\"Half—pastthree。
\"Oh，myhusband，Ihavedonethedeedwhichwillrelieveyouofthewifewhomyouhate！Ihavetakenthepoison——allofitthatwasleftinthepaperpacket，whichwasthefirstthatIfound。
Ifthisisnotenoughtokillme，Ihavemoreleftinthebottle。
\"Tenminutespastfive。
\"Youhavejustgone，aftergivingmemycomposingdraught。Mycouragefailedmeatthesightofyou。Ithoughttomyself，’Ifhelookatmekindly，IwillconfesswhatIhavedone，andlethimsavemylife。’Youneverlookedatmeatall。Youonlylookedatthemedicine。Iletyougowithoutsayingaword。
\"Half—pastfive。
\"Ibegintofeelthefirsteffectsofthepoison。Thenurseisasleepatthefootofmybed。Iwon’tcallforassistance；I
won’twakeher。Iwilldie。
\"Half—pastnine。
\"Theagonywasbeyondmyendurance——Iawokethenurse。Ihaveseenthedoctor。
\"Nobodysuspectsanything。Strangetosay，thepainhasleftme；
Ihaveevidentlytakentoolittleofthepoison。Imustopenthebottlewhichcontainsthelargerquantity。Fortunately，youarenotnearme——myresolutiontodie，or，rather，myloathingoflife，remainsasbitterlyunalteredasever。Tomakesureofmycourage，Ihaveforbiddenthenursetosendforyou。Shehasjustgonedownstairsbymyorders。Iamfreetogetthepoisonoutofmydressing—case。
\"Tenminutestoten。
\"Ihadjusttimetohidethebottle（afterthenursehadleftme）
whenyoucameintomyroom。
\"IhadanothermomentofweaknesswhenIsawyou。Ideterminedtogivemyselfalastchanceoflife。Thatistosay，Ideterminedtoofferyoualastopportunityoftreatingmekindly。Iaskedyoutogetmeacupoftea。If，inpayingmethislittleattention，youonlyencouragedmebyonefondwordoronefondlook，Iresolvednottotaketheseconddoseofpoison。
\"Youobeyedmywishes，butyouwerenotkind。Yougavememytea，Eustace，asifyouweregivingadrinktoyourdog。Andthenyouwonderedinalanguidway（thinking，Isuppose，ofMrs。Beaulyallthetime），atmydroppingthecupinhandingitbacktoyou。
Ireallycouldnothelpit；myhand_would_tremble。Inmyplace，yourhandmighthavetrembledtoo——withthearsenicunderthebedclothes。Youpolitelyhoped，beforeyouwentaway？thattheteawoulddomegood——and，ohGod，youcouldnotevenlookatmewhenyousaidthat！Youlookedatthebrokenbitsofthetea—cup。
\"TheinstantyouwereoutoftheroomItookthepoison——adoubledosethistime。
\"Ihavealittlerequesttomakehere，whileIthinkofit。
\"Afterremovingthelabelfromthebottle，andputtingitback，clean，inmydressing—case，itstruckmethatIhadfailedtotakethesameprecaution（intheearlymorning）withtheemptypaper—packet，bearingonitthenameoftheotherchemist。I
threwitasideonthecounterpaneofthebed，amongsomeotherloosepapers。myill—temperednursecomplainedofthelitter，andcrumpledthemallupandputthemawaysomewhere。Ihopethechemistwillnotsufferthroughmycarelessness。Praybearitinmindtosaythatheisnottoblame。
\"Dexter——somethingremindsmeofMiserrimusDexter。HehasputyourDiarybackagaininthedrawer，andhepressesmeforananswertohisproposals。Hasthisfalsewretchanyconscience？Ifhehas，evenhewillsuffer——whenmydeathanswershim。
\"Thenursehasbeeninmyroomagain。Ihavesentheraway。I
havetoldherIwanttobealone。
\"Howisthetimegoing？Icannotfindmywatch。Isthepaincomingbackagainandparalyzingme？Idon’tfeelitkeenlyyet。
\"Itmaycomeback，though，atanymoment。Ihavestilltoclosemyletterandtoaddressittoyou。And，besides，Imustsaveupmystrengthtohideitunderthepillow，sothatnobodymayfindituntilaftermydeath。
