\"Yes，yes，\"herejoined，inanswertothefewwordsInowspoketotryandcalmhim，\"don’tbeafraidaboutme。Afterwhatyouhavesaid，I’llanswerformyowncoolnessandcomposureunderallemergencies。IhavebeensolongusedtotheapparitionthatIhardlyfeelitspresenceatallexceptonrareoccasions。
Besides，Ihavehereinthislittlepacketoflettersthemedicineforeverymaladyofthesickheart。TheyareAda’sletters；Ireadthemtocalmmewhenevermymisfortuneseemstogetthebetterofmyendurance。Iwantedthathalfhourtoreadtheminto—nightbeforeyoucame，tomakemyselffittoseeyou，andIshallgothroughthemagainafteryouaregone；so，oncemore，don’tbeafraidaboutme。IknowIshallsucceedwithyourhelp，andAdashallthankyouasyoudeservetobethankedwhenwegetbacktoEngland。IfyouhearthefoolsatNaplestalkaboutmybeingmad，don’ttroubleyourselftocontradictthem；
thescandalissocontemptiblethatitmustendbycontradictingitself。\"
Ilefthim，promisingtoreturnearlythenextday。
WhenIgotbacktomyhotel，IfeltthatanyideaofsleepingafterallthatIhadseenandheardwasoutofthequestion；soI
litmypipe，and，sittingbythewindow——howitrefreshedmymindjustthentolookatthecalmmoonlight！——triedtothinkwhatitwouldbebesttodo。Inthefirstplace，anyappealtodoctorsortoAlfred’sfriendsinEnglandwasoutofthequestion。Icouldnotpersuademyselfthathisintellectwassufficientlydisorderedtojustifyme，underexistingcircumstances，indisclosingthesecretwhichhehadintrustedtomykeeping。Inthesecondplace，allattemptsonmyparttoinducehimtoabandontheideaofsearchingouthisuncle’sremainswouldbeutterlyuselessafterwhatIhadincautiouslysaidtohim。Havingsettledthesetwoconclusions，theonlyreallygreatdifficultywhichremainedtoperplexmewaswhetherIwasjustifiedinaidinghimtoexecutehisextraordinarypurpose。
Supposingthat，withmyhelp，hefoundMr。Monkton’sbody，andtookitbackwithhimtoEngland，wasitrightinmethustolendmyselftopromotingthemarriagewhichwouldmostlikelyfollowtheseevents——amarriagewhichitmightbethedutyofeveryonetopreventatallhazards？Thissetmethinkingabouttheextentofhismadness，ortospeakmoremildlyandmorecorrectly，ofhisdelusion。Sanehecertainlywasonallordinarysubjects；
nay，inallthenarrativepartsofwhathehadsaidtomeonthisveryeveninghehadspokenclearlyandconnectedly。Asforthestoryoftheapparition，othermen，withintellectsasclearastheintellectsoftheirneighborshadfanciedthemselvespursuedbyaphantom，andhadevenwrittenaboutitinahighstrainofphilosophicalspeculation。ItwasplainthattherealhallucinationinthecasenowbeforemelayinMonkton’sconvictionofthetruthoftheoldprophecy，andinhisideathatthefanciedapparitionwasasupernaturalwarningtohimtoevadeitsdenunciations；anditwasequallyclearthatbothdelusionshadbeenproduced，inthefirstinstance，bythelonelylifehehadledactingonanaturallyexcitabletemperament，whichwasrenderedfurtherliabletomoraldiseasebyanhereditarytaintofinsanity。
Wasthiscurable？MissElmslie，whoknewhimfarbetterthanI
did，seemedbyherconducttothinkso。HadIanyreasonorrighttodetermineoffhandthatshewasmistaken？SupposingIrefusedtogotothefrontierwithhim，hewouldthenmostcertainlydepartbyhimself，tocommitallsortsoferrors，andperhapstomeetwithallsortsofaccidents；whileI，anidleman，withmytimeentirelyatmyowndisposal，wasstoppingatNaples，andleavinghimtohisfateafterIhadsuggestedtheplanofhisexpedition，andhadencouragedhimtoconfideinme。InthiswayIkeptturningthesubjectoverandoveragaininmymind，beingquitefree，letmeadd，fromlookingatitinanyotherthanapracticalpointofview。Ifirmlybelieved，asaderiderofallghoststories，thatAlfredwasdeceivinghimselfinfancyingthathehadseentheapparitionofhisunclebeforethenewsofMr。
