Hisfaceflushedalloverinaninstant。\"Ithinkitaninspiration！\"hecried。\"Notadayistobelostincarryingoutourplan。Thepolicearenottobetrustedwithit。Imuststartmyselfto—morrowmorning；andyou——\"
Hestopped；hisfacegrewsuddenlypale；hesighedheavily；hiseyeswanderedoncemoreintothefixedlookatvacancy；andtherigid，deathlyexpressionfastenedagainuponallhisfeatures。
\"ImusttellyoumysecretbeforeItalkofto—morrow，\"heproceeded，faintly。\"IfIhesitatedanylongeratconfessingeverything，Ishouldbeunworthyofyourpastkindness，unworthyofthehelpwhichitismylasthopethatyouwillgladlygivemewhenyouhaveheardall。\"
Ibeggedhimtowaituntilhewasmorecomposed，untilhewasbetterabletospeak；buthedidnotappeartonoticewhatI
said。Slowly，andstrugglingasitseemedagainsthimself，heturnedalittleawayfromme，and，bendinghisheadoverthetable，supporteditonhishand。ThepacketofletterswithwhichIhadseenhimoccupiedwhenIcameinlayjustbeneathhiseyes。
Helookeddownonitsteadfastlywhenhenextspoketome。
CHAPTERIV。
\"Youwereborn，Ibelieve，inourcounty，\"hesaid；\"perhaps，therefore，youmayhaveheardatsometimeofacuriousoldprophecyaboutourfamily，whichisstillpreservedamongthetraditionsofWincotAbbey？\"
\"Ihaveheardofsuchaprophecy，\"Ianswered，\"butIneverknewinwhattermsitwasexpressed。Itprofessedtopredicttheextinctionofyourfamily，orsomethingofthatsort，diditnot？\"
\"Noinquiries，\"hewenton，\"havetracedbackthatprophecytothetimewhenitwasfirstmade；noneofourfamilyrecordstellusanythingofitsorigin。Oldservantsandoldtenantsofoursremembertohavehearditfromtheirfathersandgrandfathers。
Themonks，whomwesucceededintheAbbeyinHenrytheEighth’stime，gotknowledgeofitinsomeway，forImyselfdiscoveredtherhymes，inwhichweknowtheprophecytohavebeenpreservedfromaveryremoteperiod，writtenonablankleafofoneoftheAbbeymanuscripts。Thesearetheverses，ifversestheydeservetobecalled：
WheninWincotvaultaplaceWaitsforoneofMonkton’srace——
WhenthatoneforlornshalllieGravelessunderopensky，Beggaredofsixfeetofearth，Thoughlordofacresfromhisbirth——ThatshallbeacertainsignOftheendofMonkton’sline。Dwindlingeverfaster，faster，Dwindlingtothelast—leftmaster；Frommortalken，fromlightofday，Monkton’sraceshallpassaway。\"
\"Thepredictionseemsalmostvagueenoughtohavebeenutteredbyanancientoracle，\"saidI，observingthathewaited，afterrepeatingtheverses，asifexpectingmetosaysomething。
\"Vagueornot，itisbeingaccomplished，\"hereturned。\"Iamnowthe’last—leftmaster’——thelastofthatelderlineofourfamilyatwhichthepredictionpoints；andthecorpseofStephenMonktonisnotinthevaultsofWincotAbbey。Waitbeforeyouexclaimagainstme。Ihavemoretosayaboutthis。LongbeforetheAbbeywasours，whenwelivedintheancientmanor—housenearit（theveryruinsofwhichhavelongsincedisappeared），thefamilyburying—placewasinthevaultundertheAbbeychapel。Whetherinthoseremotetimesthepredictionagainstuswasknownanddreadedornot，thismuchiscertain：everyoneoftheMonktons（whetherlivingattheAbbeyoronthesmallerestateinScotland）wasburiedinWincotvault，nomatteratwhatriskorwhatsacrifice。Inthefiercefightingdaysoftheoldentime，thebodiesofmyancestorswhofellinforeignplaceswererecoveredandbroughtbacktoWincot，thoughitoftencostnotheavyransomonly，butdesperatebloodshedaswell，toobtainthem。Thissuperstition，ifyoupleasetocallitso，hasneverdiedoutofthefamilyfromthattimetothepresentday；forcenturiesthesuccessionofthedeadinthevaultattheAbbeyhasbeenunbroken——absolutelyunbroken——untilnow。TheplacementionedinthepredictionaswaitingtobefilledisStephenMonkton’splace；thevoicethatcriesvainlytotheearthforshelteristhespirit—voiceofthedead。AssurelyasifIsawit，Iknowthattheyhavelefthimunburiedonthegroundwherehefell！\"
