Greatlytohissurpriseanddelight，however，Iofferedofmyownaccordtotakepassageinthebrig。ThestrangecoincidencesI
hadwitnessed，theextraordinarydiscoveryIhadhitonsinceourfirstmeetinginNaples，hadmadehisonegreatinterestinlifemyonegreatinterestforthetimebeingaswell。Isharednoneofhisdelusions，poorfellow；butitishardlyanexaggerationtosaythatmyeagernesstofollowourremarkableadventuretoitsendwasasgreatashisanxietytoseethecoffinlaidinWincotvault。Curiosityinfluencedme，Iamafraid，almostasstronglyasfriendship，whenIofferedmyselfasthecompanionofhisvoyagehome。
WesetsailforEnglandonacalmandlovelyafternoon。
ForthefirsttimesinceIhadknownhim，Monktonseemedtobeinhighspirits。Hetalkedandjestedonallsortsofsubjects，andlaughedatmeforallowingmycheerfulnesstobeaffectedbythedreadofseasickness。Ihadreallynosuchfear；itwasmyexcusetomyfriendforareturnofthatunaccountabledepressionunderwhichIhadsufferedatFondi。Everythingwasinourfavor；
everybodyonboardthebrigwasingoodspirits。Thecaptainwasdelightedwiththevessel；thecrew，ItaliansandMaltese，wereinhighgleeattheprospectofmakingashortvoyageonhighwagesinawell—provisionedship。Ialonefeltheavyatheart。
TherewasnovalidreasonthatIcouldassigntomyselfforthemelancholythatoppressedme，andyetIstruggledagainstitinvain。
Lateonourfirstnightatsea，Imadeadiscoverywhichwasbynomeanscalculatedtorestoremyspiritstotheirusualequilibrium。Monktonwasinthecabin，onthefloorofwhichhadbeenplacedthepacking—casecontainingthecoffin，andIwasondeck。Thewindhadfallenalmosttoacalm，andIwaslazilywatchingthesailsofthebrigastheyflappedfromtimetotimeagainstthemasts，whenthecaptainapproached，and，drawingmeoutofhearingofthemanatthehelm，whisperedinmyear：
\"There’ssomethingwrongamongthemenforward。Didyouobservehowsuddenlytheyallbecamesilentjustbeforesunset？\"
Ihadobservedit，andtoldhimso。
\"There’saMalteseboyonboard，\"pursuedthecaptain，\"whoisasmartenoughlad，butabadonetodealwith。Ihavefoundoutthathehasbeentellingthementhereisadeadbodyinsidethatpacking—caseofyourfriend’sinthecabin。\"
Myheartsankashespoke。Knowingthesuperstitiousirrationalityofsailors——offoreignsailorsespecially——Ihadtakencaretospreadareportonboardthebrig，beforethecoffinwasshipped，thatthepacking—casecontainedavaluablemarblestatuewhichMr。Monktonprizedhighly，andwasunwillingtotrustoutofhisownsight。HowcouldthisMalteseboyhavediscoveredthatthepretendedstatuewasahumancorpse？AsI
ponderedoverthequestion，mysuspicionsfixedthemselvesonMonkton’sservant，whospokeItalianfluently，andwhomIknewtobeanincorrigiblegossip。ThemandenieditwhenIchargedhimwithbetrayingus，butIhaveneverbelievedhisdenialtothisday。
\"Thelittleimpwon’tsaywherehepickedupthisnotionofhisaboutthedeadbody，\"continuedthecaptain。\"It’snotmyplacetopryintosecrets；butIadviseyoutocallthecrewaft，andcontradicttheboy，whetherhespeaksthetruthornot。Themenareaparceloffoolswhobelieveinghosts，andalltherestofit。Someofthemsaytheywouldneverhavesignedourarticlesiftheyhadknowntheyweregoingtosailwithadeadman；othersonlygrumble；butI’mafraidweshallhavesometroublewiththemall，incaseofroughweather，unlesstheboyiscontradictedbyyouortheothergentleman。ThemensaythatifeitheryouoryourfriendtellthemonyourwordsofhonorthattheMalteseisaliar，theywillhandhimuptoberope’s—endedaccordingly；butthatifyouwon’t，theyhavemadeuptheirmindstobelievetheboy。\"
