\"IftheFiscalhadseenmyoldfriendwhenIcommunicatedthedoctors’message，Idoubtifhewouldhaveventuredtochargetheprisonerwiththemurderofhiswife。Tomymindthechargewasnothinglessthananoutrage。Iresistedtheseizureoftheprisoner’sDiaryandletters，animatedbythatfeeling。NowthattheDiaryhasbeenproduced，Iagreewiththeprisoner’smotherindenyingthatitisfairevidencetobringagainsthim。ADiary（whenitextendsbeyondabarerecordoffactsanddates）isnothingbutanexpressionofthepoorestandweakestsideinthecharacterofthepersonwhokeepsit。Itis，inninecasesoutoften，themoreorlesscontemptibleoutpouringofvanityandconceitwhichthewriterdarenotexhibittoanymortalbuthimself。Iamtheprisoner’soldestfriend。IsolemnlydeclarethatIneverknewhecouldwritedownrightnonsenseuntilIheardhisDiaryreadinthisCourt！
\"_He_killhiswife！_He_treathiswifewithneglectandcruelty！Iventuretosay，fromtwentyyears’experienceofhim，thatthereisnomaninthisassemblywhoisconstitutionallymoreincapableofcrimeandmoreincapableofcrueltythanthemanwhostandsattheBar。WhileIamaboutit，Igofurtherstill。Ievendoubtwhetheramancapableofcrimeandcapableofcrueltycouldhavefounditinhishearttodoeviltothewomanwhoseuntimelydeathisthesubjectofthisinquiry。
\"Ihaveheardwhattheignorantandprejudicednurse，ChristinaOrmsay，hassaidofthedeceasedlady。Frommyownpersonalobservation，Icontradicteverywordofit。Mrs。EustaceMacallan——grantingherpersonaldefects——wasneverthelessoneofthemostcharmingwomenIevermetwith。Shewashighlybred，inthebestsenseoftheword。Ineversawinanyotherpersonsosweetasmileashers，orsuchgraceandbeautyofmovementashers。Ifyoulikedmusic，shesangbeautifully；andfewprofessedmusicianshadsuchatouchonthepianoashers。Ifyoupreferredtalking，Ineveryetmetwiththeman（oreventhewoman，whichissayingagreatdealmore）whomherconversationcouldnotcharm。Tosaythatsuchawifeasthiscouldbefirstcruellyneglected，andthenbarbarouslymurdered，bytheman——no！bythemartyr——whostandsthere，istotellmethatthesunnevershinesatnoonday，orthattheheavenisnotabovetheearth。
\"Ohyes！Iknowthatthelettersofherfriendsshowthatshewrotetotheminbittercomplaintofherhusband’sconducttoher。Butrememberwhatoneofthosefriends（thewisestandthebestofthem）saysinreply。’Iowntothinking，’shewrites，’thatyoursensitivenatureexaggeratesormisinterpretstheneglectthatyouexperienceatthehandsofyourhusband。’There，inthatonesentence，isthewholetruth！
Mrs。EustaceMacallan’snaturewastheimaginative，self—tormentingnatureofapoet。Nomortallovecouldeverhavebeenrefinedenoughfor_her。_Trifleswhichwomenofacoarsermoralfiberwouldhavepassedoverwithoutnotice，werecausesofdownrightagonytothatexquisitelysensitivetemperament。Therearepersonsborntobeunhappy。Thatpoorladywasoneofthem。
WhenIhavesaidthis，Ihavesaidall。
\"No！Thereisonewordmorestilltobeadded。
\"ItmaybeaswelltoremindtheprosecutionthatMrs。EustaceMacallan’sdeathwasinthepecuniarysenseaseriouslosstoherhusband。Hehadinsistedonhavingthewholeofherfortunesettledonherself，andonherrelativesafterher，whenhemarried。HerincomefromthatfortunehelpedtokeepinsplendorthehouseandgroundsatGleninch。Theprisoner’sownresources（aidedevenbyhismother’sjointure）werequiteinadequatefitlytodefraytheexpensesoflivingathissplendidcountry—seat。
