Titlefirst。Ashorttitle，atakingtitle：’MistressandMaid。’
Scene，thelandofromance——Italy。Time，theageofromance——thefifteenthcentury。Ha！lookatAriel。Sheknowsnomoreaboutthefifteenthcenturythanthecatinthekitchen，andyetsheisinterestedalready。HappyAriel！\"
Ariellookedatmeagain，inthedoubleintoxicationofthewineandthetriumph。
\"Iknownomorethanthecatinthekitchen，\"sherepeated，withabroadgrinofgratifiedvanity。\"Iam’happyAriel！’Whatareyou？\"
MiserrimusDexterlaugheduproariously。
\"Didn’tItellyou？\"hesaid。\"Isn’tshefun？——PersonsoftheDrama。\"heresumed：\"threeinnumber。Womenonly。Angelica，anoblelady；noblealikeinspiritandinbirth。Cunegonda，abeautifuldevilinwoman’sform。Damoride，herunfortunatemaid。
Firstscene：adarkvaultedchamberinacastle。Time，evening。
Theowlsarehootinginthewood；thefrogsarecroakinginthemarsh。——LookatAriel！Herfleshcreeps；sheshuddersaudibly。
AdmirableAriel！\"
MyrivalintheMaster’sfavoreyedmedefiantly。\"AdmirableAriel！\"sherepeated，indrowsyaccents。MiserrimusDexterpausedtotakeuphisgobletofBurgundy——placedcloseathandonalittleslidingtableattachedtohischair。Iwatchedhimnarrowlyashesippedthewine。Theflushwasstillmountinginhisface；thelightwasstillbrighteninginhiseyes。Hesetdownhisglassagain，withajovialsmackofhislips——andwenton：
\"Personspresentinthevaultedchamber：CunegondaandDamoride。
Cunegondaspeaks。’Damoride！’’Madam？’’Wholiesillinthechamberaboveus？’’Madam，thenobleladyAngelica。’（Apause。
Cunegondaspeaksagain。）’Damoride！’’Madam？’’HowdoesAngelicalikeyou？’’Madam，thenoblelady，sweetandgoodtoallwhoapproachher，issweetandgoodtome。’’Haveyouattendedonher，Damoride？’’Sometimes，madam，whenthenursewasweary。’
’Hasshetakenherhealingmedicinefromyourhand’’Onceortwice，madam，whenIhappenedtobeby。’’Damoride，takethiskeyandopenthecasketonthetablethere。’（Damorideobeys。）’Doyouseeagreenvialinthecasket？’’Iseeit，madam。’’Takeitout。’（Damorideobeys。）’Doyouseealiquidinthegreenvial？
canyouguesswhatitis？’’No，madam。’’ShallItellyou？’
（Damoridebowsrespectfully）’Poisonisinthevial。’（Damoridestarts；sheshrinksfromthepoison；shewouldfainputitaside。
Hermistresssignstohertokeepitinherhand；hermistressspeaks。）’Damoride，Ihavetoldyouoneofmysecrets；shallI
tellyouanother？’（Damoridewaits，fearingwhatistocome。Hermistressspeaks。）’IhatetheLadyAngelica。Herlifestandsbetweenmeandthejoyofmyheart。Youholdherlifeinyourhand。’（Damoridedropsonherknees；sheisadevoutperson；shecrossesherself，andthenshespeaks。）’Mistress，youterrifyme。
Mistress，whatdoIhear？’（Cunegondaadvances，standsoverher，looksdownonherwithterribleeyes，whispersthenextwords。）
’Damoride！theLadyAngelicamustdie——andImustnotbesuspected。TheLadyAngelicamustdie——andbyyourhand。’\"
Hepausedagain。Tosipthewineoncemore？No；todrinkadeepdraughtofitthistime。
Wasthestimulantbeginningtofailhimalready？
Ilookedathimattentivelyashelaidhimselfbackagaininhischairtoconsiderforamomentbeforehewenton。
Theflushonhisfacewasasdeepasever；butthebrightnessinhiseyeswasbeginningtofadealready。Ihadnoticedthathespokemoreandmoreslowlyasheadvancedtothelaterdialogueofthescene。Washefeelingtheeffortofinventionalready？Hadthetimecomewhenthewinehaddoneallthatthewinecoulddoforhim？
Wewaited。Arielsatwatchinghimwithvacantlystaringeyesandvacantlyopenmouth。Benjamin，impenetrablyexpectingthesignal，kepthisopennote—bookonhisknee，coveredbyhishand。