\"Farewell，mydear。IwishIhadbeenaprettierwoman。Amorelovingwoman（towardyou）Icouldnotbe。EvennowIdreadthesightofyourdearface。Evennow，ifIallowedmyselftheluxuryoflookingatyou，Idon’tknowthatyoumightnotcharmmeintoconfessingwhatIhavedone——beforeitistoolatetosaveme。
\"Butyouarenothere。Betterasitis！betterasitis！
\"Oncemore，farewell！Behappierthanyouhavebeenwithme。I
loveyou，Eustace——Iforgiveyou。Whenyouhavenothingelsetothinkabout，thinksometimes，askindlyasyoucan，ofyourpoor，ugly\"SARAMACALLAN。\"*
NotebyMr。Playmore：
Thelostwordsandphrasessuppliedinthisconcludingportionoftheletteraresofewinnumberthatitisneedlesstomentionthem。Thefragmentswhichwerefoundaccidentallystucktogetherbythegum，andwhichrepresentthepartoftheletterfirstcompletelyreconstructed，beginatthephrase，\"Ispokeofyoushamefully，Eustace；\"andendwiththebrokensentence，\"Ifinpayingmethislittleattention，youonlyencouragedmebyonefondwordoronefondlook，Iresolvednottotake——\"Withtheassistancethusaffordedtous，thelaborofputtingtogethertheconcludinghalfoftheletter（dated\"October20\"）wastrifling，comparedwiththealmostinsurmountabledifficultieswhichweencounteredindealingwiththescatteredwreckoftheprecedingpages。
CHAPTERXLVIII。
WHATELSECOULDIDO？
AssoonasIcoulddrymyeyesandcomposemyspiritsafterreadingthewife’spitiableanddreadfulfarewell，myfirstthoughtwasofEustace——myfirstanxietywastopreventhimfromeverreadingwhatIhadread。
Yes！tothisendithadcome。Ihaddevotedmylifetotheattainmentofoneobject；andthatobjectIhadgained。There，onthetablebeforeme，laythetriumphantvindicationofmyhusband’sinnocence；and，inmercytohim，inmercytothememoryofhisdeadwife，myonehopewasthathemightneverseeit！myonedesirewastohideitfromthepublicview！
Ilookedbackatthestrangecircumstancesunderwhichtheletterhadbeendiscovered。
Itwasallmydoing——asthelawyerhadsaid。Andyet，whatIhaddone，Ihad，sotospeak，doneblindfold。Themerestaccidentmighthavealteredthewholecourseoflaterevents。IhadoverandoveragaininterferedtocheckArielwhensheentreatedtheMasterto\"tellherastory。\"Ifshehadnotsucceeded，inspiteofmyopposition，MiserrimusDexter’slasteffortofmemorymightneverhavebeendirectedtothetragedyatGleninch。And，again，ifIhadonlyrememberedtomovemychair，andsotogiveBenjaminthesignaltoleaveoff，hewouldneverhavewrittendowntheapparentlysenselesswordswhichhaveledustothediscoveryofthetruth。
Lookingbackateventsinthisframeofmind，theverysightofthelettersickenedandhorrifiedme。Icursedthedaywhichhaddisinterredthefragmentsofitfromtheirfoultomb。JustatthetimewhenEustacehadfoundhiswearywaybacktohealthandstrength；justatthetimewhenwewereunitedagainandhappyagain——whenamonthortwomoremightmakeusfatherandmother，aswellashusbandandwife——thatfrightfulrecordofsufferingandsinhadrisenagainstuslikeanavengingspirit。Thereitfacedmeonthetable，threateningmyhusband’stranquillity；
nay，forallIknew（ifhereaditatthepresentcriticalstageofhisrecovery）eventhreateninghislife！