Knowingallthecircumstances，Icanpositivelyassertthatthewife’sdeathhasdeprivedthehusbandoftwo—thirdsofhisincome。Andtheprosecution，viewinghimasthebasestandcruelestofmen，declaresthathedeliberatelykilledher——withallhispecuniaryinterestspointingtothepreservationofherlife！
\"ItisuselesstoaskmewhetherInoticedanythingintheconductoftheprisonerandMrs。Beaulywhichmightjustifyawife’sjealousy。IneverobservedMrs。Beaulywithanyattention，andIneverencouragedtheprisonerintalkingtomeabouther。
Hewasageneraladmirerofprettywomen——sofarasIknow，inaperfectlyinnocentway。ThathecouldpreferMrs。Beaulytohiswifeisinconceivabletome，unlesshewereoutofhissenses。I
neverhadanyreasontobelievethathewasoutofhissenses。
\"Astothequestionofthearsenic——ImeanthequestionoftracingthatpoisontothepossessionofMrs。EustaceMacallan——I
amabletogiveevidencewhichmay，perhaps，beworthyoftheattentionoftheCourt。
\"IwaspresentintheFiscal’sofficeduringtheexaminationofthepapers，andoftheotherobjectsdiscoveredatGleninch。Thedressing—casebelongingtothedeceasedladywasshowntomeafteritscontentshadbeenofficiallyinvestigatedbytheFiscalhimself。Ihappentohaveaverysensitivesenseoftouch。Inhandlingthelidofthedressing—case，ontheinnersideIfeltsomethingatacertainplacewhichinducedmetoexaminethewholestructureofthelidverycarefully。Theresultwasthediscoveryofaprivaterepositoryconcealedinthespacebetweentheouterwoodandthelining。InthatrepositoryIfoundthebottlewhichInowproduce。\"
Thefurtherexaminationofthewitnesswassuspendedwhilethehiddenbottlewascomparedwiththebottlesproperlybelongingtothedressing—case。
Theselastwereofthefinestcutglass，andofaveryelegantform——entirelyunlikethebottlefoundintheprivaterepository，whichwasofthecommonestmanufacture，andoftheshapeordinarilyinuseamongchemists。Notadropofliquid，notthesmallestatomofanysolidsubstance，remainedinit。Nosmellexhaledfromit——and，moreunfortunatelystillfortheinterestsofthedefense，nolabelwasfoundattachedtothebottlewhenithadbeendiscovered。
Thechemistwhohadsoldthesecondsupplyofarsenictotheprisonerwasrecalledandexamined。Hedeclaredthatthebottlewasexactlylikethebottleinwhichhehadplacedthearsenic。
Itwas，however，equallylikehundredsofotherbottlesinhisshop。Intheabsenceofthelabel（onwhichhehadhimselfwrittentheword\"Poison\"），itwasimpossibleforhimtoidentifythebottle。Thedressing—caseandthedeceasedlady’sbedroomhadbeenvainlysearchedforthechemist’smissinglabel——onthechancethatitmighthavebecomeaccidentallydetachedfromthemysteriousemptybottle。Inbothinstancesthesearchhadbeenwithoutresult。Morally，itwasafairconclusionthatthismightbereallythebottlewhichhadcontainedthepoison。Legally，therewasnottheslightestproofofit。
Thusendedthelasteffortofthedefensetotracethearsenicpurchasedbytheprisonertothepossessionofhiswife。ThebookrelatingthepracticesoftheStyrianpeasantry（foundinthedeceasedlady’sroom）hadbeenproducedButcouldthebookprovethatshehadaskedherhusbandtobuyarsenicforher？Thecrumpledpaper，withthegrainsofpowderleftinit，hadbeenidentifiedbythechemist，andhadbeendeclaredtocontaingrainsofarsenic。ButwherewastheproofthatMrs。EustaceMacallan’shandhadplacedthepacketinthecabinet，andhademptieditofitscontents？Nodirectevidenceanywhere！Nothingbutconjecture！