MiserrimusDexterwenton：
\"Damoridehearsthoseterriblewords；Damorideclaspsherhandsinentreaty。’Oh，madam！madam！howcanIkillthedearandnoblelady？WhatmotivehaveIforharmingher？’Cunegondaanswers，’YouhavethemotiveofobeyingMe。’（Damoridefallswithherfaceonthefloorathermistress’sfeet。）’Madam，Icannotdoit！Madam，Idarenotdoit！’Cunegondaanswers，’Yourunnorisk：Ihavemyplanfordivertingdiscoveryfrommyself，andmyplanfordivertingdiscoveryfromyou。’Damoriderepeats，’I
cannotdoit！Idarenotdoit！’Cunegonda’seyesflashlightningsofrage。Shetakesfromitsplaceofconcealmentinherbosom——\"
Hestoppedinthemiddleofthesentence，andputhishandtohishead——notlikeamaninpain，butlikeamanwhohadlosthisidea。
WoulditbewellifItriedtohelphimtorecoverhisidea？orwoulditbewiser（ifIcouldonlydoit）tokeepsilence？
Icouldseethedriftofhisstoryplainlyenough。Hisobject，underthethindisguiseoftheItalianromance，wastomeetmyunanswerableobjectiontosuspectingMrs。Beauly’smaid——theobjectionthatthewomanhadnomotiveforcommittingherselftoanactofmurder。Ifhecouldpracticallycontradictthis，bydiscoveringamotivewhichIshouldbeobligedtoadmit，hisendwouldbegained。ThoseinquirieswhichIhadpledgedmyselftopursue——thoseinquirieswhichmight，atanymoment，takeaturnthatdirectlyconcernedhim——would，inthatcase，besuccessfullydivertedfromtherighttothewrongperson。Theinnocentmaidwouldsetmystrictestscrutinyatdefiance；andDexterwouldbesafelyshieldedbehindher。
Ideterminedtogivehimtime。Notawordpassedmylips。
Theminutesfollowedeachother。Iwaitedinthedeepestanxiety。
Itwasatryingandacriticalmoment。Ifhesucceededininventingaprobablemotive，andinshapingitneatlytosuitthepurposeofhisstory，hewouldprove，bythatactalone，thattherewerereservesofmentalpowerstillleftinhimwhichthepracticedeyeoftheScotchdoctorhadfailedtosee。Butthequestionwas——wouldhedoit？
Hedidit！Notinanewway；notinaconvincingway；notwithoutapainfullyevidenteffort。Still，welldoneorilldone，hefoundamotiveforthemaid。
\"Cunegonda，\"heresumed，\"takesfromitsplaceofconcealmentinherbosomawrittenpaper，andunfoldsit。’Lookatthis，’shesays。Damoridelooksatthepaper，andsinksagainathermistress’sfeetinaparoxysmofhorroranddespair。Cunegondaisinpossessionofashamefulsecretinthemaid’spastlife。
Cunegondacansaytoher，’Chooseyouralternative。Eithersubmittoanexposurewhichdisgracesyouand——disgracesyourparentsforever——ormakeupyourmindtoobeyMe。’Damoridemightsubmittothedisgraceifitonlyaffectedherself。Butherparentsarehonestpeople；shecannotdisgraceherparents。Sheisdriventoherlastrefuge——thereisnohopeofmeltingthehardheartofCunegonda。Heronlyresourceistoraisedifficulties；shetriestoshowthatthereareobstaclesbetweenherandthecrime。
’Madam！madam！’shecries；’howcanIdoit，whenthenurseistheretoseeme？’Cunegondaanswers，’Sometimesthenursesleeps；
sometimesthenurseisaway。’Damoridestillpersists。’Madam！
madam！thedooriskeptlocked，andthenursehasgotthekey。’\"
Thekey！IinstantlythoughtofthemissingkeyatGleninch。Hadhethoughtofittoo？Hecertainlycheckedhimselfasthewordescapedhim。Iresolvedtomakethesignal。Irestedmyelbowonthearmofmychair，andplayedwithmyearring。Benjamintookouthispencilandarrangedhisnote—booksothatArielcouldnotseewhathewasaboutifshehappenedtolookhisway。
WewaiteduntilitpleasedMiserrimusDextertoproceed。Theintervalwasalongone。Hishandwentupagaintohisforehead。