Thehourstruckfromtheclockonthemantelpiece。ItwasEustace’stimeforpayingmehismorningvisitinmyownlittleroom。Hemightcomeinatanymoment；hemightseetheletter；hemightsnatchtheletteroutofmyhand。Inafrenzyofterrorandloathing，Icaughtupthevilesheetsofpaperandthrewthemintothefire。
Itwasafortunatethingthatacopyonlyhadbeensenttome。Iftheoriginalletterhadbeeninitsplace，IbelieveIshouldhaveburnedtheoriginalatthatmoment。
Thelastmorselofpaperhadbeenbarelyconsumedbytheflameswhenthedooropened，andEustacecamein。
Heglancedatthefire。Theblackcindersoftheburnedpaperwerestillfloatingatthebackofthegrate。Hehadseentheletterbroughttomeatthebreakfast—table。DidhesuspectwhatIhaddone？Hesaidnothing——hestoodgravelylookingintothefire。Thenheadvancedandfixedhiseyesonme。IsupposeIwasverypale。ThefirstwordshespokewerewordswhichaskedmeifIfeltill。
Iwasdeterminednottodeceivehim，eveninthemeresttrifle。
\"Iamfeelingalittlenervous，Eustace，\"Ianswered；\"thatisall。\"
Helookedatmeagain，asifheexpectedmetosaysomethingmore。Iremainedsilent。Hetookaletteroutofthebreast—pocketofhiscoatandlaiditonthetablebeforeme——justwheretheConfessionhadlainbeforeIdestroyedit！
\"Ihavehadalettertoothismorning，\"hesaid。\"And_I，_
Valeria，havenosecretsfrom_you。_\"
Iunderstoodthereproachwhichmyhusband’slastwordsconveyed；
butImadenoattempttoanswerhim。
\"Doyouwishmetoreadit？\"wasallIsaidpointingtotheenvelopewhichhehadlaidonthetable。
\"IhavealreadysaidthatIhavenosecretsfromyou，\"herepeated。\"Theenvelopeisopen。Seeforyourselfwhatisinclosedinit。\"
Itookout——notaletter，butaprintedparagraph，cutfromaScotchnewspaper。
\"Readit，\"saidEustace。
Ireadasfollows：
\"STRANGEDOINGSATGLENINCH——AromanceinreallifeseemstobeincourseofprogressatMr。Macallan’scountry—house。Privateexcavationsaretakingplace——ifourreaderswillpardonustheunsavoryallusion——atthedust—heap，ofallplacesintheworld！
Somethinghasassuredlybeendiscovered；butnobodyknowswhat。
Thisaloneiscertain：ForweekspasttwostrangersfromLondon（superintendedbyourrespectedfellow—citizen，Mr。Playmore）
havebeenatworknightanddayinthelibraryatGleninch，withthedoorlocked。Willthesecreteverberevealed？AndwillitthrowanylightonamysteriousandshockingeventwhichourreadershavelearnedtoassociatewiththepasthistoryofGleninch？PerhapswhenMr。Macallanreturns，hemaybeabletoanswerthesequestions。Inthemeantimewecanonlyawaitevents。\"
Ilaidthenewspapersliponthetable，innoveryChristianframeofmindtowardthepersonsconcernedinproducingit。SomereporterinsearchofnewshadevidentlybeenpryingaboutthegroundsatGleninch，andsomebusy—bodyintheneighborhoodhadinallprobabilitysentthepublishedparagraphtoEustace。
Entirelyatalosswhattodo，Iwaitedformyhusbandtospeak。
Hedidnotkeepmeinsuspense——hequestionedmeinstantly。
\"Doyouunderstandwhatitmeans，Valeria？\"
Iansweredhonestly——IownedthatIunderstoodwhatitmeant。
Hewaitedagain，asifheexpectedmetosaymore。Istillkepttheonlyrefugelefttome——therefugeofsilence。
\"AmItoknownomorethanIknownow？\"heproceeded，afteraninterval。\"Areyounotboundtotellmewhatisgoingoninmyownhouse？\"
Itisacommonremarkthatpeople，iftheycanthinkatall，thinkquicklyinemergencies。Therewasbutonewayoutoftheembarrassingpositioninwhichmyhusband’slastwordshadplacedme。Myinstinctsshowedmetheway，Isuppose。Atanyrate，I