HestoppedmebeforeIcouldutterawordinremonstrancebyslowlyrisingtohisfeet，andpointinginthesamedirectiontowardwhichhiseyeshadwanderedashorttimesince。
\"Icanguesswhatyouwanttoaskme，\"heexclaimed，sternlyandloudly；\"youwanttoaskmehowIcanbemadenoughtobelieveinadoggerelprophecyutteredinanageofsuperstitiontoawethemostignoranthearers。Ianswer\"（atthosewordshisvoicesanksuddenlytoawhisper），\"Ianswer，because_StephenMonktonhimselfstandsthereatthismomentconfirmingmeinmybelief_。\"
Whetheritwastheaweandhorrorthatlookedoutghastlyfromhisfaceasheconfrontedme，whetheritwasthatIhadneverhithertofairlybelievedinthereportsabouthismadness，andthattheconvictionoftheirtruthnowforceditselfuponmeonasudden，Iknownot，butIfeltmybloodcurdlingashespoke，andIknewinmyownheart，asIsattherespeechless，thatIdarenotturnroundandlookwherehewasstillpointingcloseatmyside。
\"Iseethere，\"hewenton，inthesamewhisperingvoice，\"thefigureofadark—complexionedmanstandingupwithhisheaduncovered。Oneofhishands，stillclutchingapistol，hasfallentohisside；theotherpressesabloodyhandkerchiefoverhismouth。Thespasmofmortalagonyconvulseshisfeatures；butI
knowthemforthefeaturesofaswarthymanwhotwicefrightenedmebytakingmeupinhisarmswhenIwasachildatWincotAbbey。Iaskedthenursesatthetimewhothatmanwas，andtheytoldmeitwasmyuncle，StephenMonkton。Plainly，asifhestoodthereliving，Iseehimnowatyourside，withthedeath—glareinhisgreatblackeyes；andsohaveIeverseenhim，sincethemomentwhenhewasshot；athomeandabroad，wakingorsleeping，dayandnight，wearealwaystogether，whereverIgo！\"
Hiswhisperingtonessankintoalmostinaudiblemurmuringashepronouncedtheselastwords。Fromthedirectionandexpressionofhiseyes，Isuspectedthathewasspeakingtotheapparition。IfIhadbehelditmyselfatthatmoment，itwouldhavebeen，I
think，alesshorriblesighttowitnessthantoseehim，asIsawhimnow，mutteringinarticulatelyatvacancy。MyownnervesweremoreshakenthanIcouldhavethoughtpossiblebywhathadpassed。Avaguedreadofbeingnearhiminhispresentmoodcameoverme，andImovedbackasteportwo。
Henoticedtheactioninstantly。
\"Don’tgo！pray——praydon’tgo！HaveIalarmedyou？Don’tyoubelieveme？Dothelightsmakeyoureyesache？IonlyaskedyoutositintheglareofthecandlesbecauseIcouldnotbeartoseethelightthatalwaysshinesfromthephantomthereatduskshiningoveryouasyousatintheshadow。Don’tgo——don’tleavemeyet！\"
Therewasanutterforlornness，anunspeakablemiseryinhisfaceashespokethesewords，whichgavemebackmyself—possessionbythesimpleprocessoffirstmovingmetopity。Iresumedmychair，andsaidthatIwouldstaywithhimaslongashewished。
