\"Sofar，\"hesaid，\"Itellyouwhatwastoldtome。Thelittlethatremainstobeaddedlieswithinmyownexperience。BetweentwoandthreemonthsaftertheeventsIhavejustbeenrelating，IsaacScatchardcametome，witheredandold—lookingbeforehistime，justasyousawhimto—day。Hehadhistestimonialstocharacterwithhim，andheaskedforemploymenthere。Knowingthatmywifeandheweredistantlyrelated，Igavehimatrialinconsiderationofthatrelationship，andlikedhiminspiteofhisqueerhabits。Heisassober，honest，andwillingamanasthereisinEngland。Asforhisrestlessnessatnight，andhissleepingawayhisleisuretimeintheday，whocanwonderatitafterhearinghisstory？Besides，heneverobjectstobeingrousedupwhenhe’swanted，sothere’snotmuchinconveniencetocomplainof，afterall。\"
\"Isupposeheisafraidofareturnofthatdreadfuldream，andofwakingoutofitinthedark？\"saidI。
\"No，\"returnedthelandlord。\"Thedreamcomesbacktohimsooftenthathehasgottobearwithitbythistimeresignedlyenough。It’shiswifekeepshimwakingatnightashehasoftentoldme。\"
\"What！Hassheneverbeenheardofyet？\"
\"Never。Isaachimselfhastheoneperpetualthoughtabouther，thatsheisaliveandlookingforhim。Ibelievehewouldn’tlethimselfdropofftosleeptowardtwointhemorningforaking’sransom。Twointhemorning，hesays，isthetimeshewillfindhim，oneofthesedays。Twointhemorningisthetimealltheyearroundwhenhelikestobemostcertainthathehasgotthatclasp—knifesafeabouthim。Hedoesnotmindbeingaloneaslongasheisawake，exceptonthenightbeforehisbirthday，whenhefirmlybelieveshimselftobeinperilofhislife。Thebirthdayhasonlycomeroundoncesincehehasbeenhere，andthenhesatupalongwiththenight—porter。’She’slookingforme，’isallhesayswhenanybodyspeakstohimabouttheoneanxietyofhislife；’she’slookingforme。’Hemayberight。Shemaybelookingforhim。Whocantell？\"
\"Whocantell？\"saidI。
THEFOURTHDAY。
THEskyoncemorecloudyandthreatening。NonewsofGeorge。I
correctedMorgan’ssecondstoryto—day；numbereditSeven，andaddedittoourstock。
Undeterredbytheweather，MissJessiesetoffthismorningonthelongestrideshehadyetundertaken。Shehadheard——throughoneofmybrother’slaborers，Ibelieve——oftheactualexistence，inthisnineteenthcentury，ofnolessapersonagethanaWelshBard，whowastobefoundatadistantfarmhousefarbeyondthelimitsofOwen’sproperty。Theprospectofdiscoveringthisremarkablerelicofpasttimeshurriedheroff，undertheguidanceofherraggedgroom，inahighstateofexcitement，toseeandhearthevenerableman。Shewasawaythewholeday，andforthefirsttimesincehervisitshekeptuswaitingmorethanhalfanhourfordinner。Themomentweallsatdowntotable，sheinformedus，toMorgan’sgreatdelight，thatthebardwasarankimpostor。
\"Why，whatdidyouexpecttosee？\"Iasked。
\"AWelshpatriarch，tobesure，withalongwhitebeard，flowingrobes，andaharptomatch，\"answeredMissJessie。
\"Andwhatdidyoufind？\"
\"Ahighly—respectablemiddle—agedrustic；asmiling，smoothly—shaven，obligingman，dressedinablueswallow—tailedcoat，withbrassbuttons，andexhibitinghisbardiclegsinapairofextremelystout。andcomfortablecorduroytrousers。\"
\"ButhesangoldWelshsongs，surely？\"
\"Sang！I’lltellyouwhathedid。HesatdownonaWindsorchair，withoutaharp；heputhishandsinhispockets，clearedhisthroat，lookedupattheceiling，andsuddenlyburstintoaseriesoftheshrillestfalsettoscreechesIeverheardinmylife。Myownprivateopinionisthathewassufferingfromhydrophobia。Ihavelostallbelief，henceforthandforever，inbards——allbeliefineverything，inshort，exceptyourverydelightfulstoriesandthisremarkablygooddinner。