tookit。
\"Youhavepromisedtotrustme，\"Ibegan。
Headmittedthathehadpromised。
\"Imustaskyou，foryourownsake，Eustace，totrustmeforalittlewhilelonger。Iwillsatisfyyou，ifyouwillonlygivemetime。\"
Hisfacedarkened。\"HowmuchlongermustIwait？\"heasked。
Isawthatthetimehadcomefortryingsomestrongerformofpersuasionthanwords。
\"Kissme，\"Isaid，\"beforeItellyou！\"
Hehesitated（solikeahusband！）。AndIpersisted（solikeawife！）。Therewasnochoiceforhimbuttoyield。Havinggivenmemykiss（notover—graciously），heinsistedoncemoreonknowinghowmuchlongerIwantedhimtowait。
\"Iwantyoutowait，\"Ianswered，\"untilourchildisborn。\"
Hestarted。Myconditiontookhimbysurprise。Igentlypressedhishand，andgavehimalook。Hereturnedthelook（warmlyenough，thistime，tosatisfyme）。\"Sayyouconsent，\"I
whispered。
Heconsented。
SoIputoffthedayofreckoningoncemore。SoIgainedtimetoconsultagainwithBenjaminandMr。Playmore。
WhileEustaceremainedwithmeintheroom，Iwascomposed，andcapableoftalkingtohim。Butwhenheleftme，afteratime，tothinkoverwhathadpassedbetweenus，andtorememberhowkindlyhehadgivenwaytome，myheartturnedpityinglytothoseotherwives（betterwomen，someofthem，thanIam），whosehusbands，undersimilarcircumstances，wouldhavespokenhardwordstothem——wouldperhapsevenhaveactedmorecruellystill。Thecontrastthussuggestedbetweentheirfateandminequiteovercameme。WhathadIdonetodeservemyhappiness？Whathad_they_done，poorsouls，todeservetheirmisery？Mynerveswereoverwrought，IdaresaysafterreadingthedreadfulconfessionofEustace’sfirstwife。Iburstoutcrying——andIwasallthebetterforitafterward！
CHAPTERXLIX。
PASTANDFUTURE。
Iwritefrommemory，unassistedbynotesordiaries；andIhavenodistinctrecollectionofthelengthofourresidenceabroad。
Itcertainlyextendedoveraperiodofsomemonths。LongafterEustacewasstrongenoughtotakethejourneytoLondonthedoctorspersistedinkeepinghiminParis。Hehadshownsymptomsofweaknessinoneofhislungs，andhismedicaladvisers，seeingthatheprosperedinthedryatmosphereofFrance，warnedhimtobecarefulofbreathingtoosoonthemoistairofhisowncountry。
ThusithappenedthatwewerestillinPariswhenIreceivedmynextnewsfromGleninch。
Thistimenoletterspassedoneitherside。Tomysurpriseanddelight，BenjaminquietlymadehisappearanceonemorninginourprettyFrenchdrawing—room。Hewassopreternaturallysmartinhisdress，andsoincomprehensiblyanxious（whilemyhusbandwasintheway）tomakeusunderstandthathisreasonsforvisitingPariswereholidayreasonsonly，thatIatoncesuspectedhimofhavingcrossedtheChannelinadoublecharacter——say，astouristinsearchofpleasure，whenthirdpersonswerepresent；asambassadorfromMr。Playmore，whenheandIhadtheroomtoourselves。
LaterinthedayIcontrivedthatweshouldbelefttogether，andIsoonfoundthatmyanticipationshadnotmisledme。BenjaminhadsetoutforParis，atMr。Playmore’sexpressrequest，toconsultwithmeastothefuture，andtoenlightenmeastothepast。Hepresentedmewithhiscredentialsintheshapeofalittlenotefromthelawyer。
\"Therearesomefewpoints\"（Mr。Playmorewrote）\"whichtherecoveryoftheletterdoesnotseemtoclearup。Ihavedonemybest，withMr。Benjamin’sassistance，tofindtherightexplanationofthesedebatablematters；andIhavetreatedthesubject，forthesakeofbrevity，intheformofQuestionsandAnswers。Willyouacceptmeasinterpreter，afterthemistakesI