Monkton’sdeathreachedEngland，andIwasonthisaccount，therefore，uninfluencedbytheslightestinfectionofmyunhappyfriend’sdelusionswhenIatlastfairlydecidedtoaccompanyhiminhisextraordinarysearch。Possiblymyharum—scarumfondnessforexcitementatthattimebiasedmealittleinformingmyresolution；butImustadd，incommonjusticetomyself，thatI
alsoactedfrommotivesofrealsympathyforMonkton，andfromasincerewishtoallay，ifIcould，theanxietyofthepoorgirlwhowasstillsofaithfullywaitingandhopingforhimfarawayinEngland。
Certainarrangementspreliminarytoourdeparture，whichIfoundmyselfobligedtomakeafterasecondinterviewwithAlfred，betrayedtheobjectofourjourneytomostofourNeapolitanfriends。Theastonishmentofeverybodywasofcourseunbounded，andthenearlyuniversalsuspicionthatImustbeasmadinmywayasMonktonhimselfshoweditselfprettyplainlyinmypresence。SomepeopleactuallytriedtocombatmyresolutionbytellingmewhatashamelessprofligateStephenMonktonhadbeen——asifIhadastrongpersonalinterestinhuntingouthisremains！Ridiculemovedmeaslittleasanyargumentsofthissort；mymindwasmadeup，andIwasasobstinatethenasIamnow。
Intwodays’timeIhadgoteverythingready，andhadorderedthetravelingcarriagetothedoorsomehoursearlierthanwehadoriginallysettled。Wewerejoviallythreatenedwith\"apartingcheer\"byallourEnglishacquaintances，andIthoughtitdesirabletoavoidthisonmyfriend’saccount；forhehadbeenmoreexcited，asitwas，bythepreparationsforthejourneythanIatallliked。Accordingly，soonaftersunrise，withoutasoulinthestreettostareatus，weprivatelyleftNaples。
Nobodywillwonder，Ithink，thatIexperiencedsomedifficultyinrealizingmyownposition，andshrankinstinctivelyfromlookingforwardasingledayintothefuture，whenInowfoundmyselfstarting，incompanywith\"MadMonkton，\"tohuntforthebodyofadeadduelistallalongthefrontierlineoftheRomanStates！
CHAPTERV。
IHADsettleditinmyownmindthatwehadbettermakethetownofFondi，closeonthefrontier，ourheadquarters，tobeginwith，andIhadarranged，withtheassistanceoftheembassy，thattheleadencoffinshouldfollowussofar，securelynailedupinitspacking—case。Besidesourpassports，wewerewellfurnishedwithlettersofintroductiontothelocalauthoritiesatmostoftheimportantfrontiertowns，and，tocrownall，wehadmoneyenoughatourcommand（thankstoMonkton’svastfortune）tomakesureoftheservicesofanyonewhomwewantedtoassistusallalongourlineofsearch。Thesevariousresourcesinsureduseveryfacilityforaction，providedalwaysthatwesucceededindiscoveringthebodyofthedeadduelist。But，intheveryprobableeventofourfailingtodothis，ourfutureprospects——moreespeciallyaftertheresponsibilityIhadundertaken——wereofanythingbutanagreeablenaturetocontemplate。IconfessIfeltuneasy，almosthopeless，asweposted，inthedazzlingItaliansunshine，alongtheroadtoFondi。
Wemadeaneasytwodays’journeyofit；forIhadinsisted，onMonkton’saccount，thatweshouldtravelslowly。
Onthefirstdaytheexcessiveagitationofmycompanionalittlealarmedme；heshowed，inmanyways，moresymptomsofadisorderedmindthanIhadyetobservedinhim。Onthesecondday，however，heseemedtogetaccustomedtocontemplatecalmlythenewideaofthesearchonwhichwewerebent，and，exceptononepoint，hewascheerfulandcomposedenough。Wheneverhisdeaduncleformedthesubjectofconversation，hestillpersisted——onthestrengthoftheoldprophecy，andundertheinfluenceoftheapparitionwhichhesaw，orthoughthesawalways——inassertingthatthecorpseofStephenMonkton，whereveritwas，layyetunburied。Oneveryothertopichedeferredtomewiththeutmostreadinessanddocility；onthishemaintainedhisstrangeopinionwithanobstinacywhichsetreasonandpersuasionalikeatdefiance。