Adulleranddullerlookwaspalpablystealingoverhiseyes。
Whenhedidspeak，itwasnottogoonwiththenarrative，buttoputaquestion。
\"WheredidIleaveoff？\"heasked。
Myhopessankagainasrapidlyastheyhadrisen。Imanagedtoanswerhim，however，withoutshowinganychangeinmy，manner。
\"Youleftoff，\"Isaid，\"whereDamoridewasspeakingtoCunegonda——\"
\"Yes，yes！\"heinterposed。\"Andwhatdidshesay？\"
\"Shesaid，’Thedooriskeptlocked，andthenursehasgotthekey。’\"
Heinstantlyleanedforwardinhischair。
\"No！\"heanswered，vehemently。\"You’rewrong。’Key？’Nonsense！I
neversaid’Key。’\"
\"Ithoughtyoudid，Mr。Dexter。\"
\"Ineverdid！Isaidsomethingelse，andyouhaveforgottenit。\"
Irefrainedfromdisputingwithhim，infearofwhatmightfollow。Wewaitedagain。Benjamin，sullenlysubmittingtomycaprices，hadtakendownthequestionsandanswersthathadpassedbetweenDexterandmyself。Hestillmechanicallykepthispageopen，andstillheldhispencilinreadinesstogoon。
Ariel，quietlysubmittingtothedrowsyinfluenceofthewinewhileDexter’svoicewasinherears，feltuneasilythechangetosilence。Sheglancedroundherrestlessly；sheliftedhereyesto\"theMaster。\"
Therehesat，silent，withhishandtohishead，stillstrugglingtomarshalhiswanderingthoughts，stilltryingtoseelightthroughthedarknessthatwasclosingroundhim。
\"Master！\"criedAriel，piteously。\"What’sbecomeofthestory？\"
Hestartedasifshehadawakenedhimoutofasleep；heshookhisheadimpatiently，asthoughhewantedtothrowoffsomeoppressionthatweigheduponit。
\"Patience，patience，\"hesaid。\"Thestoryisgoingonagain。\"
Hedashedatitdesperately；hepickedupthefirstlostthreadthatfellinhisway，recklesswhetheritweretherightthreadorthewrongone：
\"Damoridefellonherknees。Sheburstintotears。Shesaid——\"
Hestopped，andlookedabouthimwithvacanteyes。
\"WhatnamedidIgivetheotherwoman？\"heasked，notputtingthequestiontome，ortoeitherofmycompanions：askingitofhimself，oraskingitoftheemptyair。
\"YoucalledtheotherwomanCunegonda，\"Isaid。
Atthesoundofmyvoicehiseyesturnedslowly——turnedonme，andyetfailedtolookatme。Dullandabsent，stillandchangeless，theywereeyesthatseemedtobefixedonsomethingfaraway。Evenhisvoicewasalteredwhenhespokenext。Ithaddroppedtoaquiet，vacant，monotonoustone。IhadheardsomethinglikeitwhileIwaswatchingbymyhusband’sbedside，atthetimeofhisdelirium——whenEustace’smindappearedtobetoowearytofollowhisspeech。Wastheendsonearasthis？
\"IcalledherCunegonda，\"herepeated。\"AndIcalledtheother——\"
Hestoppedoncemore。
\"AndyoucalledtheotherDamoride，\"Isaid。
Ariellookedupathimwithabroadstareofbewilderment。Shepulledimpatientlyatthesleeveofhisjackettoattracthisnotice。
\"Isthisthestory，Master？\"sheasked。
Heansweredwithoutlookingather，hischangelesseyesstillfixed，asitseemed，onsomethingfaraway。
\"Thisisthestory，\"hesaid，absently。\"ButwhyCunegonda？whyDamoride？WhynotMistressandMaid？It’seasiertorememberMistressandMaid——\"
Hehesitated；heshiveredashetriedtoraisehimselfinhischair。Thenheseemedtorally\"WhatdidtheMaidsaytotheMistress？\"hemuttered。\"What？what？what？\"Hehesitatedagain。
Thensomethingseemedtodawnuponhimunexpectedly。Wasitsomenewthoughtthathadstruckhim？orsomelostthoughtthathehadrecovered？Impossibletosay。
Hewenton，suddenlyandrapidlywenton，inthesestrangewords：
\"’Theletter，’theMaidsaid；’theletter。Ohmyheart。Everywordadagger。Adaggerinmyheart。Oh，youletter。Horrible，horrible，horribleletter。’\"
