’Ianswered，’IshallsaytwowordsinprivatetotherichyoungEnglishman，andyouwillfindyourselfbackagainamongthechorusattheopera。’
“’YouareaboldwomantotakeitforgrantedthatIhavemydesignsontheEnglishmanalready，andthatIamcertaintosucceedinthem。Howdoyouknow——？’
“’Iknow_you，_’Isaid。’Andthatisenough。’
“Therewasamoment’ssilencebetweenus。Helookedatme，andI
lookedathim。Weunderstoodeachother。
“Hewasthefirsttospeak。Thevillainoussmilediedoutofhisface，andhisvoicedroppedagaindistrustfullytoitslowesttones。
“’Iacceptyourterms，’hesaid。’Aslongasyourlipsareclosed，mylipsshallbeclosedtoo——exceptintheeventofmyfindingthatyouhavedeceivedme;inwhichcasethebargainisatanend，andyouwillseemeagain。IshallpresentmyselftotheEnglishmanto-morrow，withthenecessarycredentialstoestablishmeinhisconfidence。Tellmehisname？’
“Itoldit。
“’Givemehisaddress？’
“Igaveit，andturnedtoleavehim。BeforeIhadsteppedoutoftheshelteroftheboats，Iheardhimbehindmeagain。
“’Onelastword，’hesaid。’Accidentssometimeshappenatsea。
HaveyouinterestenoughintheEnglishman——ifanaccidenthappensinhiscase——towishtoknowwhathasbecomeofhim？’
“Istopped，andconsideredonmyside。IhadplainlyfailedtopersuadehimthatIhadnosecrettoserveinplacingArmadale’smoneyandasaprobableconsequenceArmadale’slifeathismercy。Anditwasnowequallyclearthathewascunninglyattemptingtoassociatehimselfwithmyprivateobjectswhatevertheymightbebyopeningameansofcommunicationbetweenusinthefuture。Therecouldbenohesitationabouthowtoanswerhimundersuchcircumstancesasthese。Ifthe’accident’atwhichhehinteddidreallyhappentoArmadale，IstoodinnoneedofManuel’sinterventiontogivemetheintelligenceofit。AneasysearchthroughtheobituarycolumnsoftheEnglishpaperswouldtellmethenews——withthegreatadditionaladvantagethatthepapersmightbereliedon，insuchamatterasthis，totellthetruth。IformallythankedManuel，anddeclinedtoaccepthisproposal。’HavingnointerestintheEnglishman，’Isaid，’Ihavenowishwhatevertoknowwhatbecomesofhim。’
“Helookedatmeforamomentwithsteadyattention，andwithaninterestinmewhichhehadnotshownyet。
“’Whatthegameyouareplayingmaybe，’herejoined，speakingslowlyandsignificantly，’Idon’tpretendtoknow。ButIventureonaprophecy，nevertheless——_youwillwinit！_Ifweevermeetagain，rememberIsaidthat。’Hetookoffhishat，andbowedtomegravely。’Goyourway，madam。Andleavemetogomine！’
“Withthosewords，hereleasedmefromthesightofhim。Iwaitedaminutealone，torecovermyselfintheair，andthenreturnedtothehouse。
“Thefirstobjectthatmetmyeyes，onenteringthesitting-room，was——Armadalehimself！
“Hewaswaitingonthechanceofseeingme，tobegthatIwouldexertmyinfluencewithhisfriend。Imadetheneedfulinquiryastowhathemeant，andfoundthatMidwinterhadspokenashehadwarnedmehewouldspeakwhenheandArmadalenextmet。Hehadannouncedthathewasunabletofinishhisworkforthenewspaperassoonashehadhoped;andhehadadvisedArmadaletofindacrewfortheyachtwithoutwaitingforanyassistanceonhispart。
“Allthatitwasnecessaryformetodo，onhearingthis，wastoperformthepromiseIhadmadetoMidwinter，whenhegavememydirectionshowtoactinthematter。Armadale’svexationonfindingmeresolvednottointerfereexpresseditselfintheformofallothersthatismostpersonallyoffensivetome。HedeclinedtobelievemyreiteratedassurancesthatIpossessednoinfluencetoexertinhisfavor。’IfIwasmarriedtoNeelie，’hesaid，’shecoulddoanythingshelikedwithme;andIamsure，whenyouchoose，youcandoanythingyoulikewithMidwinter。’Iftheinfatuatedfoolhadactuallytriedtostiflethelastfaintstrugglesofremorseandpityleftstirringinmyheart，hecouldhavesaidnothingmorefatallytothepurposethanthis！Igavehimalookwhicheffectuallysilencedhim，sofarasIwasconcerned。Hewentoutoftheroomgrumblingandgrowlingtohimself。’It’sallverywelltotalkaboutmanningtheyacht。I
don’tspeakawordoftheirgibberishhere;andtheinterpreterthinksafishermanandasailormeansthesamething。HangmeifIknowwhattodowiththevessel，nowIhavegother！’
“Hewillprobablyknowbyto-morrow。Andifheonlycomeshereasusual，Ishallknowtoo！
“October25th——Tenatnight——Manuelhasgothim！
“Hehasjustleftus，afterstayingheremorethananhour，andtalkingthewholetimeofnothingbuthisownwonderfulluckinfindingtheveryhelphewanted，atthetimewhenheneededitmost。
“Atnoonto-dayhewasontheMole，itseems，withhisinterpreter，tryingvainlytomakehimselfunderstoodbythevagabondpopulationofthewater-side。Justashewasgivingitupindespair，astrangerstandingbyManuelhadfollowedhim，I