\"Thankyouathousandtimes。Youarepatienceandkindnessitself，\"hesaid，goingbacktohisformerplaceandresuminghisformergentlenessofmanner。\"NowthatIhavegotovermyfirstconfessionofthemiserythatfollowsmeinsecretwhereverIgo，IthinkIcantellyoucalmlyallthatremainstobetold。Yousee，asIsaid，myUncleStephen\"heturnedawayhisheadquickly，andlookeddownatthetableasthenamepassedhislips——\"myUncleStephencametwicetoWincotwhileIwasachild，andonbothoccasionsfrightenedmedreadfully。Heonlytookmeupinhisarmsandspoketome——verykindly，asIafterwardheard，for_him_——butheterrifiedme，nevertheless。PerhapsIwasfrightenedathisgreatstature，hisswarthycomplexion，andhisthickblackhairandmustache，asotherchildrenmighthavebeen；perhapsthemeresightofhimhadsomestrangeinfluenceonmewhichIcouldnotthenunderstandandcannotnowexplain。Howeveritwas，Iusedtodreamofhimlongafterhehadgoneaway，andtofancythathewasstealingonmetocatchmeupinhisarmswheneverIwasleftinthedark。
Theservantswhotookcareofmefoundthisout，andusedtothreatenmewithmyUncleStephenwheneverIwasperverseanddifficulttomanage。AsIgrewup，Istillretainedmyvaguedreadandabhorrenceofourabsentrelative。Ialwayslistenedintently，yetwithoutknowingwhy，wheneverhisnamewasmentionedbymyfatherormymother——listenedwithanunaccountablepresentimentthatsomethingterriblehadhappenedtohim，orwasabouttohappentome。ThisfeelingonlychangedwhenIwasleftaloneintheAbbey；andthenitseemedtomergeintotheeagercuriositywhichhadbeguntogrowonme，ratherbeforethattime，abouttheoriginoftheancientprophecypredictingtheextinctionofourrace。Areyoufollowingme？\"
\"Ifolloweverywordwiththeclosestattention。\"
\"Youmustknow，then，thatIhadfirstfoundoutsomefragmentsoftheoldrhymeinwhichtheprophecyoccursquotedasacuriosityinanantiquarianbookinthelibrary。Onthepageoppositethisquotationhadbeenpastedarudeoldwood—cut，representingadark—hairedman，whosefacewassostrangelylikewhatIrememberedofmyUncleStephenthattheportraitabsolutelystartledme。WhenIaskedmyfatheraboutthis——itwasthenjustbeforehisdeath——heeitherknew，orpretendedtoknow，nothingofit；andwhenIafterwardmentionedthepredictionhefretfullychangedthesubject。ItwasjustthesamewithourchaplainwhenIspoketohim。Hesaidtheportraithadbeendonecenturiesbeforemyunclewasborn，andcalledtheprophecydoggerelandnonsense。Iusedtoarguewithhimonthelatterpoint，askingwhyweCatholics，whobelievedthatthegiftofworkingmiracleshadneverdepartedfromcertainfavoredpersons，mightnotjustaswellbelievethatthegiftofprophecyhadneverdeparted，either？Hewouldnotdisputewithme；hewouldonlysaythatImustnotwastetimeinthinkingofsuchtrifles；
thatIhadmoreimaginationthanwasgoodforme，andmustsuppressinsteadofexcitingit。Suchadviceasthisonlyirritatedmycuriosity。IdeterminedsecretlytosearchthroughouttheoldestuninhabitedpartoftheAbbey，andtotryifIcouldnotfindoutfromforgottenfamilyrecordswhattheportraitwas，andwhentheprophecyhadbeenfirstwrittenoruttered。Didyoueverpassadayaloneinthelong—desertedchambersofanancienthouse？\"
\"Never！suchsolitudeasthatisnotatalltomytaste。\"
\"Ah！whatalifeitwaswhenIbeganmysearch。Ishouldliketoliveitoveragain。Suchtemptingsuspense，suchstrangediscoveries，suchwildfancies，suchinthrallingterrors，allbelongedtothatlife。Onlythinkofbreakingopenthedoorofaroomwhichnolivingsoulhadenteredbeforeyoufornearlyahundredyears；thinkofthefirststepforwardintoaregionofairless，awfulstillness，wherethelightfallsfaintandsicklythroughclosedwindowsandrottingcurtains；thinkoftheghostlycreakingoftheoldfloorthatcriesoutonyoufortreadingonit，stepassoftlyasyouwill；thinkofarms，helmets，weirdtapestriesofby—gonedays，thatseemtobemovingoutonyoufromthewallsasyoufirstwalkuptotheminthedimlight；