Herethecaptainpausedandawaitedmyanswer。Icouldgivehimnone。Ifelthopelessunderourdesperateemergency。Togettheboypunishedbygivingmywordofhonortosupportadirectfalsehoodwasnottobethoughtofevenforamoment。Whatothermeansofextricationfromthismiserabledilemmaremained？NonethatIcouldthinkof。Ithankedthecaptainforhisattentiontoourinterests，toldhimIwouldtaketimetoconsiderwhatcourseIshouldpursue，andbeggedthathewouldsaynothingtomyfriendaboutthediscoveryhehadmade。Hepromisedtobesilent，sulkilyenough，andwalkedawayfromme。
Wehadexpectedthebreezetospringupwiththemorning，butnobreezecame。Asitworeontowardnoontheatmospherebecameinsufferablysultry，andthesealookedassmoothasglass。Isawthecaptain’seyeturnoftenandanxiouslytowindward。Farawayinthatdirection，andaloneintheblueheaven，Iobservedalittleblackcloud，andaskedifitwouldbringusanywind。
\"Morethanwewant，\"thecaptainreplied，shortly；andthen，tomyastonishment，orderedthecrewalofttotakeinsail。Theexecutionofthismaneuvershowedbuttooplainlythetemperofthemen；theydidtheirworksulkilyandslowly，grumblingandmurmuringamongthemselves。Thecaptain’smanner，asheurgedthemonwithoathsandthreats，convincedmewewereindanger。I
lookedagaintowindward。Theonelittlecloudhadenlargedtoagreatbankofmurkyvapor，andtheseaatthehorizonhadchangedincolor。
\"Thesquallwillbeonusbeforeweknowwhereweare，\"saidthecaptain。\"Gobelow；youwillbeonlyinthewayhere。\"
Idescendedtothecabin，andpreparedMonktonforwhatwascoming。HewasstillquestioningmeaboutwhatIhadobservedondeckwhenthestormburstonus。Wefeltthelittlebrigstrainforaninstantasifshewouldpartintwo，thensheseemedtobeswingingroundwithus，thentobequitestillforamoment，tremblingineverytimber。Lastcameashockwhichhurledusfromourseats，adeafeningcrash，andafloodofwaterpouringintothecabin。Weclambered，halfdrowned，tothedeck。Thebrighad，inthenauticalphrase，\"broachedto，\"andshenowlayonherbeam—ends。
BeforeIcouldmakeoutanythingdistinctlyinthehorribleconfusionexcepttheonetremendouscertaintythatwewereentirelyatthemercyofthesea，Iheardavoicefromtheforepartoftheshipwhichstilledtheclamoringandshoutingoftherestofthecrewinaninstant。ThewordswereinItalian，butI
understoodtheirfatalmeaningonlytooeasily。Wehadsprungaleak，andtheseawaspouringintotheship’sholdliketheraceofamill—stream。Thecaptaindidnotlosehispresenceofmindinthisfreshemergency。Hecalledforhisaxtocutawaytheforemast，and，orderingsomeofthecrewtohelphim，directedtheotherstorigoutthepumps。
Thewordshadhardlypassedhislipsbeforethemenbrokeintoopenmutiny。Withasavagelookatme，theirringleaderdeclaredthatthepassengersmightdoastheypleased，butthatheandhismessmatesweredeterminedtotaketotheboat，andleavetheaccursedship，and_thedeadmaninher，_togotothebottomtogether。Ashespoketherewasashoutamongthesailors，andI
observedsomeofthempointingderisivelybehindme。Lookinground，IsawMonkton，whohadhithertokeptcloseatmyside，makinghiswaybacktothecabin。Ifollowedhimdirectly，butthewaterandconfusionondeck，andtheimpossibility，fromthepositionofthebrig，ofmovingthefeetwithouttheslowassistanceofthehands，soimpededmyprogressthatitwasimpossibleformetoovertakehim。WhenIhadgotbelowhewascroucheduponthecoffin，withthewateronthecabinfloorwhirlingandsplashingabouthimastheshipheavedandplunged。
Isawawarningbrightnessinhiseyes，awarningflushonhischeek，asIapproachedandsaidtohim：