OnthethirddaywerestedatFondi。Thepacking—case，withthecoffininit，reachedus，andwasdepositedinasafeplaceunderlockandkey。Weengagedsomemules，andfoundamantoactasguidewhoknewthecountrythoroughly。Itoccurredtomethatwehadbetterbeginbyconfidingtherealobjectofourjourneyonlytothemosttrustworthypeoplewecouldfindamongthebetter—educatedclasses。Forthisreasonwefollowed，inonerespect，theexampleofthefataldueling—party，bystarting，earlyonthemorningofthefourthday，withsketch—booksandcolor—boxes，asifwewereonlyartistsinsearchofthepicturesque。
AftertravelingsomehoursinanortherlydirectionwithintheRomanfrontier，wehaltedtorestourselvesandourmulesatawildlittlevillagefaroutofthetrackoftouristsingeneral。
Theonlypersonofthesmallestimportanceintheplacewasthepriest，andtohimIaddressedmyfirstinquiries，leavingMonktontoawaitmyreturnwiththeguide。IspokeItalianquitefluently，andcorrectlyenoughformypurpose，andwasextremelypoliteandcautiousinintroducingmybusiness，butinspiteofallthepainsItook，IonlysucceededinfrighteningandbewilderingthepoorpriestmoreandmorewitheveryfreshwordI
saidtohim。Theideaofadueling—partyandadeadmanseemedtoscarehimoutofhissenses。Hebowed，fidgeted，casthiseyesuptoheaven，andpiteouslyshrugginghisshoulders，toldme，withrapidItaliancircumlocution，thathehadnotthefaintestideaofwhatIwastalkingabout。Thiswasmyfirstfailure。IconfessIwasweakenoughtofeelalittledispiritedwhenIrejoinedMonktonandtheguide。
Aftertheheatofthedaywasoverweresumedourjourney。
Aboutthreemilesfromthevillage，theroad，orrathercart—track，branchedoffintwodirections。Thepathtotheright，ourguideinformedus，ledupamongthemountainstoaconventaboutsixmilesoff。IfwepenetratedbeyondtheconventweshouldsoonreachtheNeapolitanfrontier。ThepathtotheleftledfarinwardontheRomanterritory，andwouldconductustoasmalltownwherewecouldsleepforthenight。NowtheRomanterritorypresentedthefirstandfittestfieldforoursearch，andtheconventwasalwayswithinreach，supposingwereturnedtoFondiunsuccessful。Besides，thepathtotheleftledoverthewidestpartofthecountrywewerestartingtoexplore，andIwasalwaysforvanquishingthegreatestdifficultyfirst；sowedecidedmanfullyonturningtotheleft。Theexpeditioninwhichthisresolutioninvolveduslastedawholeweek，andproducednoresults。Wediscoveredabsolutelynothing，andreturnedtoourheadquartersatFondisocompletelybaffledthatwedidnotknowwhithertoturnourstepsnext。
IwasmademuchmoreuneasybytheeffectofourfailureonMonktonthanbythefailureitself。Hisresolutionappearedtobreakdownaltogetherassoonaswebegantoretraceoursteps。
Hebecamefirstfretfulandcapricious，thensilentanddesponding。Finally，hesankintoalethargyofbodyandmindthatseriouslyalarmedme。OnthemorningafterourreturntoFondiheshowedastrangetendencytosleepincessantly，whichmademesuspecttheexistenceofsomephysicalmaladyinhisbrain。Thewholedayhehardlyexchangedawordwithme，andseemedtobeneverfairlyawake。EarlythenextmorningIwentintohisroom，andfoundhimassilentandlethargicasever。Hisservant，whowaswithus，informedmethatAlfredhadonceortwicebeforeexhibitedsuchphysicalsymptomsofmentalexhaustionaswewerenowobservingduringhisfather’slifetimeatWincotAbbey。Thispieceofinformationmademefeeleasier，andleftmymindfreetoreturntotheconsiderationoftheerrandwhichhadbroughtustoFondi。