What，inGod’sname，washetalkingabout？Whatdidthosewordsmean？
WasheunconsciouslypursuinghisfaintandfragmentaryrecollectionsofapasttimeatGleninch，underthedelusionthathewasgoingonwiththestory？Inthewreckoftheotherfaculties，wasmemorythelasttosink？Wasthetruth，thedreadfultruth，glimmeringonmedimlythroughtheawfulshadowcastbeforeitbytheadvancing，eclipseofthebrain？Mybreathfailedme；anamelesshorrorcreptthroughmywholebeing。
Benjamin，withhispencilinhishand，castonewarninglookatme。Arielwasquietandsatisfied。\"Goon，Master，\"wasallshesaid。\"Ilikeit！Ilikeit！Goonwiththestory。\"
Hewenton——likeamansleepingwithhiseyesopen，andtalkinginhissleep。
\"TheMaidsaidtotheMistress。No——theMistresssaidtotheMaid。TheMistresssaid，’Showhimtheletter。Must，must，mustdoit。’TheMaidsaid，’No。Mustn’tdoit。Shan’tshowit。Stuff。
Nonsense。Lethimsuffer。Wecangethimoff。Showit？No。Lettheworstcometotheworst。Showit，then。’TheMistresssaid——\"
Hepaused，andwavedhishandrapidlytoandfrobeforehiseyes，asifhewerebrushingawaysomevisionaryconfusionorentanglement。\"Whichwasitlast？\"hesaid——\"MistressorMaid？
Mistress？No。Maidspeaks，ofcourse。Loud。Positive。’Youscoundrels。Keepawayfromthattable。TheDiary’sthere。NumberNine，Caldershaws。AskforDandie。Youshan’thavetheDiary。A
secretinyourear。TheDiarywillhang，him。Iwon’thavehimhanged。Howdareyoutouchmychair？MychairisMe！HowdareyoutouchMe？’\"
Thelastwordsburstonmelikeagleamoflight！IhadreadthemintheReportoftheTrial——intheevidenceofthesheriff’sofficer。MiserrimusDexterhadspokeninthoseverytermswhenhehadtriedvainlytopreventthemenfromseizingmyhusband’spapers，andwhenthemenhadpushedhischairoutoftheroom。
Therewasnodoubtnowofwhathismemorywasbusywith。ThemysteryatGleninch！HislastbackwardflightofthoughtcircledfeeblyandmorefeeblynearerandnearertothemysteryatGleninch！
Arielarousedhimagain。Shehadnomercyonhim；sheinsistedonhearingthewholestory。
\"Whydoyoustop，Master？Getalongwithit！getalongwithit！
Tellusquick——whatdidtheMissussaytotheMaid？\"
Helaughedfeebly，andtriedtoimitateher。
\"’WhatdidtheMissussaytotheMaid？’\"herepeated。Hislaughdiedaway。Hewentonspeaking，moreandmorevacantly，moreandmorerapidly。\"TheMistresssaidtotheMaid。We’vegothimoff。
Whatabouttheletter？Burnitnow。Nofireinthegrate。Nomatchesinthebox。Housetopsy—turvy。Servantsallgone。Tearitup。Shakeitupinthebasket。Alongwiththerest。Shakeitup。
Wastepaper。Throwitaway。Goneforever。Oh，Sara，Sara，Sara！
Goneforever。’\"
Arielclappedherhands，andmimickedhiminherturn。
\"’Oh，Sara，Sara，Sara！’\"sherepeated。\"’Goneforever。’That’sprime，Master！Tellus——whowasSara？\"
Hislipsmoved，buthisvoicesanksolowthatIcouldbarelyhearhim。Hebeganagain，withtheoldmelancholyrefrain：
\"TheMaidsaidtotheMistress。No——theMistresssaidtotheMaid——\"Hestoppedabruptly，andraisedhimselferectinthechair；hethrewupbothhishandsabovehishead，andburstintoafrightfulscreaminglaugh。\"Aha—ha—ha—ha！Howfunny！Whydon’tyoulaugh？Funny，funny，funny，funny。Aha—ha—ha—ha—ha——\"
Hefellbackinthechair。Theshrillanddreadfullaughdiedawayintoalowsob。Thentherewasonelong，deep，wearilydrawnbreath。Thennothingbutamute，vacantfaceturneduptotheceiling，witheyesthatlookedblindly，withlipspartedinasenseless，changelessgrin。Nemesisatlast！Theforetolddoomhadfallenonhim。Thenighthadcome。
