CHAPTERXLIII。
THEMASTERFULMASSEUSE。
Mynextquotationswillsufferaprocessofabridgment。Iintendthemtopresentthesubstanceofthreeletters，reducedasfollows：
SecondExtract。
Weakashemaybe，Mr。PhilipDunboyneshows（inhissecondletter）thathecanfeelresentment，andthathecanexpresshisfeelings，inreplyingtoMissHelena。Heprotestsagainstsuspicionswhichhehasnotdeserved。ThathedoessometimesthinkofEuniceheseesnoreasontodeny。Heisconsciousoferrorsandmisdeeds，which——traceableastheyaretoHelena’sirresistiblefascinations——mayperhapsbeconsideredratherhismisfortunethanhisfault。Bethatasitmay，hedoesindeedfeelanxioustoheargoodaccountsofEunice’shealth。Ifthishonestavowalexciteshersister’sjealousy，hewillbedisappointedinHelenaforthefirsttime。
Histhirdlettershowsthatthisexhibitionofspirithashaditseffect。
Theimperiousyoungladyregretsthatshehashurthisfeelings，andisrewardedfortheapologybyreceivingnewsofthemostgratifyingkind。FaithfulPhiliphastoldhisfatherthatheisengagedtobemarriedtoMissHelenaGracedieu，daughterofthecelebratedCongregationalpreacher——andsoon，andsoon。HasMr。
Dunboynetheelderexpressedanyobjectiontotheyounglady？
Certainlynot！HeknowsnothingoftheotherengagementtoEunice；andhemerelyobjects，onprinciple，tolookingforward。
\"Howdoweknow，\"saysthephilosopher，\"whataccidentsmayhappen，orwhatdoubtsandhesitationsmayyetturnup？Iamnottoburdenmymindinthismatter，tillIknowthatImustdoit。
Letmehearwhensheisreadytogotochurch，andIwillbereadywiththesettlements。MycomplimentstoMissandherpapa，andletuswaitalittle。\"DearestHelena——isn’thefunny？
Thenextletterhasbeenalreadymentioned。
InthisthereoccursthefirststartlingreferencetoMrs。
Tenbruggen，byname。SheisinLondon，findingherwaytolucrativecelebritybytwisting，turning，andpinchingthefleshofcredulouspersons，afflictedwithnervousdisorders；andshehasalreadypaidafewmedicalvisitstooldMr。Dunboyne。HepersistsinporingoverhisbookswhileMrs。Tenbruggenoperates，sometimesonhiscrampedrighthand，sometimes（inthefearthathisbrainmayhavesomethingtodowithit）onthebackofhisneck。Oneofthemfrownsoverherrubbing，andtheotherfrownsoverhisreading。Itwouldbedelightfullyridiculous，butforadrawback；Mr。PhilipDunboyne’sfirstimpressionsofMrs。
Tenbruggendonotinclinehimtolookatthatladyfromahumorouspointofview。
Helena’sremarksfollow，asusual。ShehasseenMrs。Tenbruggen’snameontheaddressofaletterwrittenbyMissJillgall——whichisquiteenoughtocondemnMrs。Tenbruggen。AsforPhiliphimself，shefeelsnotquitesureofhim，evenyet。NomoredoI。
ThirdExtract。
Theletterthatfollowsmustbepermittedtospeakforitself：
Ihaveflownintoapassion，dearestHelena；andIamafraidI
shallmakeyouflyintoapassion，too。BlameMrs。Tenbruggen；
don’tblameme。
OnthefirstoccasionwhenIfoundmyfatherunderthehandsoftheMedicalRubber，shetooknonoticeofme。Onthesecondoccasion——whenshehadbeenindailyattendanceonhimforaweek，atanexorbitantfee——shesaidinthecoolestmanner：\"Whoisthisyounggentleman？\"Myfatherlaiddownhisbook，foramomentonly：\"Don’tinterruptmeagain，ma’am。TheyounggentlemanismysonPhilip。\"Mrs。TenbruggeneyedmewithanappearanceofinterestwhichIwasatalosstoaccountfor。I