Iresolvedtooccupythetimeuntilmycompaniongotbetterinprosecutingoursearchbymyself。Thatpathtotherighthandwhichledtotheconventhadnotyetbeenexplored。IfIsetofftotraceit，IneednotbeawayfromMonktonmorethanonenight，andIshouldatleastbeable，onmyreturn，togivehimthesatisfactionofknowingthatonemoreuncertaintyregardingtheplaceoftheduelhadbeenclearedup。Theseconsiderationsdecidedme。IleftamessageformyfriendincaseheaskedwhereIhadgone，andsetoutoncemoreforthevillageatwhichwehadhaltedwhenstartingonourfirstexpedition。
Intendingtowalktotheconvent，Ipartedcompanywiththeguideandthemuleswherethetrackbranchedoff，leavingthemtogobacktothevillageandawaitmyreturn。
Forthefirstfourmilesthepathgentlyascendedthroughanopencountry，thenbecameabruptlymuchsteeper，andledmedeeperanddeeperamongthicketsandendlesswoods。BythetimemywatchinformedmethatImusthavenearlywalkedmyappointeddistance，theviewwasboundedonallsidesandtheskywasshutoutoverheadbyanimperviousscreenofleavesandbranches。Istillfollowedmyonlyguide，thesteeppath；andintenminutes，emergingsuddenlyonaplotoftolerablyclearandlevelground，Isawtheconventbeforeme。
Itwasadark，low，sinister—lookingplace。Notasignoflifeormovementwasvisibleanywhereaboutit。Greenstainsstreakedtheoncewhitefacadeofthechapelinalldirections。Mossclusteredthickineverycreviceoftheheavyscowlingwallthatsurroundedtheconvent。Longlankweedsgrewoutofthefissuresofroofandparapet，and，droopingfardownward，wavedwearilyinandoutofthebarreddormitorywindows。Theverycrossoppositetheentrance—gate，withashockinglife—sizedfigureinwoodnailedtoit，wassobesetatthebasewithcrawlingcreatures，andlookedsoslimy，green，androttenallthewayup，thatI
absolutelyshrankfromit。
Abell—ropewithabrokenhandlehungbythegate。Iapproachedit——hesitated，Ihardlyknewwhy——lookedupattheconventagain，andthenwalkedroundtothebackofthebuilding，partlytogaintimetoconsiderwhatIhadbetterdonext，partlyfromanunaccountablecuriositythaturgedme，strangelytomyself，toseeallIcouldoftheoutsideoftheplacebeforeIattemptedtogainadmissionatthegate。
AtthebackoftheconventIfoundanouthouse，builtontothewall——aclumsy，decayedbuilding，withthegreaterpartoftherooffallenin，andwithajaggedholeinoneofitssides，whereinallprobabilityawindowhadoncebeen。Behindtheouthousethetreesgrewthickerthanever。AsIlookedtowardthemIcouldnotdeterminewhetherthegroundbeyondmeroseorfell——whetheritwasgrassy，orearthy，orrocky。Icouldseenothingbuttheall—pervadingleaves，brambles，ferns，andlonggrass。
Notasoundbroketheoppressivestillness。Nobird’snoterosefromtheleafywildernessaroundme；novoicesspokeintheconventgardenbehindthescowlingwall；noclockstruckinthechapel—tower；nodogbarkedintheruinedouthouse。Thedeadsilencedeepenedthesolitudeoftheplaceinexpressibly。Ibegantofeelitweighingonmyspirits——themore，becausewoodswereneverfavoriteplaceswithmetowalkin。Thesortofpastoralhappinesswhichpoetsoftenrepresentwhentheysingoflifeinthewoodsnever，tomymind，hashalfthecharmoflifeonthemountainorintheplain。WhenIaminawood，Imisstheboundlesslovelinessofthesky，andthedelicioussoftnessthatdistancegivestotheearthlyviewbeneath。Ifeeloppressivelythechangewhichthefreeairsufferswhenitgetsimprisonedamongleaves，andIamalwaysawed，ratherthanpleased，bythatmysteriousstilllightwhichshineswithsuchastrangedimlusterindeepplacesamongtrees。Itmayconvictmeofwantoftasteandabsenceofduefeelingforthemarvelousbeautiesofvegetation，butImustfranklyownthatIneverpenetratefarintoawoodwithoutfindingthatthegettingoutofitagainisthepleasantestpartofmywalk——thegettingoutontothebarestdown，thewildesthill—side，thebleakestmountaintop——thegettingoutanywhere，sothatIcanseetheskyovermeandtheviewbeforemeasfarasmyeyecanreach。