Butonefeelinganimatedmewhenthefirstshockwasover。EventhehorrorofthatfearfulsightseemedonlytoincreasethepitythatIfeltforthestrickenwretch。Istartedimpulsivelytomyfeet。Seeingnothing，thinkingofnothingbutthehelplessfigureinthechair，Isprangforwardtoraisehim，torevivehim，torecallhim（ifsuchathingmightstillbepossible）tohimself。
AtthefirststepthatItook，Ifelthandsonme——Iwasviolentlydrawnback。\"Areyoublind？\"criedBenjamin，draggingmenearerandnearertothedoor。\"Lookthere！\"
Hepointed；andIlooked。
Arielhadbeenbeforehandwithme。Shehadraisedhermasterinthechair；shehadgotonearmaroundhim。InherfreehandshebrandishedanIndianclub，tornfroma\"trophy\"ofOrientalweaponsthatornamentedthewalloverthefire—place。Thecreaturewastransfigured！Herdulleyesglaredliketheeyesofawildanimal。Shegnashedherteethinthefrenzythatpossessedher。\"Youhavedonethis！\"sheshoutedtome，wavingtheclubfuriouslyaroundandaroundoverherhead。\"Comenearhim，andI’lldashyourbrainsout！I’llmashyoutillthere’snotawholeboneleftinyourskin！\"Benjamin，stillholdingmewithonehandopenedthedoorwiththeother。Ilethimdowithmeashewould；
Arielfascinatedme；IcouldlookatnothingbutAriel。Herfrenzyvanishedasshesawusretreating。Shedroppedtheclub；
shethrewbotharmsaroundhim，andnestledherheadonhisbosom，andsobbedandweptoverhim。\"Master！master！Theyshan’tvexyouanymore。Lookupagain。Laughatmeasyouusedtodo。
Say，’Ariel，you’reafool。’Belikeyourselfagain！\"Iwasforcedintothenextroom。Iheardalong，low，wailingcryofmiseryfromthepoorcreaturewholovedhimwithadog’sfidelityandawoman’sdevotion。Theheavydoorwasclosedbetweenus。I
wasinthequietantechamber，cryingoverthatpiteoussight；
clingingtomykindoldfriendashelplessandasuselessasachild。
Benjaminturnedthekeyinthelock。
\"There’snouseincryingaboutit，\"hesaid，quietly。\"Itwouldbemoretothepurpose，Valeria，ifyouthankedGodthatyouhavegotoutofthatroomsafeandsound。Comewithme。\"
Hetookthekeyoutofthelock，andledmedownstairsintothehall。Afteralittleconsideration，heopenedthefrontdoorofthehouse。Thegardenerwasstillquietlyatworkinthegrounds。
\"Yourmasteristakenill，\"Benjaminsaid；\"andthewomanwhoattendsuponhimhaslostherhead——ifsheeverhadaheadtolose。Wheredoesthenearestdoctorlive？\"
Theman’sdevotiontoDextershoweditselfasthewoman’sdevotionhadshownitself——intheman’sroughway。Hethrewdownhisspadewithanoath。
\"TheMastertakenbad？\"hesaid。\"I’llfetchthedoctor。Ishallfindhimsoonerthanyouwill。\"
\"Tellthedoctortobringamanwithhim，\"Benjaminadded。\"Hemaywanthelp。\"
Thegardenerturnedaroundsternly。
\"_I’m_theman，\"hesaid。\"Nobodyshallhelpbutme。\"
Heleftus。Isatdownononeofthechairsinthehall，anddidmybesttocomposemyself。Benjaminwalkedtoandfro，deepinthought。\"Bothofthemfondofhim，\"Iheardmyoldfriendsaytohimself。\"Halfmonkey，halfman——andbothofthemfondofhim。
_That_beatsme。\"
Thegardenerreturnedwiththedoctor——aquiet，dark，resoluteman。Benjaminadvancedtomeetthem。\"Ihavegotthekey，\"hesaid。\"ShallIgoupstairswithyou？\"
Withoutanswering，thedoctordrewBenjaminasideintoacornerofthehall。Thetwotalkedtogetherinlowvoices。Attheendofitthedoctorsaid，\"Givemethekey。Youcanbeofnouse；youwillonlyirritateher。\"
Withthosewordshebeckonedtothegardener。HewasabouttoleadthewayupthestairswhenIventuredtostophim。
\"MayIstayinthehall，sir？\"Isaid。\"Iamveryanxioustohearhowitends。\"