hateanimpudentwoman。Myvisitcamesuddenlytoanend。
ThenexttimeIsawmyfather，hewasalone。
IaskedhimhowhegotonwithMrs。Tenbruggen。Asbadlyaspossible，itappeared。\"Shetakeslibertieswithmyneck；sheinterruptsmeinmyreading；andshedoesmenogood。Ishallend，Philip，inapplyingamedicalrubbingtoMrs。Tenbruggen。\"
Afewdayslater，Ifoundthemasterful\"Masseuse\"torturingthepooroldgentleman’smusclesagain。Shehadtheaudacitytosaytome：\"Well，Mr。Philip，whenareyougoingtomarryMissEuniceGracedieu？\"Myfatherlookedup。\"Eunice？\"herepeated。\"WhenmysontoldmehewasengagedtoMissGracedieu，hesaid’Helena’！
Philip，whatdoesthismean？\"Mrs。Tenbruggenwassoobligingastoanswerforme。\"Somemistake，sir；it’sEuniceheisengagedto。\"IconfessIforgotmyself。\"Howthedevildoyouknowthat？\"
Iburstout。Mrs。Tenbruggenignoredmeandmylanguage。\"Iamsorrytosee，sir，thatyourson’seducationhasbeenneglected；
heseemstobegrosslyignorantofthelawsofpoliteness。\"
\"Nevermindthelawsofpoliteness，\"saysmyfather。\"Youappeartobebetteracquaintedwithmyson’smatrimonialprospectsthanheishimself。Howisthat？\"Mrs。Tenbruggenfavoredhimwithanotherreadyreply：\"Myauthorityisaletter，addressedtomebyarelativeofMr。Gracedieu——mydearandintimatefriend，MissJillgall。\"Myfather’skeeneyestraveledbackwardandforwardbetweenhisfemalesurgeonandhisson。\"WhichamItobelieve？\"
heinquired。\"Iamsurprisedatyouraskingthequestion，\"I
said。Mrs。Tenbruggenpointedtome。\"LookatMr。Philip，sir——andyouwillallowhimonemerit。Heiscapableofshowingit，whenheknowshehasdisgracedhimself。\"Withoutintendingit，Iamsure，myfatherinfuriatedme；helookedasifhebelievedher。OutcameoneofthesmallestandstrongestwordsintheEnglishlanguagebeforeIcouldstopit：\"Mrs。Tenbruggen，youlie！\"TheillustriousRubberdroppedmyfather’shand——shehadbeenoperatingonhimallthetime——andshowedusthatshecouldassertherdignitywhencircumstancescalledfortheexertion：\"EitheryoursonorI，sir，mustleavetheroom。Whichisittobe？\"Shemethermatchinmyfather。Walkingquietlytothedoor，heopeneditforMrs。Tenbruggenwithalowbow。Shestoppedonherwayout，anddeliveredherpartingwords：
\"MessieursDunboyne，fatherandson，Ikeepmytemper，andmerelyregardyouasacoupleofblackguards。\"Withthatprettyassertionofheropinion，sheleftus。
Whenwewerealone，therewasbutonecoursetotake；Imademyconfession。Itisimpossibletotellyouhowmyfatherreceivedit——forhesatdownathislibrarytablewithhisbacktome。Thefirstthinghedidwastoaskmetohelphismemory。
\"Didyousaythatthefatherofthesegirlswasaparson？\"
\"Yes——aCongregationalMinister。\"
\"WhatdoestheMinisterthinkofyou？\"
\"Idon’tknow，sir。\"
\"Findout。\"
Thatwasall；notanotherwordcouldIextractfromhim。Idon’tpretendtohavediscoveredwhathereallyhasinhismind。Ionlyventureonasuggestion。Ifthereisanyoldfriendinyourtown，whohassomeinfluenceoveryourfather，leavenomeansuntriedofgettingthatfriendtosayakindwordforus。Andthenaskyourfathertowritetomine。Thisis，asIseeit，ouronlychance。