suppose，totheMolefromhishotelkindlyinterferedtoputthingsright。Hesaid，’Ispeakyourlanguageandtheirlanguage，sir。IknowNapleswell;andIhavebeenprofessionallyaccustomedtothesea。CanIhelpyou？’Theinevitableresultfollowed。Armadaleshiftedallhisdifficultiesontotheshouldersofthepolitestranger，inhisusualhelpless，headlongway。Hisnewfriend，however，insisted，inthemosthonorablemanner，oncomplyingwiththecustomaryformalitiesbeforehewouldconsenttotakethematterintohisownhands。HebeggedleavetowaitonMr。Armadale，withhistestimonialstocharacterandcapacity。Thesameafternoonhehadcomebyappointmenttothehotel，withallhispapers，andwith’thesaddeststory’ofhissufferingsandprivationsas’apoliticalrefugee’thatArmadalehadeverheard。Theinterviewwasdecisive。Manuelleftthehotel，commissionedtofindacrewfortheyacht，andtofillthepostofsailing-masteronthetrialcruise。
“IwatchedMidwinteranxiously，whileArmadalewastellingustheseparticulars，andafterward，whenheproducedthenewsailing-master’stestimonials，whichhehadbroughtwithhimforhisfriendtosee。
“Forthemoment，Midwinter’ssuperstitiousmisgivingsseemedtobealllostinhisnaturalanxietyforhisfriend。Heexaminedthestranger’spapers——afterhavingtoldmethatthesoonerArmadalewasinthehandsofstrangersthebetter！——withtheclosestscrutinyandthemostbusiness-likedistrust。Itisneedlesstosaythatthecredentialswereasperfectlyregularandsatisfactoryascredentialscouldbe。WhenMidwinterhandedthemback，hiscolorrose:heseemedtofeeltheinconsistencyofhisconduct，andtoobserveforthefirsttimethatIwaspresentnoticingit。’Thereisnothingtoobjecttointhetestimonials，Allan:Iamgladyouhavegotthehelpyouwantatlast。’Thatwasallhesaidatparting。AssoonasArmadale’sbackwasturned，Isawnomoreofhim。Hehaslockedhimselfupagainforthenight，inhisownroom。
“Thereisnow——sofarasIamconcerned——butoneanxietyleft。
Whentheyachtisreadyforsea，andwhenIdeclinetooccupythelady’scabin，willMidwinterholdtohisresolution，andrefusetosailwithoutme？
“October26th——Warningsalreadyofthecomingordeal。AletterfromArmadaletoMidwinter，whichMidwinterhasjustsentintome。Hereitis:
“’DEARMID——Iamtoobusytocometo-day。Getonwithyourwork，forHeaven’ssake！Thenewsailing-masterisamanoftenthousand。HehasgotanEnglishmanwhomheknowstoserveasmateonboardalready;andheispositivelycertainofgettingthecrewtogetherinthreeorfourdays’time。Iamdyingforawhiffofthesea，andsoareyou，oryouarenosailor。Theriggingissetup，thestoresarecomingonboard，andweshallbendthesailsto-morrowornextday。Ineverwasinsuchspiritsinmylife。Remembermetoyourwife，andtellhershewillbedoingmeafavorifshewillcomeatonce，andordereverythingshewantsinthelady’scabin。Yoursaffectionately，A。A。’
“Underthiswaswritten，inMidwinter’shand:’RememberwhatI
toldyou。Writeitwillbreakittohimmoregentlyinthatway，andbeghimtoacceptyourapologies，andtoexcuseyoufromsailingonthetrialcruise。’
“Ihavewrittenwithoutamoment’slossoftime。ThesoonerManuelknowswhichheiscertaintodothroughArmadalethatthepromisenottosailintheyachtisperformedalready，sofarasIamconcerned，thesaferIshallfeel。
“October27th——AletterfromArmadale，inanswertomine。Heisfullofceremoniousregretsatthelossofmycompanyonthecruise;andhepolitelyhopesthatMidwintermayyetinducemetoaltermymind。Waitalittle，tillhefindsthatMidwinterwon’tsailwithhimeither！……
“October30th——Nothingnewtorecorduntilto-day。To-daythechangeinourlivesherehascomeatlast！
“Armadalepresentedhimselfthismorning，inhisnoisiesthighspirits，toannouncethattheyachtwasreadyforsea，andtoaskwhenMidwinterwouldbeabletogoonboard。ItoldhimtomaketheinquiryhimselfinMidwinter’sroom。Heleftme，withalastrequestthatIwouldconsidermyrefusaltosailwithhim。I
answeredbyalastapologyforpersistinginmyresolution，andthentookachairaloneatthewindowtowaittheeventoftheinterviewinthenextroom。
“MywholefuturedependednowonwhatpassedbetweenMidwinterandhisfriend！Everythinghadgonesmoothlyuptothistime。TheonedangertodreadwasthedangerofMidwinter’sresolution，orratherofMidwinter’sfatalism，givingwayatthelastmoment。IfheallowedhimselftobepersuadedintoaccompanyingArmadaleonthecruise，Manuel’sexasperationagainstmewouldhesitateatnothing——hewouldrememberthatIhadansweredtohimforArmadale’ssailingfromNaplesalone;andhewouldbecapableofexposingmywholepastlifetoMidwinterbeforethevessellefttheport。AsIthoughtofthis，andastheslowminutesfollowedeachother，andnothingreachedmyearsbutthehumofvoicesinthenextroom，mysuspensebecamealmostunendurable。Itwasvaintotryandfixmyattentiononwhatwasgoingoninthestreet。I
satlookingmechanicallyoutofthewindow，andseeingnothing。
“Suddenly——Ican’tsayinhowlongorhowshortatime——thehumofvoicesceased;thedooropened;andArmadaleshowedhimselfonthethreshold，alone。
“’Iwishyougood-by，’hesaid，roughly。’AndIhope，whenIammarried，mywifemaynevercauseMidwinterthedisappointmentthatMidwinter’swifehascaused_me！_’
“Hegavemeanangrylook，andmademeanangrybow，and，turningsharply，lefttheroom。
“Isawthepeopleinthestreetagain！Isawthecalmsea，andthemastsoftheshippingintheharborwheretheyachtlay！I