TherenewedexaminationofMiserrimusDextertouchedonmattersofnogeneralinterest。Thecross—examinationresolveditself，insubstance，intoamentaltrialofstrengthbetweenthewitnessandtheLordAdvocate；thestruggleterminating（accordingtothegeneralopinion）infavorofthewitness。OnequestionandoneansweronlyIwillrepeathere。TheyappearedtometobeofseriousimportancetotheobjectthatIhadinviewinreadingtheTrial。
\"Ibelieve，Mr。Dexter，\"theLordAdvocateremarked，inhismostironicalmanner，\"thatyouhaveatheoryofyourown，whichmakesthedeathofMrs。EustaceMacallannomysteryto_you？_\"
\"Imayhavemyownideasonthatsubject，asonothersubjects，\"
thewitnessreplied。\"Butletmeasktheirlordships，theJudges：
AmIheretodeclaretheoriesortostatefacts？\"
Imadeanoteofthatanswer。Mr。Dexter’s\"ideas\"weretheideasofatruefriendtomyhusband，andofamanoffarmorethanaverageability。Theymightbeofinestimablevaluetomeinthecomingtime——ifIcouldprevailonhimtocommunicatethem。
Imaymention，whileIamwritingonthesubject，thatIaddedtothisfirstnoteasecond，containinganobservationofmyown。InalludingtoMrs。Beauly，whilehewasgivinghisevidence，Mr。
Dexterhadspokenofhersoslightingly——sorudely，Imightalmostsay——astosuggesthehadsomestrongprivatereasonsfordisliking（perhapsfordistrusting）thislady。Here，again，itmightbeofvitalimportancetometoseeMr。Dexter，andtoclearup，ifIcould，whatthedignityoftheCourthadpassedoverwithoutnotice。
Thelastwitnesshadbeennowexamined。Thechaironwheelsglidedawaywiththehalf—maninit，andwaslostinadistantcorneroftheCourt。TheLordAdvocaterosetoaddresstheJuryfortheprosecution。
IdonotscrupletosaythatIneverreadanythingsoinfamousasthisgreatlawyer’sspeech。Hewasnotashamedtodeclare，atstarting，thathefirmlybelievedtheprisonertobeguilty。Whatrighthadhetosayanythingofthesort？Wasitfor_him_todecide？WashetheJudgeandJuryboth，Ishouldliketoknow？
Havingbegunbycondemningtheprisoneronhisownauthority，theLordAdvocateproceededtopervertthemostinnocentactionsofthatunhappymansoastogivethemasvileanaspectaspossible。Thus：WhenEustacekissedhispoorwife’sforeheadonherdeath—bed，hedidittocreateafavorableimpressioninthemindsofthedoctorandthenurse！Again，whenhisgriefunderhisbereavementcompletelyoverwhelmedhim，hewastriumphinginsecret，andactingapart！Ifyoulookedintohisheart，youwouldseethereadiabolicalhatredforhiswifeandaninfatuatedpassionforMrs。Beauly！Ineverythinghehadsaidhehadlied；ineverythinghehaddonehehadactedlikeacraftyandheartlesswretch！Sothechiefcounselfortheprosecutionspokeoftheprisoner，standinghelplessbeforehimattheBar。
Inmyhusband’splace，ifIcouldhavedonenothingmore，Iwouldhavethrownsomethingathishead。Asitwas，ItorethepageswhichcontainedthespeechfortheprosecutionoutoftheReportandtrampledthemundermyfeet——andfeltallthebettertooforhavingdoneit。AtthesametimeIfeelalittleashamedofhavingrevengedmyselfontheharmlessprintedleavesnow。
ThefifthdayoftheTrialopenedwiththespeechforthedefense。Ah，whatacontrasttotheinfamiesutteredbytheLordAdvocatewasthegrandburstofeloquencebytheDeanofFaculty，speakingonmyhusband’sside！
Thisillustriouslawyerstrucktherightnoteatstarting。
\"Iyieldtonoone，\"hebegan，\"inthepityIfeelforthewife。