Endingwiththatsmartdoublefireofcomplimentstoherhosts，theQueenofHeartshonoredusallthreewithasmileofapproval，andtransferredherattentiontoherknifeandfork。
Thenumberdrawnto—nightwasOne。OnexaminationofthePurpleVolume，itprovedtobemyturntoreadagain。
\"Ourstoryto—night，\"Isaid，\"containsthenarrativeofaveryremarkableadventurewhichreallybefellmewhenIwasayoungman。AtthetimeofmylifewhentheseeventshappenedIwasdabblinginliteraturewhenIoughttohavebeenstudyinglaw，andtravelingontheContinentwhenIoughttohavebeenkeepingmytermsatLincoln’sInn。Attheoutsetofthestory，youwillfindthatIrefertothecountyinwhichIlivedinmyyouth，andtoaneighboringfamilypossessingalargeestateinit。ThatcountyissituatedinapartofEnglandfarawayfromTheGlenTower，andthatfamilyisthereforenottobeassociatedwithanypresentorformerneighborsofoursinthispartoftheworld。\"
Aftersayingthesenecessarywordsofexplanation，Iopenedthefirstpage，andbeganthestoryofmyOwnAdventure。IobservedthatmyaudiencestartedalittleasIreadthetitle，whichI
mustadd，inmyowndefense，hadbeenalmostforcedonmychoicebythepeculiarcharacterofthenarrative。Itwas\"MADMONKTON。\"
BROTHERGRIFFITH’SSTORY
ofMADMONKTON
CHAPTERI。
THEMonktonsofWincotAbbeyboreasadcharacterforwantofsociabilityinourcounty。Theyneverwenttootherpeople’shouses，and，exceptingmyfather，andaladyandherdaughterlivingnearthem，neverreceivedanybodyundertheirownroof。
Proudastheyallcertainlywere，itwasnotpride，butdread，whichkeptthemthusapartfromtheirneighbors。Thefamilyhadsufferedforgenerationspastfromthehorribleafflictionofhereditaryinsanity，andthemembersofitshrankfromexposingtheircalamitytoothers，astheymusthaveexposeditiftheyhadmingledwiththebusylittleworldaroundthem。ThereisafrightfulstoryofacrimecommittedinpasttimesbytwooftheMonktons，nearrelatives，fromwhichthefirstappearanceoftheinsanitywasalwayssupposedtodate，butitisneedlessformetoshockanyonebyrepeatingit。Itisenoughtosaythatatintervalsalmosteveryformofmadnessappearedinthefamily，monomaniabeingthemostfrequentmanifestationoftheafflictionamongthem。Ihavetheseparticulars，andoneortwoyettoberelated，frommyfather。
AttheperiodofmyyouthbutthreeoftheMonktonswereleftattheAbbey——Mr。andMrs。MonktonandtheironlychildAlfred，heirtotheproperty。Theoneothermemberofthis，theelderbranchofthefamily，whowasthenalive，wasMr。Monkton’syoungerbrother，Stephen。Hewasanunmarriedman，possessingafineestateinScotland；buthelivedalmostentirelyontheContinent，andborethereputationofbeingashamelessprofligate。ThefamilyatWincotheldalmostaslittlecommunicationwithhimaswiththeirneighbors。
Ihavealreadymentionedmyfather，andaladyandherdaughter，astheonlyprivilegedpeoplewhowereadmittedintoWincotAbbey。
MyfatherhadbeenanoldschoolandcollegefriendofMr。
Monkton，andaccidenthadbroughtthemsomuchtogetherinlaterlifethattheircontinuedintimacyatWincotwasquiteintelligible。IamnotsowellabletoaccountforthefriendlytermsonwhichMrs。Elmslie（theladytowhomIhavealluded）