couldthink，Icouldbreathefreelyoncemore！ThewordsthatsavedmefromManuel——thewordsthatmightbeArmadale’ssentenceofdeath——hadbeenspoken。TheyachtwastosailwithoutMidwinter，aswellaswithoutMe！
“Myfirstfeelingofexultationwasalmostmaddening。Butitwasthefeelingofamomentonly。MyheartsankinmeagainwhenI
thoughtofMidwinteraloneinthenextroom。
“Iwentoutintothepassagetolisten，andheardnothing。I
tappedgentlyathisdoor，andgotnoanswer。Iopenedthedoorandlookedin。Hewassittingatthetable，withhisfacehiddeninhishands。Ilookedathiminsilence，andsawtheglisteningofthetearsastheytrickledthroughhisfingers。
“’Leaveme，’hesaid，withoutmovinghishands。’Imustgetoveritbymyself。’
“Iwentbackintothesitting-room。Whocanunderstandwomen？wedon’tevenunderstandourselves。Hissendingmeawayfromhiminthatmannercutmetotheheart。Idon’tbelievethemostharmlessandmostgentlewomanlivingcouldhavefeltitmoreacutelythanIfeltit。Andthis，afterwhatIhavebeendoing！
this，afterwhatIwasthinkingof，themomentbeforeIwentintohisroom！Whocanaccountforit？Nobody——Ileastofall！
“Halfanhourlaterhisdooropened，andIheardhimhurryingdownthestairs。Iranonwithoutwaitingtothink，andaskedifImightgowithhim。Heneitherstoppednoranswered。Iwentbacktothewindow，andsawhimpass，walkingrapidlyaway，withhisbackturnedonNaplesandthesea。
“Icanunderstandnowthathemightnothaveheardme。AtthetimeIthoughthiminexcusablyandbrutallyunkindtome。Iputonmybonnet，inafrenzyofragewithhim;Isentoutforacarriage，andtoldthemantotakemewhereheliked。Hetookme，ashetookotherstrangers，totheMuseumtoseethestatuesandthepictures。Iflouncedfromroomtoroom，withmyfaceinaflame，andthepeopleallstaringatme。Icametomyselfagain，Idon’tknowhow。Ireturnedtothecarriage，andmadethemandrivemebackinaviolenthurry，Idon’tknowwhy。Itossedoffmycloakandbonnet，andsatdownoncemoreatthewindow。Thesightoftheseacooledme。IforgotMidwinter，andthoughtofArmadaleandhisyacht。Therewasn’tabreathofwind;therewasn’tacloudinthesky;thewidewatersoftheBaywereassmoothasthesurfaceofaglass。
“Thesunsank;theshorttwilightcameandwent。Ihadsometea，andsatatthetablethinkinganddreamingoverit。WhenIrousedmyselfandwentbacktothewindow，themoonwasup;butthequietseawasasquietasever。
“Iwasstilllookingout，whenIsawMidwinterinthestreetbelow，comingback。Iwascomposedenoughbythistimetorememberhishabits，andtoguessthathehadbeentryingtorelievetheoppressiononhismindbyoneofhislongsolitarywalks。WhenIheardhimgointohisownroom，Iwastooprudenttodisturbhimagain:IwaitedhispleasurewhereIwas。
“BeforelongIheardhiswindowopened，andIsawhim，frommywindow，stepintothebalcony，and，afteralookatthesea，holduphishandtotheair。Iwastoostupid，forthemoment，torememberthathehadoncebeenasailor，andtoknowwhatthismeant。Iwaited，andwonderedwhatwouldhappennext。
“Hewentinagain;and，afteraninterval，cameoutoncemore，andhelduphishandasbeforetotheair。Thistimehewaited，leaningonthebalconyrail，andlookingoutsteadily，withallhisattentionabsorbedbythesea。
“Foralong，longtimehenevermoved。Then，onasudden，Isawhimstart。Thenextmomenthesankonhisknees，withhisclaspedhandsrestingonthebalconyrail。’GodAlmightyblessandkeepyou，Allan！’hesaid，fervently。’Good-by，forever！’
“Ilookedouttothesea。Asoft，steadybreezewasblowing，andtherippledsurfaceofthewaterwassparklinginthequietmoonlight。Ilookedagain，andtherepassedslowly，betweenmeandthetrackofthemoon，alongblackvesselwithtall，shadowy，ghostlikesails，glidingsmoothandnoiselessthroughthewater，likeasnake。
“Thewindhadcomefairwiththenight;andArmadale’syachthadsailedonthetrialcruise。
CHAPTERIII。
THEDIARYBROKENOFF。
“London，November19th——IamaloneagainintheGreatCity;
alone，forthefirsttimesinceourmarriage。NearlyaweeksinceIstartedonmyhomewardjourney，leavingMidwinterbehindmeatTurin。
“Thedayshavebeensofullofeventssincethemonthbegan，andIhavebeensoharassed，inmindandbodyboth，forthegreaterpartofthetime，thatmyDiaryhasbeenwretchedlyneglected。A
fewnotes，writteninsuchhurryandconfusionthatIcanhardlyunderstandthemmyself，areallthatIpossesstoremindmeofwhathashappenedsincethenightwhenArmadale’syachtleftNaples。LetmetryifIcansetthisrightwithoutmorelossortime;letmetryifIcanrecallthecircumstancesintheirorderastheyhavefollowedeachotherfromthebeginningofthemonth。
“Onthe3dofNovember——beingthenstillatNaples——MidwinterreceivedahurriedletterfromArmadale，date’Messina。’’Theweather，’hesaid，’hadbeenlovely，andtheyachthadmadeoneofthequickestpassagesonrecord。Thecrewwereratheraroughsettolookat;butCaptainManuelandhisEnglishmate’thelatterdescribedas’thebestofgoodfellows’’managedthemadmirably。’Afterthisprosperousbeginning，Armadalehadarranged，asamatterofcourse，toprolongthecruise;and，atthesailing-master’ssuggestion，hehaddecidedtovisitsomeoftheportsintheAdriatic，whichthecaptainhaddescribedasfullofcharacter，andwellworthseeing。