madewhenyouconsultedmeinEdinburgh？Events，Iadmit，haveprovedthatIwasentirelywrongintryingtopreventyoufromreturningtoDexter——andpartiallywronginsuspectingDexterofbeingdirectly，insteadofindirectly，answerableforthefirstMrs。Eustace’sdeath。Ifranklymakemyconfession，andleaveyoutotellMr。BenjaminwhetheryouthinkmynewCatechismworthyofexaminationornot。\"
Ithoughthis\"newCatechism\"（ashecalledit）decidedlyworthyofexamination。Ifyoudon’tagreewiththisview，andifyouaredyingtobedonewithmeandmynarrative，passontothenextchapterbyallmeans！
BenjaminproducedtheQuestionsandAnswers；andreadthemtome，atmyrequest，intheseterms：
\"QuestionssuggestedbytheletterdiscoveredatGleninch。FirstGroup：QuestionsrelatingtotheDiary。FirstQuestion：obtainingaccesstoMr。Macallan’sprivatejournal，wasMiserrimusDexterguidedbyanypreviousknowledgeofitscontents？
\"Answer：Itisdoubtfulifhehadanysuchknowledge。TheprobabilitiesarethathenoticedhowcarefullyMr。MacallansecuredhisDiaryfromobservation；thatheinferredtherefromtheexistenceofdangerousdomesticsecretsinthelocked—uppages；andthathespeculatedonusingthosesecretsforhisownpurposewhenhecausedthefalsekeystobemade。
\"SecondQuestion：TowhatmotivearewetoattributeMiserrimusDexter’sinterferencewiththesheriff’sofficers，onthedaywhentheyseizedMr。Macallan’sDiaryalongwithhisotherpapers？
\"Answer：Inreplyingtothisquestion，wemustfirstdojusticetoDexterhimself。Infamouslyaswenowknowhimtohaveacted，themanwasnotadownrightfiend。ThathesecretlyhatedMr。
Macallan，ashissuccessfulrivalintheaffectionsofthewomanheloved——andthathedidallhecouldtoinducetheunhappyladytodesertherhusband——are，inthiscase，factsnottobedenied。
Ontheotherhand，itisfairlytobedoubtedwhetherhewereadditionallycapableofpermittingthefriendwhotrustedhimtobetriedformurder，throughhisfault，withoutmakinganefforttosavetheinnocentman。IthadnaturallyneveroccurredtoMr。
Macallan（beingguiltlessofhiswife’sdeath）todestroyhisDiaryandhisletters，inthefearthattheymightbeusedagainsthim。UntilthepromptandsecretactionoftheFiscaltookhimbysurprise，theideaofhisbeingchargedwiththemurderofhiswifewasanideawhichweknow，fromhisownstatement，hadneverevenenteredhismind。ButDextermusthavelookedatthematterfromanotherpointofview。Inhislastwanderingwords（spokenwhenhismindbrokedown）hereferstotheDiaryintheseterms，’TheDiarywillhanghim；Iwon’thavehimhanged。’Ifhecouldhavefoundhisopportunityofgettingatitintime——orifthesheriff’sofficershadnotbeentooquickforhim——therecanbenoreasonabledoubtthatDexterwouldhavehimselfdestroyedtheDiary，foreseeingtheconsequencesofitsproductionincourt。Sostronglydoesheappeartohavefelttheseconsiderations，thatheevenresistedtheofficersintheexecutionoftheirduty。HisagitationwhenhesentforMr。
Playmoretointerferewaswitnessedbythatgentleman，and（itmaynotbeamisstoadd）wasgenuineagitationbeyonddispute。
\"QuestionsoftheSecondGroup：relatingtotheWife’sConfession。FirstQuestion：WhatpreventedDexterfromdestroyingtheletter，whenhefirstdiscovereditunderthedeadwoman’spillow？