Helookedatmeforamomentbeforehereplied。
\"Youhadbettergohome，madam，\"hesaid。\"Isthegardeneracquaintedwithyouraddress？\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"Verywell。Iwillletyouknowhowitendsbymeansofthegardener。Takemyadvice。Gohome。\"
Benjaminplacedmyarminhis。Ilookedback，andsawthedoctorandthegardenerascendingthestairstogetherontheirwaytothelocked—uproom。
\"Nevermindthedoctor，\"Iwhispered。\"Let’swaitinthegarden。\"
Benjaminwouldnothearofdeceivingthedoctor。\"Imeantotakeyouhome，\"hesaid。Ilookedathiminamazement。Myoldfriend，whowasallmeeknessandsubmissionsolongastherewasnoemergencytotryhim，nowshowedthedormantreserveofmanlyspiritanddecisioninhisnatureashehadnever（inmyexperience）shownityet。Heledmeintothegarden。Wehadkeptourcab：itwaswaitingforusatthegate。
OnourwayhomeBenjaminproducedhisnote—book。
\"What’stobedone，mydear，withthegibberishthatIhavewrittenhere？\"hesaid。
\"Haveyouwrittenitalldown？\"Iasked，insurprise。
\"WhenIundertakeaduty，Idoit，\"heanswered。\"Younevergavemethesignaltoleaveoff——younevermovedyourchair。Ihavewritteneverywordofit。WhatshallIdo？Throwitoutofthecabwindow？\"
\"Giveittome。\"
\"Whatareyougoingtodowithit？\"
\"Idon’tknowyet。IwillaskMr。Playmore。\"
CHAPTERXLI。
MR。PLAYMOREINANEWCHARACTER。
BYthatnight’spost——althoughIwasfarfrombeingfittomaketheexertion——IwrotetoMr。Playmore，totellhimwhathadtakenplace，andtobegforhisearliestassistanceandadvice。
ThenotesinBenjamin’sbookwerepartlywritteninshorthand，andwere，onthataccount，ofnousetomeintheirexistingcondition。Atmyrequest，hemadetwofaircopies。OneofthecopiesIinclosedinmylettertoMr。Playmore。TheotherIlaidbyme，onmybedsidetable，whenIwenttorest。
Overandoveragain，throughthelonghoursofthewakefulnight，Ireadandre—readthelastwordswhichhaddroppedfromMiserrimusDexter’slips。Wasitpossibletointerpretthemtoanyusefulpurpose？Attheveryoutsettheyseemedtosetinterpretationatdefiance。Aftertryingvainlytosolvethehopelessproblem，IdidatlastwhatImightaswellhavedoneatfirst——Ithrewdownthepaperindespair。Whereweremybrightvisionsofdiscoveryandsuccessnow？Scatteredtothewinds！Wastherethefaintestchanceofthestrickenman’sreturntoreason？
IrememberedtoowellwhatIhadseentohopeforit。TheclosinglinesofthemedicalreportwhichIhadreadinMr。Playmore’sofficerecurredtomymemoryinthestillnessofthenight——\"Whenthecatastrophehashappened，hisfriendscanentertainnohopeofhiscure：thebalanceoncelost，willbelostforlife。\"
Theconfirmationofthatterriblesentencewasnotlonginreachingme。Onthenextmorningthegardenerbroughtanotecontainingtheinformationwhichthedoctorhadpromisedtogivemeonthepreviousday。
MiserrimusDexterandArielwerestillwhereBenjaminandIhadleftthemtogether——inthelongroom。Theywerewatchedbyskilledattendants，waitingthedecisionofDexter’snearestrelative（ayoungerbrother，wholivedinthecountry，andwhohadbeencommunicatedwithbytelegraph。IthadbeenfoundimpossibletopartthefaithfulArielfromhermasterwithoutusingthebodilyrestraintsadoptedincasesofraginginsanity。
Thedoctorandthegardener（bothunusuallystrongmen）hadfailedtoholdthepoorcreaturewhentheyfirstattemptedtoremoveheronenteringtheroom。Directlytheypermittedhertoreturntohermasterthefrenzyvanished：shewasperfectlyquietandcontentedsolongastheylethersitathisfeetandlookathim。