livedwiththeMonktons。HerlatehusbandhadbeendistantlyrelatedtoMrs。Monkton，andmyfatherwasherdaughter’sguardian。ButeventheseclaimstofriendshipandregardneverseemedtomestrongenoughtoexplaintheintimacybetweenMrs。
ElmslieandtheinhabitantsoftheAbbey。Intimate，however，theycertainlywere，andoneresultoftheconstantinterchangeofvisitsbetweenthetwofamiliesinduetimedeclareditself：Mr。
Monkton’ssonandMrs。Elmslie’sdaughterbecameattachedtoeachother。
Ihadnoopportunitiesofseeingmuchoftheyounglady；Ionlyrememberheratthattimeasadelicate，gentle，lovablegirl，theveryoppositeinappearance，andapparentlyincharacteralso，toAlfredMonkton。Butperhapsthatwasonereasonwhytheyfellinlovewitheachother。Theattachmentwassoondiscovered，andwasfarfrombeingdisapprovedbytheparentsoneitherside。
Inallessentialpointsexceptthatofwealth，theElmslieswerenearlytheequalsoftheMonktons，andwantofmoneyinabridewasofnoconsequencetotheheirofWincot。Alfred，itwaswellknown，wouldsucceedtothirtythousandayearonhisfather’sdeath。
Thus，thoughtheparentsonbothsidesthoughttheyoungpeoplenotoldenoughtobemarriedatonce，theysawnoreasonwhyAdaandAlfredshouldnotbeengagedtoeachother，withtheunderstandingthattheyshouldbeunitedwhenyoungMonktoncameofage，intwoyears’time。Thepersontobeconsultedinthematter，aftertheparents，wasmyfather，inhiscapacityofAda’sguardian。HeknewthatthefamilymiseryhadshownitselfmanyyearsagoinMrs。Monkton，whowasherhusband’scousin。The_illness，_asitwassignificantlycalled，hadbeenpalliatedbycarefultreatment，andwasreportedtohavepassedaway。Butmyfatherwasnottobedeceived。Heknewwherethehereditarytaintstilllurked；heviewedwithhorrorthebarepossibilityofitsreappearingonedayinthechildrenofhisfriend’sonlydaughter；andhepositivelyrefusedhisconsenttothemarriageengagement。
TheresultwasthatthedoorsoftheAbbeyandthedoorsofMrs。
Elmslie’shousewereclosedtohim。ThissuspensionoffriendlyintercoursehadlastedbutaveryshorttimewhenMrs。Monktondied。Herhusband，whowasfondlyattachedtoher，caughtaviolentcoldwhileattendingherfuneral。Thecoldwasneglected，andsettledonhislungs。Inafewmonths’timehefollowedhiswifetothegrave，andAlfredwasleftmasterofthegrandoldAbbeyandthefairlandsthatspreadallaroundit。
AtthisperiodMrs。Elmsliehadtheindelicacytoendeavorasecondtimetoprocuremyfather’sconsenttothemarriageengagement。Herefuseditagainmorepositivelythanbefore。Morethanayearpassedaway。ThetimewasapproachingfastwhenAlfredwouldbeofage。Ireturnedfromcollegetospendthelongvacationathome，andmadesomeadvancestowardbetteringmyacquaintancewithyoungMonkton。Theywereevaded——certainlywithperfectpoliteness，butstillinsuchawayastopreventmefromofferingmyfriendshiptohimagain。AnymortificationImighthavefeltatthispettyrepulseunderordinarycircumstanceswasdismissedfrommymindbytheoccurrenceofarealmisfortuneinourhousehold。Forsomemonthspastmyfather’shealthhadbeenfailing，and，justatthetimeofwhichIamnowwriting，hissonshadtomourntheirreparablecalamityofhisdeath。
Thisevent，throughsomeinformalityorerrorinthelateMr。
Elmslie’swill，leftthefutureofAda’slifeentirelyathermother’sdisposal。Theconsequencewastheimmediateratificationofthemarriageengagementtowhichmyfatherhadsosteadilyrefusedhisconsent。Assoonasthefactwaspubliclyannounced，someofMrs。Elmslie’smoreintimatefriends，whowereacquaintedwiththereportsaffectingtheMonktonfamily，venturedtominglewiththeirformalcongratulationsoneortwosignificantreferencestothelateMrs。Monktonandsomesearchinginquiriesastothedispositionofherson。