\"Answer：ThesamemotiveswhichledhimtoresisttheseizureoftheDiary，andtogivehisevidenceintheprisoner’sfavorattheTrial，inducedhimtopreservetheletteruntiltheverdictwasknown。Lookingbackoncemoreathislastwords（astakendownbyMr。Benjamin），wemayinferthatiftheverdicthadbeenGuilty，hewouldnothavehesitatedtosavetheinnocenthusbandbyproducingthewife’sconfession。Therearedegreesinallwickedness。Dexterwaswickedenoughtosuppresstheletter，whichwoundedhisvanitybyrevealinghimasanobjectforloathingandcontempt——buthewasnotwickedenoughdeliberatelytoletaninnocentmanperishonthescaffold。Hewascapableofexposingtherivalwhomhehatedtotheinfamyandtortureofapublicaccusationofmurder；but，intheeventofanadverseverdict，heshrankbeforethedirercrueltyoflettinghimbehanged。Reflect，inthisconnection，onwhathemusthavesuffered，villainashewas，whenhefirstreadthewife’sconfession。Hehadcalculatedonunderminingheraffectionforherhusband——andwhitherhadhiscalculationsledhim？Hehaddriventhewomanwhomhelovedtothelastdreadfulrefugeofdeathbysuicide！Givetheseconsiderationstheirdueweight；andyouwillunderstandthatsomelittleredeemingvirtuemightshowitself，astheresultevenof_this_man’sremorse。
\"SecondQuestion：WhatmotiveinfluencedMiserrimusDexter’sconduct，whenMrs。（Valeria）MacallaninformedhimthatsheproposedreopeningtheinquiryintothepoisoningatGleninch？
\"Answer：Inallprobability，Dexter’sguiltyfearssuggestedtohimthathemighthavebeenwatchedonthemorningwhenhesecretlyenteredthechamberinwhichthefirstMrs。Eustacelaydead。Feelingnoscrupleshimselftorestrainhimfromlisteningatdoorsandlookingthroughkeyholes，hewouldbeallthemorereadytosuspectotherpeopleofthesamepractices。Withthisdreadinhim，itwouldnaturallyoccurtohismindthatMrs。
Valeriamightmeetwiththepersonwhohadwatchedhim，andmighthearallthatthepersonhaddiscovered——unlessheledherastrayattheoutsetofherinvestigations。HerownjealoussuspicionsofMrs。Beaulyofferedhimthechanceofeasilydoingthis。Andhewasallthereadiertoprofitbythechance，beinghimselfanimatedbythemosthostilefeelingtowardthatlady。Heknewherastheenemywhodestroyedthedomesticpeaceofthemistressofthehouse；helovedthemistressofthehouse——andhehatedherenemyaccordingly。Thepreservationofhisguiltysecret，andthepersecutionofMrs。Beauly：thereyouhavethegreaterandthelessermotiveofhisconductinhisrelationswithMrs。
Eustacethesecond！\"*
NotebythewriteroftheNarrative：
LookbackforafurtherillustrationofthispointofviewtothesceneatBenjamin’shouse（ChapterXXXV。），whereDexter，inamomentofungovernableagitation，betrayshisownsecrettoValeria。
Benjaminlaiddownhisnotes，andtookoffhisspectacles。
\"Wehavenotthoughtitnecessarytogofurtherthanthis，\"hesaid。\"Isthereanypointyoucanthinkofthatisstillleftunexplained？\"
Ireflected。TherewasnopointofanyimportanceleftunexplainedthatIcouldremember。Buttherewasonelittlematter（suggestedbytherecentallusionstoMrs。Beauly）whichI
wished（ifpossible）tohavethoroughlyclearedup。
\"HaveyouandMr。Playmoreeverspokentogetheronthesubjectofmyhusband’sformerattachmenttoMrs。Beauly？\"Iasked。\"HasMr。
PlaymoreevertoldyouwhyEustacedidnotmarryher，aftertheTrial？\"