Theretheletterends。Helena’snotesonitshowthatherprideisfiercelyinterestedinsecuringPhilipasahusband。HervictoryoverpoorEunicewill，assheplainlyintimates，beonlycompletewhensheismarriedtoyoungDunboyne。Fortherest，herdesperateresolutiontowinherwaytomygoodgracesissufficientlyintelligible，now。
Myownimpressionsvary。Philiprathergainsuponme；heappearstohavesomecapacityforfeelingashamedofhimself。Ontheotherhand，IregardthediscoveryofanintimatefriendshipexistingbetweenMrs。TenbruggenandMissJillgallwiththegloomiestviews。IsthisformidableMasseuselikelytoplyhertradeinthecountrytowns？Andisitpossiblethatshemaycometothistown？Godforbid！
Oftheotherlettersinthecollection，Ineedtakenospecialnotice。IreturnedthewholecorrespondencetoHelena，andwaitedtohearfromher。
TheonerecenteventinMr。Gracedieu’sfamily，worthyofrecord，isofamelancholynature。Afterpayinghisvisitto—day，thedoctorhasleftwordthatnobodybutthenurseistogoneartheMinister。Thisseemstoindicate，buttoosurely，achangefortheworse。
HelenahasbeenawayalltheeveningattheGirls’School。Sheleftalittlenote，informingmeofherwishes：\"Ishallexpecttobefavoredwithyourdecisionto—morrowmorning，inmyhousekeepingroom。\"
Atbreakfasttime，thereportofthepoorMinisterwasstilldiscouraging。InoticedthatHelenawasabsentfromthetable。
MissJillgallsuspectedthatthecausewasbadnewsfromMr。
PhilipDunboyne，arrivingbythatmorning’spost。\"Ifyouwillexcusetheuseofstronglanguagebyalady，\"shesaid，\"Helenalookedperfectlydevilishwhensheopenedtheletter。Sherushedaway，andlockedherselfupinherownshabbyroom。Aseriousobstacle，asIsuspect，inthewayofhermarriage。Cheering，isn’tit？\"Asusual，goodSelinaexpressedhersentimentswithoutreserve。
Ihadtokeepmyappointment；andthesoonerHelenaGracedieuandIunderstoodeachotherthebetter。
Iknockedatthedoor。Itwasloudlyunlocked，andviolentlythrownopen。Helena’stemperhadrisentoboilingheat；shestammeredwithragewhenshespoketome。
\"Imeantocometothepointatonce，\"shesaid。
\"Iamgladtohearit，MissHelena。\"
\"MayIcountonyourinfluencetohelpme？Iwantapositiveanswer。\"
Igaveherwhatshewanted。Isaid：\"Certainlynot。\"
Shetookacrumpledletterfromherpocket，openedit，andsmootheditoutonthetablewithablowofheropenhand。
\"Lookatthat，\"shesaid。
Ilooked。ItwastheletteraddressedtoMr。Dunboynetheelder，whichIhadwrittenforMr。Gracedieu——withtheoneobjectofpreventingHelena’smarriage。
\"Ofcourse，Icandependonyoutotellmethetruth？\"shecontinued。
\"Withoutfearorfavor，\"Ianswered，\"youmaydependon_that。_\"
\"Thesignaturetotheletter，Mr。Governor，iswrittenbymyfather。Buttheletteritselfisinadifferenthand。Doyou，byanychance，recognizethewriting？\"
\"Ido。\"
\"Whosewritingisit？\"
\"Mine。\"
CHAPTERXLIV。
THERESURRECTIONOFTHEPAST。
AFTERhavingidentifiedmyhandwriting，IwaitedwithsomecuriositytoseewhetherHelenawouldletherangerhonestlyshowitself，orwhethershewouldkeepitdown。Shekeptitdown。
\"Allowmetoreturngoodforevil。\"（Theevilwasuppermost，nevertheless，whenMissGracedieuexpressedherselfintheseself—denyingterms。）\"YouarenodoubtanxioustoknowifPhilip’sfatherhasbeenwonovertoserveyourpurpose。HereisPhilip’sownaccountofit：thelastofhislettersthatIshalltroubleyoutoread。\"
Ilookeditover。ThememorandumfollowswhichImadeformyownuse：