Mrs。Elmsliealwaysmetthesepolitehintswithoneboldformofanswer。ShefirstadmittedtheexistenceofthesereportsabouttheMonktonswhichherfriendswereunwillingtospecifydistinctly，andthendeclaredthattheywereinfamouscalumnies。
Thehereditarytainthaddiedoutofthefamilygenerationsback。
Alfredwasthebest，thekindest，thesanestofhumanbeings。Helovedstudyandretirement；Adasympathizedwithhistastes，andhadmadeherchoiceunbiased；ifanymorehintsweredroppedaboutsacrificingherbyhermarriage，thosehintswouldbeviewedassomanyinsultstohermother，whoseaffectionforheritwasmonstroustocallinquestion。Thiswayoftalkingsilencedpeople，butdidnotconvincethem。Theybegantosuspect，whatwasindeedtheactualtruth，thatMrs。Elmsliewasaselfish，worldly，graspingwoman，whowantedtogetherdaughterwellmarried，andcarednothingforconsequencesaslongasshesawAdamistressofthegreatestestablishmentinthewholecounty。
Itseemed，however，asiftherewassomefatalityatworktopreventtheattainmentofMrs。Elmslie’sgreatobjectinlife。
Hardlywasoneobstacletotheill—omenedmarriageremovedbymyfather’sdeathbeforeanothersucceededitintheshapeofanxietiesanddifficultiescausedbythedelicatestateofAda’shealth。Doctorswereconsultedinalldirections，andtheresultoftheiradvicewasthatthemarriagemustbedeferred，andthatMissElmsliemustleaveEnglandforacertaintime，toresideinawarmerclimate——thesouthofFrance，ifIrememberrightly。
ThusithappenedthatjustbeforeAlfredcameofageAdaandhermotherdepartedfortheContinent，andtheunionofthetwoyoungpeoplewasunderstoodtobeindefinitelypostponed。SomecuriositywasfeltintheneighborhoodastowhatAlfredMonktonwoulddounderthesecircumstances。Wouldhefollowhislady—love？wouldhegoyachting？wouldhethrowopenthedoorsoftheoldAbbeyatlast，andendeavortoforgettheabsenceofAdaandthepostponementofhismarriageinaroundofgayeties？Hedidnoneofthesethings。HesimplyremainedatWincot，livingassuspiciouslystrangeandsolitaryalifeashisfatherhadlivedbeforehim。Literally，therewasnownocompanionforhimattheAbbeybuttheoldpriest——theMonktons，Ishouldhavementionedbefore，wereRomanCatholics——whohadheldtheofficeoftutortoAlfredfromhisearliestyears。Hecameofage，andtherewasnotevensomuchasaprivatedinner—partyatWincottocelebratetheevent。Familiesintheneighborhooddeterminedtoforgettheoffensewhichhisfather’sreservehadgiventhem，andinvitedhimtotheirhouses。Theinvitationswerepolitelydeclined。
CivilvisitorscalledresolutelyattheAbbey，andwereasresolutelybowedawayfromthedoorsassoonastheyhadlefttheircards。UnderthiscombinationofsinisterandaggravatingcircumstancespeopleinalldirectionstooktoshakingtheirheadsmysteriouslywhenthenameofMr。AlfredMonktonwasmentioned，hintingatthefamilycalamity，andwonderingpeevishlyorsadly，astheirtempersinclinedthem，whathecouldpossiblydotooccupyhimselfmonthaftermonthinthelonelyoldhouse。