thinkofpryingintogreatcabinetsandiron—claspedchests，notknowingwhathorrorsmayappearwhenyoutearthemopen；ofporingovertheircontentstilltwilightstoleonyouanddarknessgrewterribleinthelonelyplace；oftryingtoleaveit，andnotbeingabletogo，asifsomethingheldyou；ofwindwailingatyououtside；ofshadowsdarkeningroundyou，andclosingyouupinobscuritywithin——onlythinkofthesethings，andyoumayimaginethefascinationofsuspenseandterrorinsuchalifeasminewasinthosepastdays。\"
（Ishrankfromimaginingthatlife：itwasbadenoughtoseeitsresults，asIsawthembeforemenow。）
\"Well，mysearchlastedmonthsandmonths；thenitwassuspendedalittle；thenresumed。InwhateverdirectionIpursueditI
alwaysfoundsomethingtoluremeon。Terribleconfessionsofpastcrimes，shockingproofsofsecretwickednessthathadbeenhiddensecurelyfromalleyesbutmine，cametolight。SometimesthesediscoverieswereassociatedwithparticularpartsoftheAbbey，whichhavehadahorribleinterestoftheirownformeeversince；sometimeswithcertainoldportraitsinthepicture—gallery，whichIactuallydreadedtolookatafterwhatI
hadfoundout。TherewereperiodswhentheresultsofthissearchofminesohorrifiedmethatIdeterminedtogiveitupentirely；
butInevercouldpersevereinmyresolution；thetemptationtogoonseemedatcertainintervalstogettoostrongforme，andthenIyieldedtoitagainandagain。AtlastIfoundthebookthathadbelongedtothemonkswiththewholeoftheprophecywrittenintheblankleaf。Thisfirstsuccessencouragedmetogetbackfurtheryetinthefamilyrecords。Ihaddiscoverednothinghithertooftheidentityofthemysteriousportrait；butthesameintuitiveconvictionwhichhadassuredmeofitsextraordinaryresemblancetomyUncleStephenseemedalsotoassuremethathemustbemorecloselyconnectedwiththeprophecy，andmustknowmoreofitthananyoneelse。Ihadnomeansofholdinganycommunicationwithhim，nomeansofsatisfyingmyselfwhetherthisstrangeideaofminewererightorwrong，untilthedaywhenmydoubtsweresettledforeverbythesameterribleproofwhichisnowpresenttomeinthisveryroom。\"
Hepausedforamoment，andlookedatmeintentlyandsuspiciously；thenaskedifIbelievedallhehadsaidtomesofar。Myinstantreplyintheaffirmativeseemedtosatisfyhisdoubts，andhewenton。
\"OnafineeveninginFebruaryIwasstandingaloneinoneofthedesertedroomsofthewesternturretattheAbbey，lookingatthesunset。JustbeforethesunwentdownIfeltasensationstealingovermewhichitisimpossibletoexplain。Isawnothing，heardnothing，knewnothing。Thisutterself—oblivioncamesuddenly；itwasnotfainting，forIdidnotfalltotheground，didnotmoveaninchfrommyplace。Ifsuchathingcouldbe，Ishouldsayitwasthetemporaryseparationofsoulandbodywithoutdeath；butalldescriptionofmysituationatthattimeisimpossible。Callmystatewhatyouwill，tranceorcatalepsy，IknowthatI
remainedstandingbythewindowutterlyunconscious——dead，mindandbody——untilthesunhadset。ThenIcametomysensesagain；
andthen，whenIopenedmyeyes，therewastheapparitionofStephenMonktonstandingoppositetome，faintlyluminous，justasitstandsoppositemeatthisverymomentbyyourside。\"
WasthisbeforethenewsoftheduelreachedEngland？\"Iasked。
\"_Twoweeksbefore_thenewsofitreachedusatWincot。Andevenwhenweheardoftheduel，wedidnothearofthedayonwhichitwasfought。IonlyfoundthatoutwhenthedocumentwhichyouhavereadwaspublishedintheFrenchnewspaper。Thedateofthatdocument，youwillremember，isFebruary22d，anditisstatedthattheduelwasfoughttwodaysafterward。Iwrotedowninmypocketbook，ontheeveningwhenIsawthephantom，thedayofthemonthonwhichitfirstappearedtome。Thatdaywasthe24thofFebruary。