Aneccentricphilosopherisascapableasthemostcommonplacehumanbeinginexistenceofbehavinglikeanhonorableman。Mr。
DunboynereadtheletterwhichboretheMinister’ssignature，andhandedittohisson。\"Canyouanswerthat？\"wasallhesaid。
Philip’ssilenceconfessedthathewasunabletoanswerit——andPhiliphimself，Imayadd，roseaccordinglyinmyestimation。Hisfatherpointedtothewriting—desk。\"Imustsparemycrampedhand，\"thephilosopherresumed，\"andImustanswerMr。
Gracedieu’sletter。Write，andleaveaplaceformysignature。\"
Hebegantodictatehisreply。\"Sir——MysonPhiliphasseenyourletter，andhasnodefensetomake。InthisrespecthehassetanexampleofcandorwhichIproposetofollow。Thereisnoexcuseforhim。WhatIcandotoshowthatIfeelforyou，andagreewithyou，shallbedone。Attheagewhichthisyoungmanhasreached，thelawsofEnglandabolishtheauthorityofhisfather。
Ifheissufficientlyinfatuatedtoplacehishonorandhishappinessatthemercyofalady，whohasbehavedtohersisterasyourdaughterhasbehavedtoMissEunice，Iwarnthemarriedcouplenottoexpectafarthingofmymoney，eitherduringmylifetimeoraftermydeath。Yourfaithfulservant，DUNBOYNE，SENIOR。\"Havingperformedhisdutyassecretary，Philipreceivedhisdismissal：\"Youmaysendmyreplytothepost，\"hisfathersaid；\"andyoumaykeepMr。Gracedieu’sletter。Morallyspeaking，Iregardthatlastdocumentasaspeciesofmirror，inwhichayounggentlemanlikeyourselfmayseehowuglyhelooks。\"This，Philipdeclared，washisfather’sformoffarewell。
IhandedbackthelettertoHelena。Notawordpassedbetweenus。
Insinistersilencesheopenedthedoorandleftmealoneintheroom。
ThatMrs。GracedieuandIhadmetinthebygonetime，and——thiswastheonlyseriouspartofit——hadmetinsecret，wouldnowbemadeknowntotheMinister。WasItoblameforhavingshrunkfromdistressingmygoodfriend，bytellinghimthathiswifehadprivatelyconsultedmeonthemeansofremovinghisadoptedchildfromhishouse？And，evenifIhadbeencruelenoughtodothis，wouldhehavebelievedmystatementagainstthepositivedenialwithwhichthewomanwhomhelovedandtrustedwouldhavecertainlymetit？No！lettheconsequencesofthecomingdisclosurebewhattheymight，Ifailedtoseeanyvalidreasonforregrettingmyconductinthepasttime。
IfoundMissJillgallwaitinginthepassagetoseemecomeout。
BeforeIcouldtellherwhathadhappened，therewasaringatthehouse—bell。ThevisitorprovedtobeMr。Wellwood，thedoctor。IwasanxioustospeaktohimonthesubjectofMr。
Gracedieu’shealth。MissJillgallintroducedme，asanoldanddearfriendoftheMinister，andleftustogetherinthedining—room。
\"WhatdoIthinkofMr。Gracedieu？\"hesaid，repeatingthefirstquestionthatIput。\"Well，sir，Ithinkbadlyofhim。\"
Enteringintodetails，afterthatominousreply，Mr。Wellwooddidnothesitatetosaythathispatient’snerveswerecompletelyshattered。Diseaseofthebrainhad，ashefeared，beenalreadysetup。\"Astothecauseswhichhaveproducedthislamentablebreak—down，\"thedoctorcontinued，\"Mr。GracedieuhasbeeninthehabitofpreachingextemporetwiceadayonSundays，andsometimesintheweekaswell——andhasuniformlyrefusedtosparehimselfwhenhewasinmosturgentneedofrest。Ifyouhaveeverattendedhischapel，youhaveseenamaninastateoffieryenthusiasm，feelingintenselyeverywordthatheutters。Thinkofsuchexhaustionasthatimpliesgoingonforyearstogether，andaccumulatingitswastinginfluencesonasensitivelyorganizedconstitution。Addthatheistormentedbypersonalanxieties，whichheconfessestonoone，noteventohisownchildrenandthesumofitallisthataworsecaseofitskind，Iamgrievedtosay，hasneveroccurredinmyexperience。\"