“Apostscriptfollowed，explainingthatArmadalehadwritteninahurrytocatchthesteamertoNaples，andthathehadopenedhisletteragain，beforesendingitoff，toaddsomethingthathehadforgotten。Onthedaybeforetheyachtsailed，hehadbeenatthebanker’stoget’afewhundredsingold，’andhebelievedhehadlefthiscigar-casethere。Itwasanoldfriendofhis，andhebeggedthatMidwinterwouldobligehimbyendeavoringtorecoverit，andkeepingitforhimtilltheymetagain。
“Thatwasthesubstanceoftheletter。
“IthoughtoveritcarefullywhenMidwinterhadleftmealoneagain，afterreadingit。MyideawasthenandisstillthatManuelhadnotpersuadedArmadaletocruiseinasealiketheAdriatic，somuchlessfrequentedbyshipsthantheMediterranean，fornothing。Theterms，too，inwhichthetriflinglossofthecigar-casewasmentionedstruckmeasbeingequallysuggestiveofwhatwascoming。IconcludedthatArmadale’scircularnoteshadnotbeentransformedintothose’fewhundredsingold’throughanyforethoughtorbusinessknowledgeofhisown。Manuel’sinfluence，Isuspected，hadbeenexertedinthismatteralso，andoncemorenotwithoutreason。Atintervalsthroughthewakefulnighttheseconsiderationscamebackagainandagaintome;andtimeaftertimetheypointedobstinatelysofarasmynextmovementswereconcernedinoneandthesameway——thewaybacktoEngland。
“Howtogetthere，andespeciallyhowtogetthereunaccompaniedbyMidwinter，wasmorethanIhadwitenoughtodiscoverthatnight。Itriedandtriedtomeetthedifficulty，andfellasleepexhaustedtowardthemorningwithouthavingmetit。
“Somehourslater，assoonasIwasdressed，Midwintercamein，withnewsreceivedbythatmorning’spostfromhisemployersinLondon。TheproprietorsofthenewspaperhadreceivedfromtheeditorsofavorableareportofhiscorrespondencefromNaplesthattheyhaddeterminedonadvancinghimtoaplaceofgreaterresponsibilityandgreateremolumentatTurin。Hisinstructionswereinclosedintheletter，andhewasrequestedtolosenotimeinleavingNaplesforhisnewpost。
“Onhearingthis，Irelievedhismind，beforehecouldputthequestion，ofallanxietyaboutmywillingnesstoremove。Turinhadthegreatattraction，inmyeyes，ofbeingontheroadtoEngland。IassuredhimatoncethatIwasreadytotravelassoonashepleased。
“Hethankedmeforsuitingmyselftohisplans，withmoreofhisoldgentlenessandkindnessthanIhadseeninhimforsometimepast。ThegoodnewsfromArmadaleonthepreviousdayseemedtohaverousedhimalittlefromthedulldespairinwhichhehadbeensunksincethesailingoftheyacht。Andnowtheprospectofadvancementinhisprofession，and，morethanthat，theprospectofleavingthefatalplaceinwhichtheThirdVisionoftheDreamhadcometrue，hadasheownedhimselfadditionallycheeredandrelievedhim。Heasked，beforehewentawaytomakethearrangementsforourjourney，whetherIexpectedtohearfrommy’family’inEngland，andwhetherheshouldgiveinstructionsfortheforwardingofmyletterswithhisowntothe_posterestante_
atTurin。Iinstantlythankedhim，andacceptedtheoffer。Hisproposalhadsuggestedtome，themomenthemadeit，thatmyfictitious’familycircumstances’mightbeturnedtogoodaccountoncemore，asareasonforunexpectedlysummoningmefromItalytoEngland。
“OntheninthofthemonthwewereinstalledatTurin。
“Onthethirteenth，Midwinter——beingthenverybusy——askedifI
wouldsavehimalossoftimebyapplyingforanyletterswhichmighthavefollowedusfromNaples。Ihadbeenwaitingfortheopportunityhenowofferedme;andIdeterminedtosnatchatitwithoutallowingmyselftimetohesitate。Therewerenolettersatthe_posterestante_foreitherofus。Butwhenheputthequestiononmyreturn，Itoldhimthattherehadbeenaletterforme，withalarmingnewsfrom’home。’My’mother’wasdangerouslyill，andIwasentreatedtolosenotimeinhurryingbacktoEnglandtoseeher。
“Itseemsquiteunaccountable——nowthatIamawayfromhim——butitisnonethelesstrue，thatIcouldnot，evenyet，tellhimadownrightpremeditatedfalsehood，withoutasenseofshrinkingandshame，whichotherpeoplewouldthink，andwhichIthinkmyself，utterlyinconsistentwithsuchacharacterasmine。
Inconsistentornot，Ifeltit。Andwhatisstranger——perhapsI
oughttosaymadder——still，ifhehadpersistedinhisfirstresolutiontoaccompanymehimselftoEnglandratherthanallowmetotravelalone，IfirmlybelieveIshouldhaveturnedmybackontemptationforthesecondtime，andhavelulledmyselftorestoncemoreintheolddreamoflivingoutmylifehappyandharmlessinmyhusband’slove。
“AmIdeceivingmyselfinthis？Itdoesn’tmatter——IdaresayI
am。Nevermindwhat_might_havehappened。What_did_happenistheonlythingofanyimportancenow。
“ItendedinMidwinter’slettingmepersuadehimthatIwasoldenoughtotakecareofmyselfonthejourneytoEngland，andthatheowedittothenewspaperpeople，whohadtrustedtheirinterestsinhishands，nottoleaveTurinjustashewasestablishedthere。Hedidn’tsufferattakingleaveofmeashesufferedwhenhesawthelastofhisfriend。Isawthat，andsetdowntheanxietyheexpressedthatIshouldwritetohimatitspropervalue。Ihavequitegotovermyweaknessforhimatlast。