Hepausedagain，asifexpectingmetosaysomething。Afterthewordshehadjustspoken，whatcouldIsay？whatcouldIthink？
\"Eveninthefirsthorroroffirstseeingtheapparition，\"hewenton，\"theprophecyagainstourhousecametomymind，andwithittheconvictionthatIbeheldbeforeme，inthatspectralpresence，thewarningofmyowndoom。AssoonasIrecoveredalittle，Idetermined，nevertheless，totesttherealityofwhatI
saw；tofindoutwhetherIwasthedupeofmyowndiseasedfancyornot。Ilefttheturret；thephantomleftitwithme。Imadeanexcusetohavethedrawing—roomattheAbbeybrilliantlylightedup；thefigurewasstilloppositeme。Iwalkedoutintothepark；
itwasthereintheclearstarlight。Iwentawayfromhome，andtraveledmanymilestothesea—side；stillthetalldarkmaninhisdeathagonywaswithme。AfterthisIstroveagainstthefatalitynomore。IreturnedtotheAbbey，andtriedtoresignmyselftomymisery。Butthiswasnottobe。Ihadahopethatwasdearertomethanmyownlife；IhadonetreasurebelongingtomethatIshudderedattheprospectoflosing；andwhenthephantompresencestoodawarningobstaclebetweenmeandthisonetreasure，thisdearesthope，thenmymiserygrewheavierthanI
couldbear。YoumustknowwhatIamalludingto；youmusthaveheardoftenthatIwasengagedtobemarried？\"
\"Yes，often。IhavesomeacquaintancemyselfwithMissElmslie。\"
\"Younevercanknowallthatshehassacrificedforme——nevercanimaginewhatIhavefeltforyearsandyearspast\"——hisvoicetrembled，andthetearscameintohiseyes——\"butIdarenottrustmyselftospeakofthat；thethoughtoftheoldhappydaysintheAbbeyalmostbreaksmyheartnow。Letmegetbacktotheothersubject。ImusttellyouthatIkeptthefrightfulvisionwhichpursuedme，atalltimesandinallplaces，asecretfromeverybody，knowingthevilereportsaboutmyhavinginheritedmadnessfrommyfamily，andfearingthatanunfairadvantagewouldbetakenofanyconfessionthatImightmake。Thoughthephantomalwaysstoodoppositetome，andthereforealwaysappearedeitherbeforeorbythesideofanypersontowhomI
spoke，IsoonschooledmyselftohidefromothersthatIwaslookingatitexceptonrareoccasions，whenIhaveperhapsbetrayedmyselftoyou。Butmyself—possessionavailedmenothingwithAda。Thedayofourmarriagewasapproaching。\"
Hestoppedandshuddered。Iwaitedinsilencetillhehadcontrolledhimself。
\"Think，\"hewenton，\"thinkofwhatImusthavesufferedatlookingalwaysonthathideousvisionwheneverIlookedonmybetrothedwife！Thinkofmytakingherhand，andseemingtotakeitthroughthefigureoftheapparition！Thinkofthecalmangel—faceandthetorturedspecter—facebeingalwaystogetherwhenevermyeyesmethers！Thinkofthis，andyouwillnotwonderthatIbetrayedmysecrettoher。Sheeagerlyentreatedtoknowtheworst——nay，more，sheinsistedonknowingit。AtherbiddingItoldall，andthenleftherfreetobreakourengagement。ThethoughtofdeathwasinmyheartasIspokethepartingwords——deathbymyownact，iflifestillheldoutafterourseparation。Shesuspectedthatthought；sheknewit，andneverleftmetillhergoodinfluencehaddestroyeditforever。ButforherIshouldnothavebeenalivenow；butforherIshouldneverhaveattemptedtheprojectwhichhasbroughtmehere。\"
\"DoyoumeanthatitwasatMissElmslie’ssuggestionthatyoucametoNaples？\"Iasked，inamazement。