Beforethedoctorleftmetogotohispatient，Iaskedleavetooccupyaminutemoreofhistime。Myobjectwas，ofcourse，tospeakaboutEunice。
ThechangeofsubjectseemedtobeagreeabletoMr。Wellwood。Hesmiledgood—humoredly。
\"Youneedfeelnoalarmaboutthehealthofthatinterestinggirl，\"hesaid。\"Whenshecomplainedtome——atherage！——ofnotbeingabletosleep，IshouldhavetakenitmoreseriouslyifI
hadbeentoldthatshetoohadhertroubles，poorlittlesoul。
Love—troubles，mostlikely——butdon’tforgetthatmyprofessionallimitskeepmeinthedark！Haveyouheardthatshetooksomecomposingmedicine，whichIhadprescribedforherfather？Theeffect（certain，inanycase，tobeinjurioustoayounggirl）
wasconsiderablyaggravatedbythestateofhermindatthetime。
Adreamthatfrightenedher，andsomethingresemblingdelirium，seemstohavefollowed。Andshemademattersworse，poorchild，bywritinginherdiaryaboutthevisionsandsupernaturalappearancesthathadterrifiedher。Iwasafraidoffever，onthedaywhentheyfirstsentforme。Weescapedthatcomplication，andIwasatlibertytotrythebestofallremedies——quietandchangeofair。IhavenofearsforMissEunice。\"
WiththatcheeringreplyhewentuptotheMinister’sroom。
AllthatIhadfoundperplexinginEunicewasnowmadeclear。I
understoodhowheragonyatthelossofherlover，andherkeensenseofthewrongthatshehadsuffered，hadbeenstrengthenedintheirdisastrousinfluencebyherexperimentonthesleepingdraughtintendedforherfather。Inmindandbody，both，thepoorgirlwasintheconditionwhichoffereditsopportunitytothelurkinghereditarytaint。Itwasterribletothinkofwhatmighthavehappened，iftheall—powerfulcounter—influencehadnotbeenpresenttosaveher。
BeforeIhadbeenlongalonetheservant—maidcamein，andsaidthedoctorwantedtoseeme。
Mr。Wellwoodwaswaitinginthepassage，outsidetheMinister’sbedchamber。Heaskedifhecouldspeaktomewithoutinterruption，andwithoutthefearofbeingoverheard。IledhimatoncetotheroomwhichIoccupiedasaguest。
\"AttheverytimewhenitismostimportanttokeepMr。Gracedieuquiet，\"hesaid，\"somethinghashappenedtoexcite——Imightalmostsaytoinfuriatehim。Hehaslefthisbed，andiswalkingupanddowntheroom；and，Idon’tscrupletosay，heisonthevergeofmadness。Heinsistsonseeingyou。Beingwhollyunabletocontrolhiminanyotherway，Ihaveconsentedtothis。ButI
mustnotallowyoutoplaceyourselfinwhatmaybeadisagreeableposition，withoutawordofwarning。Judgingbyhistonesandhislooks，heseemstohavenoveryfriendlymotiveforwishingtoseeyou。\"
Knowingperfectlywellwhathadhappened，andbeingoneofthoseimpatientpeoplewhocanneverenduresuspense——IofferedtogoatoncetoMr。Gracedieu’sroom。Thedoctoraskedleavetosayonewordmore。
\"Praybecarefulthatyouneithersaynordoanythingtothwarthim，\"Mr。Wellwoodresumed。\"Ifheexpressesanopinion，agreewithhim。Ifheisinsolentandoverbearing，don’tanswerhim。Inthestateofhisbrain，theonehopefulcoursetotakeistolethimhavehisownway。Prayrememberthat。Iwillbewithincall，incaseofyourwantingme。\"