Therightanswertothisquestionwasnoteasytofind。Itwasquiteuseless，forexample，toapplytothepriestforit。Hewasaveryquiet，politeoldgentleman；hisreplieswerealwaysexcessivelyreadyandcivil，andappearedatthetimetoconveyanimmensequantityofinformation；butwhentheycametobereflectedon，itwasuniversallyobservedthatnothingtangiblecouldeverbegotoutofthem。Thehousekeeper，aweirdoldwoman，withaveryabruptandrepellingmanner，wastoofierceandtaciturntobesafelyapproached。Thefewindoorservantshadallbeenlongenoughinthefamilytohavelearnedtoholdtheirtonguesinpublicasaregularhabit。Itwasonlyfromthefarm—servantswhosuppliedthetableattheAbbeythatanyinformationcouldbeobtained，andvagueenoughitwaswhentheycametocommunicateit。
Someofthemhadobservedthe\"youngmaster\"walkingaboutthelibrarywithheapsofdustypapersinhishands。OthershadheardoddnoisesintheuninhabitedpartsoftheAbbey，hadlookedup，andhadseenhimforcingopentheoldwindows，asiftoletlightandairintotheroomssupposedtohavebeenshutcloseforyearsandyears，orhaddiscoveredhimstandingontheperiloussummitofoneofthecrumblingturrets，neverascendedbeforewithintheirmemories，andpopularlyconsideredtobeinhabitedbytheghostsofthemonkswhohadoncepossessedthebuilding。Theresultoftheseobservationsanddiscoveries，whentheywerecommunicatedtoothers，wasofcoursetoimpresseveryonewithafirmbeliefthat\"pooryoungMonktonwasgoingthewaythattherestofthefamilyhadgonebeforehim，\"whichopinionalwaysappearedtobeimmenselystrengthenedinthepopularmindbyaconviction——foundedonnoparticleofevidence——thatthepriestwasatthebottomofallthemischief。
ThusfarIhavespokenfromhearsayevidencemostly。WhatIhavenexttotellwillbetheresultofmyownpersonalexperience。
CHAPTERII。
ABOUTfivemonthsafterAlfredMonktoncameofageIleftcollege，andresolvedtoamuseandinstructmyselfalittlebytravelingabroad。
AtthetimewhenIquittedEnglandyoungMonktonwasstillleadinghissecludedlifeattheAbbey，andwas，intheopinionofeverybody，sinkingrapidly，ifhehadnotalreadysuccumbed，underthehereditarycurseofhisfamily。AstotheElmslies，reportsaidthatAdahadbenefitedbyhersojournabroad，andthatmotheranddaughterwereontheirwaybacktoEnglandtoresumetheiroldrelationswiththeheirofWincot。BeforetheyreturnedIwasawayonmytravels，andwanderedhalfoverEurope，hardlyeverplanningwhitherIshouldshapemycoursebeforehand。
Chance，whichthusledmeeverywhere，ledmeatlasttoNaples。
ThereImetwithanoldschoolfriend，whowasoneofthe_attaches_attheEnglishembassy，andtherebegantheextraordinaryeventsinconnectionwithAlfredMonktonwhichformthemaininterestofthestoryIamnowrelating。
Iwasidlingawaythetimeonemorningwithmyfriendthe_attache_inthegardenoftheVillaReale，whenwewerepassedbyayoungman，walkingalone，whoexchangedbowswithmyfriend。
IthoughtIrecognizedthedark，eagereyes，thecolorlesscheeks，thestrangely—vigilant，anxiousexpressionwhichI
rememberedinpasttimesascharacteristicofAlfredMonkton’sface，andwasabouttoquestionmyfriendonthesubject，whenhegavemeunaskedtheinformationofwhichIwasinsearch。
\"ThatisAlfredMonkton，\"saidhe；\"hecomesfromyourpartofEngland。Yououghttoknowhim。\"
\"Idoknowalittleofhim，\"Ianswered；\"hewasengagedtoMissElmsliewhenIwaslastintheneighborhoodofWincot。Ishemarriedtoheryet？\"
\"No，andheneveroughttobe。Hehasgonethewayoftherestofthefamily——or，inplainerwords，hehasgonemad。\"
\"Mad！ButIoughtnottobesurprisedathearingthat，afterthereportsabouthiminEngland。\"