ButIsay，themartyrinthiscase，fromfirsttolast，isthehusband。Whateverthepoorwomanmayhaveendured，thatunhappymanattheBarhassuffered，andisnowsuffering，more。Ifhehadnotbeenthekindestofmen，themostdocileandmostdevotedofhusbands，hewouldneverhaveoccupiedhispresentdreadfulsituation。Amanofameanerandhardernaturewouldhavefeltsuspicionsofhiswife’smotiveswhensheaskedhimtobuypoison——wouldhaveseenthroughthewretchedlycommonplaceexcusesshemadeforwantingit——andwouldhavewiselyandcruellysaid，’No。’Theprisonerisnotthatsortofman。Heistoogoodtohiswife，tooinnocentofanyevilthoughttowardher，ortowardanyone，toforeseetheinconveniencesandthedangerstowhichhisfatalcompliancemayexposehim。Andwhatistheresult？Hestandsthere，brandedasamurderer，becausehewastoohigh—mindedandtoohonorabletosuspecthiswife。\"
Speakingthusofthehusband，theDeanwasjustaseloquentandjustasunanswerablewhenhecametospeakofthewife。
\"TheLordAdvocate，\"hesaid，\"hasasked，withthebitterironyforwhichheiscelebratedattheScottishBar，whywehavefailedentirelytoprovethattheprisonerplacedthetwopacketsofpoisoninthepossessionofhiswife。Isay，inanswer，wehaveproved，first，thatthewifewaspassionatelyattachedtothehusband；secondly，thatshefeltbitterlythedefectsinherpersonalappearance，andespeciallythedefectsinhercomplexion；and，thirdly，thatshewasinformedofarsenicasasupposedremedyforthosedefects，takeninternally。Tomenwhoknowanythingofhumannature，thereisproofenough。Doesmylearnedfriendactuallysupposethatwomenareinthehabitofmentioningthesecretartificesandapplicationsbywhichtheyimprovetheirpersonalappearance？Isitinhisexperienceofthesexthatawomanwhoiseagerlybentonmakingherselfattractivetoamanwouldtellthatman，ortellanybodyelsewhomightcommunicatewithhim，thatthecharmbywhichshehopedtowinhisheart——saythecharmofaprettycomplexion——hadbeenartificiallyacquiredbytheperiloususeofadeadlypoison？Thebareideaofsuchathingisabsurd。OfcoursenobodyeverheardMrs。EustaceMacallanspeakofarsenic。Ofcoursenobodyeversurprisedherintheactoftakingarsenic。Itisintheevidencethatshewouldnotevenconfideherintentiontotrythepoisontothefriendswhohadtoldherofitasaremedy，andwhohadgotherthebook。Sheactuallybeggedthemtoconsidertheirbriefconversationonthesubjectasstrictlyprivate。Fromfirsttolast，poorcreature，shekepthersecret；justasshewouldhavekepthersecretifshehadwornfalsehair，orifshehadbeenindebtedtothedentistforherteeth。Andthereyouseeherhusband，inperilofhislife，becauseawomanacted_like_awoman——asyourwives，gentlemenoftheJury，would，inasimilarposition，acttowardYou。\"
Aftersuchgloriousoratoryasthis（IwishIhadroomtoquotemoreofit！），thenext，andlast，speechdeliveredattheTrial——thatistosay，theChargeoftheJudgetotheJury——isdrearyreadingindeed。
HislordshipfirsttoldtheJurythattheycouldnotexpecttohavedirectevidenceofthepoisoning。Suchevidencehardlyeveroccurredincasesofpoisoning。Theymustbesatisfiedwiththebestcircumstantialevidence。Allquitetrue，Idaresay。But，havingtoldtheJurytheymightacceptcircumstantialevidence，heturnedbackagainonhisownwords，andwarnedthemagainstbeingtooreadytotrustit！\"Youmusthaveevidencesatisfactoryandconvincingtoyourownminds，\"hesaid，\"inwhichyoufindnoconjectures——butonlyirresistibleandjustinferences。\"Whoistodecidewhatisajustinference？Andwhatiscircumstantialevidence_but_conjecture？
Afterthisspecimen，Ineedgivenofurtherextractsfromthesummingup。TheJury，thoroughlybewilderednodoubt，tookrefugeinacompromise。Theyoccupiedanhourinconsideringanddebatingamongthemselvesintheirownroom。（Ajuryofwomenwouldnothavetakenaminute！）ThentheyreturnedintoCourt，andgavetheirtimidandtrimmingScotchVerdictinthesewords：