CHAPTERXLV。
THEFATALPORTRAIT。
IKNOCKEDatthebedroomdoor。
\"Who’sthere？\"
Onlytwowords——butthevoicethatutteredthem，hoarseandperemptory，wasalteredalmostbeyondrecognition。IfIhadnotknownwhoseroomitwas，ImighthavedoubtedwhethertheMinisterhadreallyspokentome。
AttheinstantwhenIansweredhim，Iwasallowedtopassin。
Havingadmittedme，heclosedthedoor，andplacedhimselfwithhisbackagainstit。Thecustomarypallorofhisfacehaddarkenedtoadeepred；therewasanexpressionofferociousmockeryinhiseyes。Helena’svengeancehadhurtherunhappyfatherfarmoreseverelythanitseemedlikelytohurtme。Thedoctorhadsaidhewasonthevergeofmadness。Tomythinking，hehadalreadypassedtheboundaryline。
Hereceivedmewithaboisterousaffectationofcordiality。
\"Myexcellentfriend！Myadmirable，honorable，welcomeguest，youdon’tknowhowgladIamtoseeyou。Standalittlenearertothelight；Iwanttoadmireyou。\"
Rememberingthedoctor’sadvice，Iobeyedhiminsilence。
\"Ah，youwereahandsomefellowwhenIfirstknewyou，\"hesaid，\"andyouhavesomeremainsofitstillleft。Doyourememberthetimewhenyouwereafavoritewiththeladies？Oh，don’tpretendtobemodest；don’tturnyourback，nowyouareold，onwhatyouwereintheprimeofyourlife。DoyouownthatIamright？\"
Whathisobjectmightbeinsayingthis——if，indeed，hehadanobject——itwasimpossibletoguess。Thedoctor’sadviceleftmenoalternative；Ihastenedtoownthathewasright。AsImadethatanswer，Iobservedthatheheldsomethinginhishandwhichwashalfhiddenupthesleeveofhisdressing—gown。WhatthenatureoftheobjectwasIfailedtodiscover。
\"AndwhenIhappenedtospeakofyousomewhere，\"hewenton，\"I
forgetwhere——amemberofmycongregation——Idon’trecollectwhoitwas——toldmeyouwereconnectedwiththearistocracy。Howwereyouconnected？\"
Hesurprisedme；but，howeverhehadgothisinformation，hehadnotbeendeceived。ItoldhimthatIwasconnected，throughmymother，withthefamilytowhichhehadalluded。
\"Thearistocracy！\"herepeated。\"Araceofpeoplewhoarerichwithoutearningtheirmoney，andnoblebecausetheirgreat—grandfatherswerenoblebeforethem。Theyliveinidlenessandluxury——profligateswhogratifytheirpassionswithoutshameandwithoutremorse。Deny，ifyoudare，thatthisisatruedescriptionofthem。\"
Itwasreallypitiable。Heartilysorryforhim，Ipacifiedhimagain。
\"Anddon’tsupposeIforgetthatyouareoneofthem。Doyouhearme，mynoblefriend？\"
Therewasnohelpforit——Imadeanotherconciliatoryreply。
\"Sofar，\"heresumed，\"Idon’tcomplainofyou。Youhavenotattemptedtodeceiveme——yet。AbsolutesilenceiswhatIrequirenext。Thoughyoumaynotsuspectit，mymindisinaferment；I
musttrytothink。\"
Tosomeextentatleast，histhoughtsbetrayedthemselvesinhisactions。HeputtheobjectthatIhadhalfseeninhishandintothepocketofhisdressing—gown，andmovedtothetoilet—table。
Openingoneofthedrawers，hetookfromitafoldedsheetofpaper，andcamebacktome。
\"AministeroftheGospel，\"hesaid，\"isasacredman，andhasahorrorofcrime。Youaresafe，sofar——providedyouobeyme。I
haveasolemnandterribledutytoperform。Thisisnottherightplaceforit。Followmedownstairs。\"
Heledthewayout。Thedoctor，waitinginthepassage，wasnotnearthestairs，andsoescapednotice。\"Whatisit？\"Mr。W