Sadasthiswas，thereportofMiserrimusDexter’sconditionwasmoremelancholystill。
\"Mypatientisinastateofabsoluteimbecility\"——thosewerethewordsinthedoctor’sletter；andthegardener’ssimplenarrativeconfirmedthemasthetruestwordsthatcouldhavebeenused。HewasutterlyunconsciousofpoorAriel’sdevotiontohim——hedidnotevenappeartoknowthatshewaspresentintheroom。Forhourstogetherheremainedinastateofutterlethargyinhischair。Heshowedananimalinterestinhismeals，andagreedyanimalenjoymentofeatinganddrinkingasmuchashecouldget——andthatwasall。\"Thismorning，\"thehonestgardenersaidtomeatparting，\"wethoughtheseemedtowakeupabit。Lookedabouthim，youknow，andmadequeersignswithhishands。I
couldn’tmakeoutwhathemeant；nomorecouldthedoctor。_She_
knew，poorthing——Shedid。Wentandgothimhisharp，andputhishanduptoit。Lordblessyou！nouse。Hecouldn’tplaynomorethanIcan。Twangedatitanyhow，andgrinnedandgabbledtohimself。No：he’llnevercomerightagain。Anypersoncanseethat，withoutthedoctortohelp’em。Enjoyshismeals，asItoldyou；andthat’sall。ItwouldbethebestthingthatcouldhappenifitwouldpleaseGodtotakehim。There’snomoretobesaid。I
wishyougood—morning，ma’am。\"
Hewentawaywiththetearsinhiseyes；andheleftme，Iownit，withthetearsinmine。
Anhourlatertherecamesomenewswhichrevivedme。IreceivedatelegramfromMr。Playmore，expressedinthesewelcomewords：
\"ObligedtogotoLondonbyto—night’smailtrain。Expectmetobreakfastto—morrowmorning。\"
Theappearanceofthelawyeratourbreakfast—tabledulyfollowedtheappearanceofhistelegram。Hisfirstwordscheeredme。Tomyinfinitesurpriseandrelief，hewasfarfromsharingthedespondentviewwhichItookofmyposition。
\"Idon’tdeny，\"hesaid，\"thattherearesomeseriousobstaclesinyourway。ButIshouldneverhavecalledherebeforeattendingtomyprofessionalbusinessinLondonifMr。Benjamin’snoteshadnotproducedaverystrongimpressiononmymind。Forthefirsttime，as_I_think，youreallyhaveaprospectofsuccess。Forthefirsttime，Ifeeljustifiedinoffering（undercertainrestrictions）tohelpyou。Thatmiserablewretch，inthecollapseofhisintelligence，hasdonewhathewouldneverhavedoneinthepossessionofhissenseandhiscunning——hehasletusseethefirstpreciousglimmeringsofthelightoftruth。\"
\"Areyousureit_is_thetruth？\"Iasked。
\"Intwoimportantparticulars，\"heanswered，\"Iknowittobethetruth。Yourideaabouthimistherightone。Hismemory（asyousuppose）wastheleastinjuredofhisfaculties，andwasthelasttogivewayunderthestrainoftryingtotellthatstory。I
believehismemorytohavebeenspeakingtoyou（unconsciouslytohimself）inallthathesaidfromthemomentwhenthefirstreferenceto’theletter’escapedhimtotheend。\"
\"Butwhatdoesthereferencetothelettermean？\"Iasked。\"Formypart，Iamentirelyinthedarkaboutit。\"
\"SoamI，\"heanswered，frankly。\"ThechiefoneamongtheobstacleswhichImentionedjustnowistheobstaclepresentedbythatsame’letter。’ThelateMrs。Eustacemusthavebeenconnectedwithitinsomeway，orDexterwouldneverhavespokenofitas’adaggerinhisheart’；Dexterwouldneverhavecoupledhernamewiththewordswhichdescribethetearingupoftheletterandthethrowingofitaway。Icanarrivewithsomecertaintyatthisresult，andIcangetnofurther。Ihavenomoreideathanyouhaveofwhowrotetheletter，orofwhatwaswritteninit。Ifweareevertomakethatdiscovery——probablythemostimportantdiscoveryofall——wemustdispatchourfirstinquiriesadistanceofthreethousandmiles。InplainEnglish，mydearlady，wemustsendtoAmerica。\"