Nomanwhoreallylovedmewouldhaveputwhatheowedtoapeckofnewspaperpeoplebeforewhatheowedtohiswife。Ihatehimforlettingmeconvincehim！Ibelievehewasgladtogetridofme。IbelievehehasseensomewomanwhomhelikesatTurin。
Well，lethimfollowhisnewfancy，ifhepleases！IshallbethewidowofMr。ArmadaleofThorpeAmbrosebeforelong;andwhatwillhislikesordislikesmattertomethen？
“Theeventsonthejourneywerenotworthmentioning，andmyarrivalinLondonstandsrecordedalreadyonthetopofthenewpage。
“Asforto-day，theonethingofanyimportancethatIhavedonesinceIgottothecheapandquiethotelatwhichIamnowstaying，hasbeentosendforthelandlord，andaskhimtohelpmetoasightofthebacknumbersof_TheTimes_newspaper。Hehaspolitelyofferedtoaccompanymehimselfto-morrowmorningtosomeplaceintheCitywhereallthepapersarekept，ashecallsit，infile。Tillto-morrow，then，ImustcontrolmyimpatiencefornewsofArmadaleaswellasIcan。Andsogood-nighttotheprettyreflectionofmyselfthatappearsinthesepages！
“November20th——Notawordofnewsyet，eitherintheobituarycolumnorinanyotherpartofthepaper。Ilookedcarefullythrougheachnumberinsuccession，datingfromthedaywhenArmadale’sletterwaswrittenatMessinatothispresent20thofthemonth，andIamcertain，whatevermayhavehappened，thatnothingisknowninEnglandasyet。Patience！Thenewspaperistomeetmeatthebreakfast-tableeverymorningtillfurthernotice;
andanydaynowmayshowmewhatImostwanttosee。
“November21st——Nonewsagain。IwrotetoMidwinterto-day，tokeepupappearances。
“Whentheletterwasdone，Ifellintowretchedlylowspirits——I
can’timaginewhy——andfeltsuchalongingforalittlecompanythat，indespairofknowingwhereelsetogo，IactuallywenttoPimlico，onthechancethatMotherOldershawmighthavereturnedtoheroldquarters。
“TherewerechangessinceIhadseentheplaceduringmyformerstayinLondon。DoctorDownward’ssideofthehousewasstillempty。Buttheshopwasbeingbrightenedupfortheoccupationofamillineranddress-maker。Thepeople，whenIwentintomakeinquiries，wereallstrangerstome。Theyshowed，however，nohesitationingivingmeMrs。Oldershaw’saddresswhenIaskedforit——fromwhichIinferthatthelittle’difficulty’whichforcedhertobeinhidinginAugustlastisatanend，sofarassheisconcerned。Asforthedoctor，thepeopleattheshopeitherwere，orpretendedtobe，quiteunabletotellmewhathadbecomeofhim。
“Idon’tknowwhetheritwasthesightoftheplaceatPimlicothatsickenedme，orwhetheritwasmyownperversity，orwhat。
ButnowthatIhadgotMrs。Oldershaw’saddress，IfeltasifshewastheverylastpersonintheworldthatIwantedtosee。I
tookacab，andtoldthemantodrivetothestreetshelivedin，andthentoldhimtodrivebacktothehotel。Ihardlyknowwhatisthematterwithme——unlessitisthatIamgettingmoreimpatienteveryhourforinformationaboutArmadale。Whenwillthefuturelookalittlelessdark，Iwonder？To-morrowisSaturday。Willto-morrow’snewspaperlifttheveil？
“November22d——Saturday’snewspaper_has_liftedtheveil！WordsarevaintoexpressthepanicofastonishmentinwhichIwrite。I
neveronceanticipatedit;Ican’tbelieveitorrealizeit，nowithashappened。Thewindsandwavesthemselveshaveturnedmyaccomplices！Theyachthasfounderedatsea，andeverysoulonboardhasperished！
“Hereistheaccountcutoutofthismorning’snewspaper:
“’DISASTERATSEA——IntelligencehasreachedtheRoyalYachtSquadronandtheinsurerswhichleavesnoreasonabledoubt，weregrettosay，ofthetotalloss，onthefifthofthepresentmonth，oftheyacht_Dorothea，_witheverysoulonboard。Theparticularsareasfollows:Atdaylight，onthemorningofthesixth，theItalianbrig_Speranza，_boundfromVenicetoMarsalafororders，encounteredsomefloatingobjectsoffCapeSpartiventoatthesouthernmostextremityofItalywhichattractedthecuriosityofthepeopleofthebrig。Thepreviousdayhadbeenmarkedbyoneofthemostsevereofthesuddenandviolentstorms，peculiartothesesouthernseas，whichhasbeenrememberedforyears。The_Speranza_herselfhavingbeenindangerwhilethegalelasted，thecaptainandcrewconcludedthattheywereonthetracesofawreck，andaboatwasloweredforthepurposeofexaminingtheobjectsinthewater。Ahen-coop，somebrokenspars，andfragmentsofshatteredplankwerethefirstevidencesdiscoveredoftheterribledisasterthathadhappened。Someofthelighterarticlesofcabinfurniture，wrenchedandshattered，werefoundnext。And，lastly，amementoofmelancholyinterestturnedup，intheshapeofalifebuoy，withacorkedbottleattachedtoit。Theselatterobjects，withtherelicsofcabinfurniture，werebroughtonboardthe_Speranza。_Onthebuoythenameofthevesselwaspainted，asfollows:“_Dorothea，R。Y。S。_“meaningRoyalYachtSquadron。
Thebottle，onbeinguncorked，containedasheetofnote-paper，onwhichthefollowinglineswerehurriedlytracedinpencil:
“OffCapeSpartivento;twodaysoutfromMessina。Nov。5th，4