ellwoodwhispered。Inthesameguardedway，Isaid：\"Hehasnottoldmeyet；Ihavebeencarefulnottoirritatehim。\"Whenwedescendedthestairs，thedoctorfollowedusatasafedistance。
HemendedhispacewhentheMinisteropenedthedoorofthestudy，andwhenhesawusbothpassin。Beforehecouldfollow，thedoorwasclosedandlockedinhisface。Mr。Gracedieutookoutthekeyandthrewitthroughtheopenwindow，intothegardenbelow。
Turningbackintotheroom，helaidthefoldedsheetofpaperonthetable。Thatdone，hespoketome。
\"Idistrustmyownweakness，\"hesaid。\"Adreadfulnecessityconfrontsme——Imightshrinkfromthehorrididea，and，ifI
couldopenthedoor，mighttrytogetaway。Escapeisimpossiblenow。Weareprisonerstogether。Butdon’tsupposethatwearealone。Thereisathirdpersonpresent，whowilljudgebetweenyouandme。Lookthere！\"
Hepointedsolemnlytotheportraitofhiswife。Itwasasmallpicture，verysimplyframed；representingthefaceina\"three—quarter\"view，andpartofthefigureonly。Asaworkofartitwascontemptible；but，asalikeness，itanswereditspurpose。Myunhappyfriendstoodbeforeit，inanattitudeofdejection，coveringhisfacewithhishands。
Intheintervalofsilencethatfollowed，Iwasremindedthatanunseenfriendwaskeepingwatchoutside。
Alarmedbyhavingheardthekeyturnedinthelock，andrealizingtheembarrassmentofthepositioninwhichIwasplaced，thedoctorhaddiscoveredadiscreetwayofcommunicatingwithme。Heslippedoneofhisvisiting—cardsunderthedoor，withthesewordswrittenonit：\"HowcanIhelpyou？\"
Itookthepencilfrommypocketbook，andwroteontheblanksideofthecard：\"Hehasthrownthekeyintothegarden；lookforitunderthewindow。\"AglanceattheMinister，beforeIreturnedmyreply，showedthathisattitudewasunchanged。Withoutbeingseenorsuspected，I，inmyturn，slippedthecardunderthedoor。
Theslowminutesfollowedeachother——andstillnothinghappened。
Myanxietytoseehowthedoctor’ssearchforthekeywassucceeding，temptedmetoapproachthewindow。Onmywaytoit，thetailofmycoatthrewdownalittletraycontainingpensandpencils，whichhadbeenleftclosetotheedgeofthetable。
Slightasthenoiseofthefallwas，itdisturbedMr。Gracedieu。
Helookedroundvacantly。
\"Ihavebeencomfortedbyprayer，\"hetoldme。\"TheweaknessofpoorhumanityhasfoundstrengthintheLord。\"Hepointedtotheportraitoncemore：\"Myhandsmustnotpresumetotouchit，whileIamstillindoubt。Takeitdown。\"
Iremovedthepictureandplacedit，byhisdirections，onachairthatstoodmidwaybetweenus。Tomysurprisehistonesfaltered；Isawtearsrisinginhiseyes。\"Youmaythinkyouseeapicturethere，\"hesaid。\"Youarewrong。Youseemywifeherself。Standhere，andlookatmywifewithme。\"
Westoodtogether，withoureyesfixedontheportrait。
Withoutanythingsaidordoneonmyparttoirritatehim，hesuddenlyturnedtomeinastateoffuriousrage。\"Notasignofsorrow！\"heburstout。\"Notablushofshame！Wretch，youstandcondemnedbytheatrociouscomposurethatIseeinyourface！\"
AfirstdiscoveryoftheodioussuspicionofwhichIwastheobject，dawnedonmymindatthatmoment。Mycapacityforrestrainingmyselfcompletelyfailedme。Ispoketohimasifhehadbeenanaccountablebeing。\"Onceforall，\"Isaid，\"tellmewhatIhavearighttoknow。Yoususpectmeofsomething。Whatisit？\"