\"NotProven。\"
Someslightapplausefollowedamongtheaudience，whichwasinstantlychecked。TheprisonerwasdismissedfromtheBar。Heslowlyretired，likeamanindeepgrief：hisheadsunkonhisbreast——notlookingatanyone，andnotreplyingwhenhisfriendsspoketohim。Heknew，poorfellow，theslurthattheVerdictleftonhim。\"Wedon’tsayyouareinnocentofthecrimechargedagainstyou；weonlysaythereisnotevidenceenoughtoconvictyou。\"Inthatlameandimpotentconclusiontheproceedingsendedatthetime。Andtheretheywouldhaveremainedforalltime——butforMe。
CHAPTERXXI。
ISEEMYWAY。
INthegraylightofthenewmorningIclosedtheReportofmyhusband’sTrialfortheMurderofhisfirstWife。
Nosenseoffatigueoverpoweredme。Ihadnowish，aftermylonghoursofreadingandthinking，toliedownandsleep。Itwasstrange，butitwasso。IfeltasifI_had_slept，andhadnowjustawakened——anewwoman，withanewmind。
IcouldnowatlastunderstandEustace’sdesertionofme。ToamanofhisrefinementitwouldhavebeenamartyrdomtomeethiswifeaftershehadreadthethingspublishedofhimtoalltheworldintheReport。Ifeltthatashewouldhavefeltit。AtthesametimeIthoughthemighthavetrustedMetomakeamendstohimforthemartyrdom，andmighthavecomeback。Perhapsitmightyetendinhiscomingback。Inthemeanwhile，andinthatexpectation，Ipitiedandforgavehimwithmywholeheart。
Onelittlematteronlydweltonmyminddisagreeably，inspiteofmyphilosophy。DidEustacestillsecretlyloveMrs。Beauly？orhadIextinguishedthatpassioninhim？Towhatorderofbeautydidthisladybelong？Werewebyanychance，theleastintheworldlikeoneanother？
Thewindowofmyroomlookedtotheeast。Idrewuptheblind，andsawthesunrisinggrandlyinaclearsky。Thetemptationtogooutandbreathethefreshmorningairwasirresistible。Iputonmyhatandshawl，andtooktheReportoftheTrialundermyarm。Theboltsofthebackdoorwereeasilydrawn。InanotherminuteIwasoutinBenjamin’sprettylittlegarden。
Composedandstrengthenedbytheinvitingsolitudeandthedeliciousair，Ifoundcourageenoughtofacetheseriousquestionthatnowconfrontedme——thequestionofthefuture。
IhadreadtheTrial。Ihadvowedtodevotemylifetothesacredobjectofvindicatingmyhusband’sinnocence。Asolitary，defenselesswoman，Istoodpledgedtomyselftocarrythatdesperateresolutionthroughtoanend。HowwasItobegin？
Theboldwayofbeginningwassurelythewisewayinsuchapositionasmine。Ihadgoodreasons（founded，asIhavealreadymentioned，ontheimportantpartplayedbythiswitnessattheTrial）forbelievingthatthefittestpersontoadviseandassistmewas——MiserrimusDexter。HemightdisappointtheexpectationsthatIhadfixedonhim，orhemightrefusetohelpme，or（likemyuncleStarkweather）hemightthinkIhadtakenleaveofmysenses。Alltheseeventswerepossible。Nevertheless，Iheldtomyresolutiontotrytheexperiment。Ifhewereinthelandoftheliving，Idecidedthatmyfirststepatstartingshouldtakemetothedeformedmanwiththestrangename。
Supposinghereceivedme，sympathizedwithme，understoodme？
Whatwouldhesay？Thenurse，inherevidence，hadreportedhimasspeakinginanoff—handmanner。Hewouldsay，inallprobability，\"Whatdoyoumeantodo？AndhowcanIhelpyoutodoit？\"
HadIanswersreadyifthosetwoplainquestionswereputtome？
Yes！ifIdaredowntoanyhumancreaturewhatwasatthatverymomentsecretlyfermentinginmymind。Yes！ifIcouldconfidetoastrangerasuspicionrousedinmebytheTrialwhichIhavebeenthusfarafraidtomentioneveninthesepages！