P。M。”beingthehouratwhichthelogoftheItalianbrigshowedthestormtohavebeenatitsheight。“Bothourboatsarestoveinbythesea。Therudderisgone，andwehavesprungaleakasternwhichismorethanwecanstop。TheLordhelpusall——wearesinking。SignedJohnMitchenden，Mate。”OnreachingMarsala，thecaptainofthebrigmadehisreporttotheBritishconsul，andlefttheobjectsdiscoveredinthatgentleman’scharge。InquiryatMessinashowedthattheill-fatedvesselhadarrivedtherefromNaples。Atthelatterportitwasascertainedthatthe_Dorothea_hadbeenhiredfromtheowner’sagentbyanEnglishgentleman，Mr。Armadale，ofThorpeAmbrose，Norfolk。
WhetherMr。Armadalehadanyfriendsonboardwithhimhasnotbeenclearlydiscovered。Butthereisunhappilynodoubtthattheill-fatedgentlemanhimselfsailedintheyachtfromNaples，andthathewasalsoonboardofthevesselwhensheleftMessina。’
“Suchisthestoryofthewreck，asthenewspapertellsitintheplainestandfewestwords。Myheadisinawhirl;myconfusionissogreatthatIthinkoffiftydifferentthingsintryingtothinkofone。Imustwait——adaymoreorlessisofnoconsequencenow——ImustwaittillIcanfacemynewposition，withoutfeelingbewilderedbyit。
“November23d——Eightinthemorning——Iroseanhourago，andsawmywayclearlytothefirststepthatImusttakeunderpresentcircumstances。
“ItisoftheutmostimportancetometoknowwhatisdoingatThorpeAmbrose;anditwouldbetheheightofrashness，whileI
amquiteinthedarkinthismatter，toventuretheremyself。Theonlyotheralternativeistowritetosomebodyonthespotfornews;andtheonlypersonIcanwritetois——Bashwood。
“Ihavejustfinishedtheletter。Itisheaded’privateandconfidential，’andsigned’LydiaArmadale。’Thereisnothinginittocompromiseme，iftheoldfoolismortallyoffendedbymytreatmentofhim，andifhespitefullyshowsmylettertootherpeople。ButIdon’tbelievehewilldothis。Amanathisageforgivesawomananything，ifthewomanonlyencourageshim。I
haverequestedhim，asapersonalfavor，tokeepourcorrespondenceforthepresentstrictlyprivate。Ihavehintedthatmymarriedlifewithmydeceasedhusbandhasnotbeenahappyone;andthatIfeeltheinjudiciousnessofhavingmarrieda_young_man。InthepostscriptIgofurtherstill，andventureboldlyonthesecomfortingwords:’Icanexplain，dearMr。
Bashwood，whatmayhaveseemedfakeanddeceitfulinmyconducttowardyouwhenyougivemeapersonalopportunity。’Ifhewasontherightsideofsixty，Ishouldfeeldoubtfulofresults。Butheisonthewrongsideofsixty，andIbelievehewillgivememypersonalopportunity。
“Teno’clock——Ihavebeenlookingoverthecopyofmymarriagecertificate，withwhichItookcaretoprovidemyselfonthewedding-day;andIhavediscovered，tomyinexpressibledismay，anobstacletomyappearanceinthecharacterofArmadale’swidowwhichInowseeforthefirsttime。
“ThedescriptionofMidwinterunderhisownnamewhichthecertificatepresentsanswersineveryimportantparticulartowhatwouldhavebeenthedescriptionofArmadaleofThorpeAmbrose，ifIhadreallymarriedhim。’NameandSurname’——AllanArmadale。’Age’——twenty-one，insteadoftwenty-two，whichmighteasilypassforamistake。’Condition’——Bachelor。’Rankorprofession’——Gentleman。’ResidenceatthetimeofMarriage’——Frant’sHotel，DarleyStreet。’Father’sNameandSurname’——AllanArmadale。’RankorProfessionofFather’——Gentleman。Everyparticularexcepttheyear’sdifferenceintheirtwoageswhichanswersfortheoneanswersfortheother。Butsuppose，whenIproducemycopyofthecertificate，thatsomemeddlesomelawyerinsistsonlookingattheoriginalregister？Midwinter’swritingisasdifferentaspossiblefromthewritingofhisdeadfriend。Thehandinwhichhehaswritten’AllanArmadale’inthebookhasnotachanceofpassingforthehandinwhichArmadaleofThorpeAmbrosewasaccustomedtosignhisname。
“CanImovesafelyinthematter，withsuchapitfallasIseehereopenundermyfeet？HowcanItell？WherecanIfindanexperiencedpersontoinformme？Imustshutupmydiaryandthink。
“Seveno’clock——MyprospectshavechangedagainsinceImademylastentry。IhavereceivedawarningtobecarefulinthefuturewhichIshallnotneglect;andIhaveIbelievesucceededinprovidingmyselfwiththeadviceandassistanceofwhichIstandinneed。
“Aftervainlytryingtothinkofsomebetterpersontoapplytointhedifficultywhichembarrassedme，Imadeavirtueofnecessity，andsetforthtosurpriseMrs。OldershawbyavisitfromherdarlingLydia！ItisalmostneedlesstoaddthatI
determinedtosoundhercarefully，andnottoletanysecretofimportanceoutofmyownpossession。
“Asourandsolemnoldmaid-servantadmittedmeintothehouse。
WhenIaskedforhermistress，IwasremindedwiththebitterestemphasisthatIhadcommittedtheimproprietyofcallingonaSunday。Mrs。Oldershawwasathome，solelyinconsequenceofbeingtoounwelltogotochurch！Theservantthoughtitveryunlikelythatshewouldseeme。Ithoughtithighlyprobable，onthecontrary，thatshewouldhonormewithaninterviewinherowninterests，ifIsentinmynameas’MissGwilt’——andtheeventprovedthatIwasright。AfterbeingkeptwaitingsomeminutesIwasshownintothedrawing-room。
“TheresatMotherJezebel，withtheairofawomanrestingonthehigh-roadtoheaven，dressedinaslate-coloredgown，withgraymittensonherhands，aseverelysimplecaponherhead，andavolumeofsermonsonherlap。Sheturnedupthewhitesofhereyesdevoutlyatthesightofme，andthefirstwordsshesaidwere——’Oh，Lydia！Lydia！whyareyounotatchurch？’