\"IputthatquestiontoMr。Playmoremyself，\"saidBenjamin。\"Heanswerediteasilyenough。Beingyourhusband’sconfidentialfriendandadviser，hewasconsultedwhenMr。EustacewrotetoMrs。Beauly，aftertheTrial；andherepeatedthesubstanceoftheletter，atmyrequest。WouldyouliketohearwhatIrememberofit，inmyturn？\"
IownedthatIshouldliketohearit。WhatBenjaminthereupontoldme，exactlycoincidedwithwhatMiserrimusDexterhadtoldme——asrelatedinthethirtiethchapterofmynarrative。Mrs。
Beaulyhadbeenawitnessofthepublicdegradationofmyhusband。Thatwasenoughinitselftopreventhimfrommarryingher：Hebrokeoffwith_her_forthesamereasonwhichhadledhimtoseparatehimselffrom_me。_Existencewithawomanwhoknewthathehadbeentriedforhislifeasamurdererwasanexistencewhichhehadnotresolutionenoughtoface。Thetwoaccountsagreedineveryparticular。Atlastmyjealouscuriositywaspacified；andBenjaminwasfreetodismissthepastfromfurtherconsideration，andtoapproachthemorecriticalandmoreinterestingtopicofthefuture。
HisfirstinquiriesrelatedtoEustace。HeaskedifmyhusbandhadanysuspicionoftheproceedingswhichhadtakenplaceatGleninch。
Itoldhimwhathadhappened，andhowIhadcontrivedtoputofftheinevitabledisclosureforatime。
Myoldfriend’sfaceclearedupashelistenedtome。
\"ThiswillbegoodnewsforMr。Playmore，\"hesaid。\"Ourexcellentfriend，thelawyer，issorelyafraidthatourdiscoveriesmaycompromiseyourpositionwithyourhusband。Ontheonehand，heisnaturallyanxioustospareMr。Eustacethedistresswhichhemustcertainlyfeel，ifhereadhisfirstwife’sconfession。Ontheotherhand，itisimpossible，injustice（asMr。Playmoreputsit）totheunbornchildrenofyourmarriage，tosuppressadocumentwhichvindicatesthememoryoftheirfatherfromtheaspersionthattheScotchVerdictmightotherwisecastonit。\"
Ilistenedattentively。Benjaminhadtouchedonatroublewhichwasstillsecretlypreyingonmymind。
\"HowdoesMr。Playmoreproposetomeetthedifficulty？\"Iasked。
\"Hecanonlymeetitinoneway，\"Benjaminreplied。\"Heproposestosealuptheoriginalmanuscriptoftheletter，andtoaddtoitaplainstatementofthecircumstancesunderwhichitwasdiscovered，supportedbyyoursignedattestationandmine，aswitnessestothefact。Thisdone，hemustleaveittoyoutotakeyourhusbandintoyourconfidence，atyourowntime。ItwillthenbeforMr。Eustacetodecidewhetherhewillopentheinclosure——orwhetherhewillleaveit，withthesealunbroken，asanheirloomtohischildren，tobemadepublicornot，attheirdiscretion，whentheyareofanagetothinkforthemselves。Doyouconsenttothis，mydear？OrwouldyoupreferthatMr。Playmoreshouldseeyourhusband，andactforyouinthematter？\"
Idecided，withouthesitation，totaketheresponsibilityonmyself。WherethequestionofguidingEustace’sdecisionwasconcerned，IconsideredmyinfluencetobedecidedlysuperiortotheinfluenceofMr。Playmore。MychoicemetwithBenjamin’sfullapproval。HearrangedtowritetoEdinburgh，andrelievethelawyer’sanxietiesbythatday’spost。
TheonelastthingnowlefttobesettledrelatedtoourplansforreturningtoEngland。Thedoctorsweretheauthoritiesonthissubject。IpromisedtoconsultthemaboutitattheirnextvisittoEustace。
\"Haveyouanythingmoretosaytome？\"Benjamininquired，asheopenedhiswriting—case。
IthoughtofMiserrimusDexterandAriel；andIinquiredifhehadheardanynewsofthemlately。Myoldfriendsighed，andwarnedmethatIhadtouchedonapainfulsubject。