AftersuchaconfessionasIhavenowmade，itwillappearsurprisingtonoonethatIshouldhavefeltthestrongestpossibleinclination，whileIstoodbytheruinedouthouse，toretracemystepsatonce，andmakethebestofmywayoutofthewood。Ihad，indeed，actuallyturnedtodepart，whentheremembranceoftheerrandwhichhadbroughtmetotheconventsuddenlystayedmyfeet。ItseemeddoubtfulwhetherIshouldbeadmittedintothebuildingifIrangthebell；andmorethandoubtful，ifIwereletin，whethertheinhabitantswouldbeabletoaffordmeanyclewtotheinformationofwhichIwasinsearch。However，itwasmydutytoMonktontoleavenomeansofhelpinghiminhisdesperateobjectuntried；soIresolvedtogoroundtothefrontoftheconventagain，andringatthegate—bellatallhazards。
BythemerestchanceIlookedupasIpassedthesideoftheouthousewherethejaggedholewas，andnoticedthatitwaspiercedratherhighinthewall。
AsIstoppedtoobservethis，theclosenessoftheatmosphereinthewoodseemedtobeaffectingmemoreunpleasantlythanever。
Iwaitedaminuteanduntiedmycravat。
Closeness？surelyitwassomethingmorethanthat。Theairwasevenmoredistastefultomynostrilsthantomylungs。Therewassomefaint，indescribablesmellloadingit——somesmellofwhichI
hadneverhadanypreviousexperience——somesmellwhichIthought（nowthatmyattentionwasdirectedtoit）grewmoreandmorecertainlytraceabletoitssourcethenearerIadvancedtotheouthouse，BythetimeIhadtriedtheexperimenttwoorthreetimes，andhadmademyselfsureofthisfact，mycuriositybecameexcited。
Therewereplentyoffragmentsofstoneandbricklyingaboutme。
Igatheredsomeofthemtogether，andpiledthemupbelowthehole，thenmountedtothetop，and，feelingratherashamedofwhatIwasdoing，peepedintotheouthouse。
ThesightofhorrorthatmetmyeyestheinstantIlookedthroughtheholeisaspresenttomymemorynowasifIhadbeheldityesterday。Icanhardlywriteofitatthisdistanceoftimewithoutathrilloftheoldterrorrunningthroughmeagaintotheheart。
Thefirstimpressionconveyedtome，asIlookedin，wasofalong，recumbentobject，tingedwithalightishbluecolorallover，extendedontrestles，andbearingacertainhideous，half—formedresemblancetothehumanfaceandfigure。Ilookedagain，andfeltcertainofit。Thereweretheprominencesoftheforehead，nose，andchin，dimlyshownasunderaveil——there，theroundoutlineofthechestandthehollowbelowit——there，thepointsoftheknees，andthestiff，ghastly，upturnedfeet。I
lookedagain，yetmoreattentively。Myeyesgotaccustomedtothedimlightstreaminginthroughthebrokenroof，andIsatisfiedmyself，judgingbythegreatlengthofthebodyfromheadtofoot，thatIwaslookingatthecorpseofaman——acorpsethathadapparentlyoncehadasheetspreadoverit，andthathadlainrottingonthetrestlesundertheopenskylongenoughforthelinentotakethelivid，light—bluetingeofmildewanddecaywhichnowcoveredit。