\"Ispeakfromnoreports；Ispeakfromwhathehassaidanddonebeforeme，andbeforehundredsofotherpeople。Surelyyoumusthaveheardofit？\"
\"Never。IhavebeenoutofthewayofnewsfromNaplesorEnglandformonthspast。\"
\"ThenIhaveaveryextraordinarystorytotellyou。Youknow，ofcourse，thatAlfredhadanuncle，StephenMonkton。Well，sometimeagothisunclefoughtaduelintheRomanStateswithaFrenchman，whoshothimdead。ThesecondsandtheFrenchman（whowasunhurt）tooktoflightindifferentdirections，asitissupposed。Weheardnothinghereofthedetailsofthedueltillamonthafterithappened，whenoneoftheFrenchjournalspublishedanaccountofit，takenfromthepapersleftbyMonkton’ssecond，whodiedatParisofconsumption。Thesepapersstatedthemannerinwhichtheduelwasfought，andhowitterminated，butnothingmore。ThesurvivingsecondandtheFrenchmanhaveneverbeentracedfromthattimetothis。Allthatanybodyknows，therefore，oftheduelisthatStephenMonktonwasshot；aneventwhichnobodycanregret，foragreaterscoundrelneverexisted。Theexactplacewherehedied，andwhatwasdonewiththebodyarestillmysteriesnottobepenetrated。\"
\"ButwhathasallthistodowithAlfred？\"
\"Waitamoment，andyouwillhear。Soonafterthenewsofhisuncle’sdeathreachedEngland，whatdoyouthinkAlfreddid？HeactuallyputoffhismarriagewithMissElmslie，whichwasthenabouttobecelebrated，tocomeouthereinsearchoftheburial—placeofhiswretchedscampofanuncle；andnopoweronearthwillnowinducehimtoreturntoEnglandandtoMissElmslieuntilhehasfoundthebody，andcantakeitbackwithhim，tobeburiedwithalltheotherdeadMonktonsinthevaultunderWincotAbbeyChapel。Hehassquanderedhismoney，pesteredthepolice，andexposedhimselftotheridiculeofthemenandtheindignationofthewomenforthelastthreemonthsintryingtoachievehisinsanepurpose，andisnowasfarfromitasever。
Hewillnotassigntoanybodythesmallestmotiveforhisconduct。Youcan’tlaughhimoutofitorreasonhimoutofit。
Whenwemethimjustnow，Ihappentoknowthathewasonhiswaytotheofficeofthepoliceminister，tosendoutfreshagentstosearchandinquirethroughtheRomanStatesfortheplacewherehisunclewasshot。And，mind，allthistimeheprofessestobepassionatelyinlovewithMissElmslie，andtobemiserableathisseparationfromher。Justthinkofthat！Andthenthinkofhisself—imposedabsencefromherhere，tohuntaftertheremainsofawretchwhowasadisgracetothefamily，andwhomheneversawbutonceortwiceinhislife。Ofallthe’MadMonktons，’astheyusedtocalltheminEngland，Alfredisthemaddest。Heisactuallyourprincipalexcitementinthisdulloperaseason；
though，formyownpart，whenIthinkofthepoorgirlinEngland，Iamagreatdealmorereadytodespisehimthantolaughathim。\"
\"YouknowtheElmsliesthen？\"
\"Intimately。TheotherdaymymotherwrotetomefromEngland，afterhavingseenAda。ThisescapadeofMonkton’shasoutragedallherfriends。Theyhavebeenentreatinghertobreakoffthematch，whichitseemsshecoulddoifsheliked。Evenhermother，sordidandselfishassheis，hasbeenobligedatlast，incommondecency，tosidewiththerestofthefamily；butthegood，faithfulgirlwon’tgiveMonktonup。Shehumorshisinsanity；
declareshegaveheragoodreasoninsecretforgoingaway；saysshecouldalwaysmakehimhappywhentheyweretogetherintheoldAbbey，andcanmakehimstillhappierwhentheyaremarried；
inshort，sheloveshimdearly，andwillthereforebelieveinhimtothelast。Nothingshakesher。Shehasmadeuphermindtothrowawayherlifeonhim，andshewilldoit。\"