“IfIhadbeenlessanxious，thesuddenpresentationofMrs。
Oldershawinanentirelynewcharactermighthaveamusedme。ButIwasinnohumorforlaughing，andmynotesofhandbeingallpaidIwasundernoobligationtorestrainmynaturalfreedomofspeech。’Stuffandnonsense！’Isaid。’PutyourSundayfaceinyourpocket。Ihavegotsomenewsforyou，sinceIlastwrotefromThorpeAmbrose。’
“TheinstantImentioned’ThorpeAmbrose，’thewhitesoftheoldhypocrite’seyesshowedthemselvesagain，andsheflatlyrefusedtohearawordmorefrommeonthesubjectofmyproceedingsinNorfolk。Iinsisted;butitwasquiteuseless。MotherOldershawonlyshookherheadandgroaned，andinformedmethatherconnectionwiththepompsandvanitiesoftheworldwasatanendforever。’Ihavebeenbornagain，Lydia，’saidthebrazenoldwretch，wipinghereyes。’Nothingwillinducemetoreturntothesubjectofthatwickedspeculationofyoursonthefollyofarichyoungman。’
“Afterhearingthis，Ishouldhaveleftheronthespot，butforoneconsiderationwhichdelayedmeamomentlonger。
“Itwaseasytosee，bythistime，thatthecircumstanceswhatevertheymighthavebeenwhichhadobligedMotherOldershawtokeepinhiding，ontheoccasionofmyformervisittoLondon，hadbeensufficientlyserioustoforceherintogivingup，orappearingtogiveup，heroldbusiness。Anditwashardlylessplainthatshehadfoundittoheradvantage——everybodyinEnglandfindsittotheiradvantageinsomewaytocovertheoutersideofhercharactercarefullywithasmoothvarnishofCant。Thiswas，however，nobusinessofmine;andIshouldhavemadethesereflectionsoutsideinsteadofinsidethehouse，ifmyinterestshadnotbeeninvolvedinputtingthesincerityofMotherOldershaw’sreformationtothetest——sofarasitaffectedherpastconnectionwithmyself。Atthetimewhenshehadfittedmeoutforourenterprise，Irememberedsigningacertainbusinessdocumentwhichgaveherahandsomepecuniaryinterestinmysuccess，ifIbecameMrs。ArmadaleofThorpeAmbrose。Thechanceofturningthismischievousmorselofpapertogoodaccount，inthecapacityofatouchstone，wastootemptingtoberesisted。Iaskedmydevoutfriend’spermissiontosayonelastwordbeforeIleftthehouse。
“’AsyouhavenofurtherinterestinmywickedspeculationatThorpeAmbrose，’Isaid，’perhapsyouwillgivemebackthewrittenpaperthatIsigned，whenyouwerenotquitesuchanexemplarypersonasyouarenow？’
“Theshamelessoldhypocriteinstantlyshuthereyesandshuddered。
“’DoesthatmeanYes，orNo’？’Iasked。
“’Onmoralandreligiousgrounds，Lydia，’saidMrs。Oldershaw，’itmeansNo。’
“’Onwickedandworldlygrounds，’Irejoined，’Ibegtothankyouforshowingmeyourhand。’
“Therecould，indeed，benodoubtnowabouttheobjectshereallyhadinview。Shewouldrunnomorerisksandlendnomoremoney;
shewouldleavemetowinorlosesingle-handed。IfIlost，shewouldnotbecompromised。IfIwon，shewouldproducethepaperI
hadsigned，andprofitbyitwithoutremorse。Inmypresentsituation，itwasmerewasteoftimeandwordstoprolongthematterbyanyuselessrecriminationonmyside。Iputthewarningawayprivatelyinmymemoryforfutureuse，andgotuptogo。
“AtthemomentwhenIleftmychairtherewasasharpdoubleknockatthestreetdoor。Mrs。Oldershawevidentlyrecognizedit。
Sheroseinaviolenthurry，andrangthebell。’Iamtoounwelltoseeanybody，’shesaid，whentheservantappeared。’Waitamoment，ifyouplease，’sheadded，turningsharplyonme，whenthewomanhadleftustoanswerthedoor。
“Itwassmall，verysmall，spitefulnessonmypart，Iknow;butthesatisfactionofthwartingMotherJezebel，eveninatrifle，wasnottoberesisted。’Ican’twait，’Isaid;’youremindedmejustnowthatIoughttobeatchurch。’BeforeshecouldanswerI
wasoutoftheroom。
“AsIputmyfootonthefirststairthestreetdoorwasopened，andaman’svoiceinquiredwhetherMrs。Oldershawwasathome。
“Iinstantlyrecognizedthevoice。DoctorDownward！
“Thedoctorrepeatedtheservant’smessageinatonewhichbetrayedunmistakableirritationatfindinghimselfadmittednofurtherthanthedoor。
“’Yourmistressisnotwellenoughtoseevisitors？Giveherthatcard，’saidthedoctor，’andsayIexpecther，thenexttimeIcall，tobewellenoughtosee_me。_’
“IfhisvoicehadnottoldmeplainlythathefeltinnofriendlymoodtowardMrs。Oldershaw，IdaresayIshouldhavelethimgowithoutclaiminghisacquaintance;but，asthingswere，IfeltanimpulsetospeaktohimortoanybodywhohadagrudgeagainstMotherJezebel。Therewasmoreofmysmallspitefulnessinthis，Isuppose。Anyway，Islippeddownstairs;and，followingthedoctoroutquietly，overtookhiminthestreet。
“Ihadrecognizedhisvoice，andIrecognizedhisbackasI