HowlongIremainedwithmyeyesfixedonthatdreadsightofdeath，onthattombless，terriblewreckofhumanity，poisoningthestillair，andseemingeventostainthefaintdescendinglightthatdisclosedit，Iknownot。Irememberadull，distantsoundamongthetrees，asifthebreezewererising——theslowcreepingonofthesoundtoneartheplacewhereIstood——thenoiselesswhirlingfallofadeadleafonthecorpsebelowme，throughthegapintheouthouseroof——andtheeffectofawakeningmyenergies，ofrelaxingtheheavystrainonmymind，whicheventheslightchangewroughtinthesceneIbeheldbythefallingleafproducedinmeimmediately。Idescendedtotheground，and，sittingdownontheheapofstones，wipedawaythethickperspirationwhichcoveredmyface，andwhichInowbecameawareofforthefirsttime。ItwassomethingmorethanthehideousspectacleunexpectedlyofferedtomyeyeswhichhadshakenmynervesasIfeltthattheywereshakennow。Monkton’spredictionthat，ifwesucceededindiscoveringhisuncle’sbody，weshouldfinditunburied，recurredtometheinstantIsawthetrestlesandtheirghastlyburden。IfeltassuredontheinstantthatI
hadfoundthedeadman——theoldprophecyrecurredtomymemory——astrangeyearningsorrow，avagueforebodingofill，aninexplicableterror，asIthoughtofthepoorladwhowasawaitingmyreturninthedistanttown，struckthroughmewithachillofsuperstitiousdread，robbedmeofmyjudgmentandresolution，andleftmewhenIhadatlastrecoveredmyself，weakanddizzy，asifIhadjustsufferedundersomepangofoverpoweringphysicalpain。
Ihastenedroundtotheconventgateandrangimpatientlyatthebell——waitedalittlewhileandrangagain——thenheardfootsteps。
Inthemiddleofthegate，justoppositemyface，therewasasmallslidingpanel，notmorethanafewincheslong；thiswaspresentlypushedasidefromwithin。Isaw，throughabitofirongrating，twodull，lightgrayeyesstaringvacantlyatme，andheardafeeblehuskyvoicesaying：
\"Whatmayyoupleasetowant？’
\"Iamatraveler——\"Ibegan。
\"Weliveinamiserableplace。Wehavenothingtoshowtravelershere。\"
\"Idon’tcometoseeanything。Ihaveanimportantquestiontoask，whichIbelievesomeoneinthisconventwillbeabletoanswer。Ifyouarenotwillingtoletmein，atleastcomeoutandspeaktomehere。\"
\"Areyoualone？\"
\"Quitealone。\"
\"Aretherenowomenwithyou？\"
\"None。\"
Thegatewasslowlyunbarred，andanoldCapuchin，veryinfirm，verysuspicious，andverydirty，stoodbeforeme。Iwasfartooexcitedandimpatienttowasteanytimeinprefatoryphrases；so，tellingthemonkatoncehowIhadlookedthroughtheholeintheouthouse，andwhatIhadseeninside，Iaskedhim，inplainterms，whothemanhadbeenwhosecorpseIhadbeheld，andwhythebodywasleftunburied？
TheoldCapuchinlistenedtomewithwateryeyesthattwinkledsuspiciously。Hehadabatteredtinsnuff—boxinhishand，andhisfingerandthumbslowlychasedafewscatteredgrainsofsnuffroundandroundtheinsideoftheboxallthetimeIwasspeaking。WhenIhaddone，heshookhisheadandsaid：\"Thatwascertainlyanuglysightintheirouthouse；oneoftheugliestsights，hefeltsure，thateverIhadseeninallmylife！\"
\"Idon’twanttotalkofthesight，\"Irejoined，impatiently；\"I
wanttoknowwhothemanwas，howhedied，andwhyheisnotdecentlyburied。Canyoutellme？\"
Themonk’sfingerandthumbhavingcapturedthreeorfourgrainsofsnuffatlast，heslowlydrewthemintohisnostrils，holdingtheboxopenunderhisnosethewhile，topreventthepossibilityofwastingevenonegrain，sniffedonceortwiceluxuriously——closedthebox——thenlookedatmeagainwithhiseyeswateringandtwinklingmoresuspiciouslythanbefore。
\"Yes，\"saidthemonk，\"that’sanuglysightinourouthouse——averyuglysight，certainly！\"
Ineverhadmoredifficultyinkeepingmytemperinmylifethanatthatmoment。Isucceeded，however，inrepressingaverydisrespectfulexpressiononthesubjectofmonksingeneral，whichwasonthetipofmytongue，andmadeanotherattempttoconquertheoldman’sexasperatingreserve。Fortunatelyformychancesofsucceedingwithhim，Iwasasnuff—takermyself，andI
hadaboxfullofexcellentEnglishsnuffinmypocket，whichI
nowproducedasabribe。Itwasmylastresource。
\"Ithoughtyourboxseemedemptyjustnow，\"saidI；\"willyoutryapinchoutofmine？\"