Itmust，nevertheless，bementionednow。Mysuspicionledtoresultswhicharepartofmystoryandpartofmylife。
Letmeown，then，tobeginwith，thatIclosedtherecordoftheTrialactuallyagreeinginoneimportantparticularwiththeopinionofmyenemyandmyhusband’senemy——theLordAdvocate！HehadcharacterizedtheexplanationofMrs。EustaceMacallan’sdeathofferedbythedefenseasa\"clumsysubterfuge，inwhichnoreasonablebeingcoulddiscernthesmallestfragmentofprobability。\"Withoutgoingquitesofarasthis，I，too，couldseenoreasonwhateverintheevidenceforassumingthatthepoorwomanhadtakenanoverdoseofthepoisonbymistake。Ibelievedthatshehadthearsenicsecretlyinherpossession，andthatshehadtried，orintendedtotry，theuseofitinternally，forthepurposeofimprovinghercomplexion。ButfurtherthanthisI
couldnotadvance。ThemoreIthoughtofit，themoreplainlyjustifiedthelawyersfortheprosecutionseemedtometobeindeclaringthatMrs。EustaceMacallanhaddiedbythehandofapoisoner——althoughtheywereentirelyandcertainlymistakeninchargingmyhusbandwiththecrime。
Myhusbandbeinginnocent，somebodyelse，onmyownshowing，mustbeguilty。WhoamongthepersonsinhabitingthehouseatthetimehadpoisonedMrs。EustaceMacallan？Mysuspicioninansweringthatquestionpointedstraighttoawoman。Andthenameofthatwomanwas——Mrs。Beauly！
Yes！TothatstartlingconclusionIhadarrived。Itwas，tomymind，theinevitableresultofreadingtheevidence。
Lookbackforamomenttotheletterproducedincourt，signed\"Helena，\"andaddressedtoMr。Macallan。Noreasonablepersoncandoubt（thoughtheJudgesexcusedherfromansweringthequestion）
thatMrs。Beaulywasthewriter。Verywell。Theletteroffers，asIthink，trustworthyevidencetoshowthestateofthewoman’smindwhenshepaidhervisittoGleninch。
WritingtoMr。Macallan，atatimewhenshewasmarriedtoanotherman——amantowhomshehadengagedherselfbeforeshemetwithMr。Macallanwhatdoesshesay？Shesays，\"WhenIthinkofyourlifesacrificedtothatwretchedwoman，myheartbleedsforyou。\"And，again，shesays，\"Ifithadbeenmyunutterablehappinesstoloveandcherishthebest，thedearestofmen，whataparadiseofourownwemighthavelivedin，whatdelicioushourswemighthaveknown！\"
Ifthisisnotthelanguageofawomanshamelesslyandfuriouslyinlovewithaman——notherhusband——whatis？Sheissofullofhimthatevenherideaofanotherworld（seetheletter）istheideaof\"embracing\"Mr。Macallan’s\"soul。\"Inthisconditionofmindandmorals，theladyonedayfindsherselfandherembracesfree，throughthedeathofherhusband。Assoonasshecandecentlyvisitshegoesvisiting；andinduecourseoftimeshebecomestheguestofthemanwhomsheadores。Hiswifeisillinherbed。TheoneothervisitoratGleninchisacripple，whocanonlymoveinhischaironwheels。Theladyhasthehouseandtheonebelovedobjectinitalltoherself。Noobstaclestandsbetweenherand\"theunutterablehappinessoflovingandcherishingthebest，thedearestofmen\"butapoor，sick，uglywife，forwhomMr。Macallanneverhasfelt，andnevercanfeel，thesmallestparticleoflove。
Isitperfectlyabsurdtobelievethatsuchawomanasthis，impelledbythesemotives，andsurroundedbythesecircumstances，wouldbecapableofcommittingacrime——ifthesafeopportunityoffereditself？
Whatdoesherownevidencesay？