\"ImeanthatwhatshesaidsuggestedthedesignwhichhasbroughtmetoNaples，\"heanswered。\"WhileIbelievedthatthephantomhadappearedtomeasthefatalmessengerofdeath，therewasnocomfort——therewasmisery，rather，inhearinghersaythatnopoweronearthshouldmakeherdesertme，andthatshewouldliveforme，andformeonly，througheverytrial。Butitwasfardifferentwhenweafterwardreasonedtogetheraboutthepurposewhichtheapparitionhadcometofulfill——fardifferentwhensheshowedmethatitsmissionmightbeforgoodinsteadofforevil，andthatthewarningitwassenttogivemightbetomyprofitinsteadoftomyloss。Atthosewords，thenewideawhichgavethenewhopeoflifecametomeinaninstant。Ibelievedthen，whatIbelievenow，thatIhaveasupernaturalwarrantformyerrandhere。InthatfaithIlive；withoutitIshoulddie。_She_
neverridiculedit，neverscorneditasinsanity。MarkwhatI
say！ThespiritthatappearedtomeintheAbbey——thathasneverleftmesince——thatstandstherenowbyyourside，warnsmetoescapefromthefatalitywhichhangsoverourrace，andcommandsme，ifIwouldavoidit，toburytheunburieddead。Mortallovesandmortalinterestsmustbowtothatawfulbidding。Thespecter—presencewillneverleavemetillIhaveshelteredthecorpsethatcriestotheearthtocoverit！Idarenotreturn——I
darenotmarrytillIhavefilledtheplacethatisemptyinWincotvault。\"
Hiseyesflashedanddilated——hisvoicedeepened——afanaticecstasyshoneinhisexpressionasheutteredthesewords。
ShockedandgrievedasIwas，Imadenoattempttoremonstrateortoreasonwithhim。Itwouldhavebeenuselesstohavereferredtoanyoftheusualcommonplacesaboutopticaldelusionsordiseasedimaginations——worsethanuselesstohaveattemptedtoaccountbynaturalcausesforanyoftheextraordinarycoincidencesandeventsofwhichhehadspoken。BrieflyashehadreferredtoMissElmslie，hehadsaidenoughtoshowmethattheonlyhopeofthepoorgirlwholovedhimbestandhadknownhimlongestofanyonewasinhumoringhisdelusionstothelast。Howfaithfullyshestillclungtothebeliefthatshecouldrestorehim！Howresolutelywasshesacrificingherselftohismorbidfancies，inthehopeofahappyfuturethatmightnevercome！
LittleasIknewofMissElmslie，themerethoughtofhersituation，asInowreflectedonit，mademefeelsickatheart。
\"TheycallmeMadMonkton！\"heexclaimed，suddenlybreakingthesilencebetweenusduringthelastfewminutes，\"HereandinEnglandeverybodybelievesIamoutofmysensesexceptAdaandyou。Shehasbeenmysalvation，andyouwillbemysalvationtoo。
SomethingtoldmethatwhenIfirstmetyouwalkingintheVillaPeale。Istruggledagainstthestrongdesirethatwasinmetotrustmysecrettoyou，butIcouldresistitnolongerwhenI
sawyouto—nightattheball；thephantomseemedtodrawmeontoyouasyoustoodaloneinthequietroom。Tellmemoreofthatideaofyoursaboutfindingtheplacewheretheduelwasfought。
IfIsetoutto—morrowtoseekforitmyself，wheremustIgotofirst？where？\"Hestopped；hisstrengthwasevidentlybecomingexhausted，andhismindwasgrowingconfused。\"WhatamItodo？I
can’tremember。Youknoweverything——willyounothelpme？Mymiseryhasmademeunabletohelpmyself。\"
Hestopped，murmuredsomethingaboutfailingifhewenttothefrontieralone，andspokeconfusedlyofdelaysthatmightbefatal，thentriedtoutterthenameof\"Ada\"；but，inpronouncingthefirstletter，hisvoicefaltered，and，turningabruptlyfromme，heburstintotears。
Mypityforhimgotthebetterofmyprudenceatthatmoment，andwithoutthinkingofresponsibilities，Ipromisedatoncetodoforhimwhateverheasked。ThewildtriumphinhisexpressionashestartedupandseizedmyhandshowedmethatIhadbetterhavebeenmorecautious；butitwastoolatenowtoretractwhatIhadsaid。ThenextbestthingtodowastotryifIcouldnotinducehimtocomposehimselfalittle，andthentogoawayandthinkcoollyoverthewholeaffairbymyself。