walkedbehindhim。ButwhenIcalledhimbyhisname，andwhenheturnedroundwithastartandconfrontedme，Ifollowedhisexample，andstartedonmyside。Thedoctor’sfacewastransformedintothefaceofaperfectstranger！Hisbaldnesshadhiddenitselfunderanartfullygrizzledwig。Hehadallowedhiswhiskerstogrow，andhaddyedthemtomatchhisnewheadofhair。Hideouscircularspectaclesbestrodehisnoseinplaceoftheneatdoubleeyeglassthatheusedtocarryinhishand;andablackneckerchief，surmountedbyimmenseshirt-collars，appearedastheunworthysuccessoroftheclericalwhitecravatofformertimes。NothingremainedofthemanIonceknewbutthecomfortableplumpnessofhisfigure，andtheconfidentialcourtesyandsmoothnessofhismannerandhisvoice。
“’Charmedtoseeyouagain，’saidthedoctor，lookingabouthimalittleanxiously，andproducinghiscard-caseinaveryprecipitatemanner。’But，mydearMissGwilt，permitmetorectifyaslightmistakeonyourpart。DoctorDownwardofPimlicoisdeadandburied;andyouwillinfinitelyobligemeifyouwillnever，onanyconsideration，mentionhimagain！’
“Itookthecardheofferedme，anddiscoveredthatIwasnowsupposedtobespeakingto’DoctorLeDoux，oftheSanitarium，FairweatherVale，Hampstead！’
“’Youseemtohavefounditnecessary，’Isaid，’tochangeagreatmanythingssinceIlastsawyou？Yourname，yourresidence，yourpersonalappearance——？’
“’Andmybranchofpractice，’interposedthedoctor。’Ihavepurchasedoftheoriginalpossessorapersonoffeebleenterpriseandnoresourcesaname，adiploma，andapartiallycompletedsanitariumforthereceptionofnervousinvalids。Weareopenalreadytotheinspectionofafewprivilegedfriends——comeandseeus。Areyouwalkingmyway？Praytakemyarm，andtellmetowhathappychanceIamindebtedforthepleasureofseeingyouagain？’
“Itoldhimthecircumstancesexactlyastheyhadhappened，andI
addedwithaviewtomakingsureofhisrelationswithhisformerallyatPimlicothatIhadbeengreatlysurprisedtohearMrs。Oldershaw’sdoorshutonsuchanoldfriendashimself。
Cautiousashewas，thedoctor’smannerofreceivingmyremarksatisfiedmeatoncethatmysuspicionsofanestrangementwerewellfounded。Hissmilevanished，andhesettledhishideousspectaclesirritablyonthebridgeofhisnose。
“’PardonmeifIleaveyoutodrawyourownconclusions，’hesaid。’ThesubjectofMrs。Oldershawis，Iregrettosay，farfromagreeabletomeunderexistingcircumstances——abusinessdifficultyconnectedwithourlatepartnershipatPimlico，entirelywithoutinterestforayoungandbrilliantwomanlikeyourself。Tellmeyournews！HaveyouleftyoursituationatThorpeAmbrose？AreyouresidinginLondon？Isthereanything，professionalorotherwise，thatIcandoforyou？’
“Thatlastquestionwasamoreimportantonethanhesupposed。
BeforeIansweredit，Ifeltthenecessityofpartingcompanywithhimandofgettingalittletimetothink。
“’Youhavekindlyaskedme，doctor，topayyouavisit，’I
said。’InyourquiethouseatHampstead，ImaypossiblyhavesomethingtosaytoyouwhichIcan’tsayinthisnoisystreet。
WhenareyouathomeattheSanitarium？ShouldIfindyoutherelaterintheday？’
“Thedoctorassuredmethathewasthenonhiswayback，andbeggedthatIwouldnamemyownhour。Isaid，’Towardtheafternoon;’and，pleadinganengagement，hailedthefirstomnibusthatpassedus。’Don’tforgettheaddress，’saidthedoctor，ashehandedmein。’Ihavegotyourcard，’Ianswered，andsoweparted。
“Ireturnedtothehotel，andwentupintomyroom，andthoughtoveritveryanxiously。
“Theseriousobstacleofthesignatureonthemarriageregisterstillstoodinmywayasunmanageablyasever。AllhopeofgettingassistancefromMrs。Oldershawwasatanend。Icouldonlyregardherhenceforthasanenemyhiddeninthedark——theenemy，beyondalldoubtnow，whohadhadmefollowedandwatchedwhenIwaslastinLondon。TowhatothercounselorcouldIturnfortheadvicewhichmyunluckyignoranceoflawandbusinessobligedmetoseekfromsomeonemoreexperiencedthanmyself？
CouldIgotothelawyerwhomIconsultedwhenIwasabouttomarryMidwinterinmymaidenname？Impossible！TosaynothingofhiscoldreceptionofmewhenIhadlastseenhim，theadviceI
wantedthistimerelateddisguisethefactsasImighttothecommissionofaFraud——afraudofthesortthatnoprosperouslawyerwouldconsenttoassistifhehadacharactertolose。WasthereanyothercompetentpersonIcouldthinkof？Therewasone，andoneonly——thedoctorwhohaddiedatPimlico，andhadrevivedagainatHampstead。
“Iknewhimtobeentirelywithoutscruples;tohavethebusinessexperiencethatIwantedmyself;andtobeascunning，asclever，andasfar-seeingamanascouldbefoundinallLondon。Beyondthis，Ihadmadetwoimportantdiscoveriesinconnectionwithhimthatmorning。Inthefirstplace，hewasonbadtermswithMrs。
Oldershaw，whichwouldprotectmefromalldangerofthetwoleaguingtogetheragainstmeifItrustedhim。Inthesecondplace，circumstancesstillobligedhimtokeephisidentitycarefullydisguised，whichgavemeaholdoverhiminnorespectinferiortoanyholdthat_I_mightgivehimover_me。_Ineverywayhewastherightman，theonlyman，formypurpose;andyetI
hesitatedatgoingtohim——hesitatedforafullhourandmore，withoutknowingwhy！
“Itwastwoo’clockbeforeIfinallydecidedonpayingthedoctoravisit。Having，afterthis，occupiednearlyanotherhourindeterminingtoahair-breadthhowfarIshouldtakehimintomyconfidence，Isentforacabatlast，andsetofftowardthreeintheafternoonforHampstead。
“IfoundtheSanitariumwithsomelittledifficulty。