\"Ihopenot。Madashisconductlookstous，hemayhavesomesensiblereasonforitthatwecannotimagine。Doeshismindseematalldisorderedwhenhetalksonordinarytopics？\"
\"Notintheleast。Whenyoucangethimtosayanything，whichisnotoften，hetalkslikeasensible，well—educatedman。Keepsilenceabouthispreciouserrandhere，andyouwouldfancyhimthegentlestandmosttemperateofhumanbeings；buttouchthesubjectofhisvagabondofanuncle，andtheMonktonmadnesscomesoutdirectly。Theothernightaladyaskedhim，jestinglyofcourse，whetherhehadeverseenhisuncle’sghost。Hescowledatherlikeaperfectfiend，andsaidthatheandhisunclewouldanswerherquestiontogethersomeday，iftheycamefromhelltodoit。Welaughedathiswords，buttheladyfaintedathislooks，andwehadasceneofhystericsandhartshorninconsequence。Anyothermanwouldhavebeenkickedoutoftheroomfornearlyfrighteningaprettywomantodeathinthatway；but’MadMonkton，’aswehavechristenedhim，isaprivilegedlunaticinNeapolitansociety，becauseheisEnglish，good—looking，andworththirtythousandayear。Hegoesouteverywhereundertheimpressionthathemaymeetwithsomebodywhohasbeenletintothesecretoftheplacewherethemysteriousduelwasfought。Ifyouareintroducedtohimheissuretoaskyouwhetheryouknowanythingaboutit；butbewareoffollowingupthesubjectafteryouhaveansweredhim，unlessyouwanttomakesurethatheisoutofhissenses。Inthatcase，onlytalkofhisuncle，andtheresultwillrathermorethansatisfyyou。\"
Adayortwoafterthisconversationwithmyfriendthe_attache，_ImetMonktonataneveningparty。
Themomentheheardmynamementioned，hisfaceflushedup；hedrewmeawayintoacorner，andreferringtohiscoolreceptionofmyadvanceyearsagotowardmakinghisacquaintance，askedmypardonforwhathetermedhisinexcusableingratitudewithanearnestnessandanagitationwhichutterlyastonishedme。Hisnextproceedingwastoquestionme，asmyfriendhadsaidhewould，abouttheplaceofthemysteriousduel。
Anextraordinarychangecameoverhimwhileheinterrogatedmeonthispoint。Insteadoflookingintomyfaceastheyhadlookedhitherto，hiseyeswanderedaway，andfixedthemselvesintensely，almostfiercely，eitherontheperfectlyemptywallatourside，oronthevacantspacebetweenthewallandourselves，itwasimpossibletosaywhich。IhadcometoNaplesfromSpainbysea，andbrieflytoldhimso，asthebestwayofsatisfyinghimthatI
couldnotassisthisinquiries。Hepursuedthemnofurther；and，mindfulofmyfriend’swarning，Itookcaretoleadtheconversationtogeneraltopics。Helookedbackatmedirectly，and，aslongaswestoodinourcorner，hiseyesneverwanderedawayagaintotheemptywallorthevacantspaceatourside。
Thoughmorereadytolistenthantospeak，hisconversation，whenhedidtalk，hadnotraceofanythingtheleastlikeinsanityaboutit。Hehadevidentlyread，notgenerallyonly，butdeeplyaswell，andcouldapplyhisreadingwithsingularfelicitytotheillustrationofalmostanysubjectunderdiscussion，neitherobtrudinghisknowledgeabsurdly，norconcealingitaffectedly。
Hismannerwasinitselfastandingprotestagainstsuchanicknameas\"MadMonkton。\"Hewassoshy，soquiet，socomposedandgentleinallhisactions，thatattimesIshouldhavebeenalmostinclinedtocallhimeffeminate。Wehadalongtalktogetheronthefirsteveningofourmeeting；weoftensaweachotherafterward，andneverlostasingleopportunityofbetteringour