SheadmitsthatshehadaconversationwithMrs。EustaceMacallan，inwhichthatladyquestionedheronthesubjectofcosmeticapplicationstothecomplexion。\"Didnothingelsetakeplaceatthatinterview？DidMrs。Beaulymakenodiscoveries（afterwardturnedtofatalaccount）ofthedangerousexperimentwhichherhostesswasthentryingtoimproveheruglycomplexion？
AllweknowisthatMrs。Beaulysaidnothingaboutit。
Whatdoestheunder—gardenersay？
HeheardaconversationbetweenMr。MacallanandMrs。Beauly，whichshowsthatthepossibilityofMrs。BeaulybecomingMrs。
EustaceMacallanhadcertainlypresenteditselftothatlady’smind，andwascertainlyconsideredbyhertobetoodangerousatopicofdiscoursetobepursued。InnocentMr。Macallanwouldhavegoneontalking。Mrs。Beaulyisdiscreetandstopshim。
Andwhatdoesthenurse（ChristinaOrmsay）tellus？
OnthedayofMrs。EustaceMacallan’sdeath，thenurseisdismissedfromattendance，andissentdownstairs。Sheleavesthesickwoman，recoveredfromherfirstattackofillness，andabletoamuseherselfwithwriting。Thenurseremainsawayforhalfanhour，andthengetsuneasyatnothearingtheinvalid’sbell。ShegoestotheMorning—RoomtoconsultMr。Macallan，andthereshehearsthatMrs。Beaulyismissing。Mr。Macallandoesn’tknowwheresheis，andasksMr。Dexterifhehasseenher。Mr。Dexterhadnotseteyesonher。AtwhattimedoesthedisappearanceofMrs。Beaulytakeplace？AttheverytimewhenChristinaOrmsayhadleftMrs。EustaceMacallanaloneinherroom！
Meanwhilethebellringsatlast——ringsviolently。Thenursegoesbacktothesick—roomatfiveminutestoeleven，orthereabouts，andfindsthatthebadsymptomsofthemorninghavereturnedinagravelyaggravatedform。Aseconddoseofpoison——largerthanthedoseadministeredintheearlymorning——hasbeengivenduringtheabsenceofthenurse，and（observe）duringthedisappearancealsoofMrs。Beauly。Thenurselookingoutintothecorridorforhelp，encountersMrs。Beaulyherself，innocentlyonherwayfromherownroom——justup，wearetosuppose，ateleveninthemorning！——toinquireafterthesickwoman。
AlittlelaterMrs。BeaulyaccompaniesMr。Macallantovisittheinvalid。Thedyingwomancastsastrangelookatbothofthem，andtellsthemtoleaveher。Mr。Macallanunderstandsthisasthefretfuloutbreakofapersoninpain，andwaitsintheroomtotellthenursethatthedoctorissentfor。WhatdoesMrs。Beaulydo？
Sherunsoutpanic—strickentheinstantMrs。EustaceMacallanlooksather。EvenMrs。Beauly，itseems，hasaconscience！
Istherenothingtojustifysuspicioninsuchcircumstancesasthese——circumstancessworntoontheoathsofthewitnesses？
Tometheconclusionisplain。Mrs。Beauly’shandgavethatseconddoseofpoison。Admitthis；andtheinferencefollowsthatshealsogavethefirstdoseintheearlymorning。Howcouldshedoit？Lookagainattheevidence。Thenurseadmitsthatshewasasleepfrompasttwointhemorningtosix。Shealsospeaksofalockeddoorofcommunicationwiththesickroom，thekeyofwhichhadbeenremoved，nobodyknewbywhom。Somepersonmusthavestolenthatkey。WhynotMrs。Beauly？
Onewordmore，andallthatIhadinmymindatthattimewillbehonestlyrevealed。
MiserrimusDexter，undercross—examination，hadindirectlyadmittedthathehadideasofhisownonthesubjectofMrs。
EustaceMacallan’sdeath。AtthesametimehehadspokenofMrs。
Beaulyinatonewhichplainlybetrayedthathewasnofriendtothatlady。Did_he_suspecthertoo？MychiefmotiveindecidingtoaskhisadvicebeforeIappliedtoanyoneelsewastofindanopportunityofputtingthatquestiontohim。IfhereallythoughtofherasIdid，mycoursewasclearbeforeme。Thenextsteptotakewouldbecarefullytoconcealmyidentity——andthentopresentmyself，inthecharacterofaharmlessstranger，toMrs。
Beauly。