\"Thereisnothingleftforit，Alfred，buttobowtoourmisfortune，anddothebestwecantosaveourlives。\"
\"Saveyours，\"hecried，wavinghishandtome，\"for_you_haveafuturebeforeyou。Mineisgonewhenthiscoffingoestothebottom。Iftheshipsinks，Ishallknowthatthefatalityisaccomplished，andshallsinkwithher。\"
Isawthathewasinnostatetobereasonedwithorpersuaded，andraisedmyselfagaintothedeck。Themenwerecuttingawayallobstaclessoastolaunchthelongboatplacedamidshipsoverthedepressedbulwarkofthebrigasshelayonherside，andthecaptain，afterhavingmadealastvainexertiontorestorehisauthority，waslookingonattheminsilence。Theviolenceofthesquallseemedalreadytobespendingitself，andIaskedwhethertherewasreallynochanceforusifweremainedbytheship。Thecaptainansweredthattheremighthavebeenthebestchanceifthemenhadobeyedhisorders，butthatnowtherewasnone。
KnowingthatIcouldplacenodependenceonthepresenceofmindofMonkton’sservant，Iconfidedtothecaptain，inthefewestandplainestwords，theconditionofmyunhappyfriend，andaskedifImightdependonhishelp。Henoddedhishead，andwedescendedtogethertothecabin。EvenatthisdayitcostsmepaintowriteoftheterriblenecessitytowhichthestrengthandobstinacyofMonkton’sdelusionreducedusinthelastresort。Wewerecompelledtosecurehishands，anddraghimbymainforcetothedeck。Themenwereonthepointoflaunchingtheboat，andrefusedatfirsttoreceiveusintoit。
\"Youcowards！\"criedthecaptain，\"havewegotthedeadmanwithusthistime？Isn’thegoingtothebottomalongwiththebrig？
Whoareyouafraidofwhenwegetintotheboat？\"
Thissortofappealproducedthedesiredeffect；themenbecameashamedofthemselves，andretractedtheirrefusal。
JustaswepushedofffromthesinkingshipAlfredmadeanefforttobreakfromme，butIheldhimfirm，andheneverrepeatedtheattempt。Hesatbymewithdroopinghead，stillandsilent，whilethesailorsrowedawayfromthevessel；stillandsilentwhen，withoneaccord，theypausedatalittledistanceoff，andweallwaitedandwatchedtoseethebrigsink；stillandsilent，evenwhenthatsinkinghappened，whenthelaboringhullplungedslowlyintoahollowofthesea——hesitated，asitseemed，foronemoment，rosealittleagain，thensanktorisenomore。
Sankwithherdeadfreight——sank，andsnatchedforeverfromourpowerthecorpsewhichwehaddiscoveredalmostbyamiracle——thosejealously—preservedremains，onthesafe—keepingofwhichrestedsostrangelythehopesandthelove—destiniesoftwolivingbeings！Asthelastsignsoftheshipinthedepthsofthewaters，IfeltMonktontremblingalloverashesatcloseatmyside，andheardhimrepeatingtohimself，sadly，andmanytimesover，thenameof\"Ada。\"
Itriedtoturnhisthoughtstoanothersubject，butitwasuseless。Hepointedovertheseatowherethebrighadoncebeen，andwherenothingwaslefttolookatbuttherollingwaves。
\"TheemptyplacewillnowremainemptyforeverinWincotvault。\"
Ashesaidthesewords，hefixedhiseyesforamomentsadlyandearnestlyonmyface，thenlookedaway，leanedhischeekonhishand，andspokenomore。
Weweresightedlongbeforenightfallbyatradingvessel，weretakenonboard，andlandedatCartagenainSpain。Alfredneverhelduphishead，andneveroncespoketomeofhisownaccordthewholetimewewereatseainthemerchantman。Iobserved，however，withalarm，thathetalkedoftenandincoherentlytohimself——constantlymutteringthelinesoftheoldprophecy——constantlyreferringtothefatalplacethatwasemptyinWincotvault——constantlyrepeatinginbrokenaccents，whichitaffectedmeinexpressiblytohear，thenameofthepoorgirlwhowasawaitinghisreturntoEngland。NorwerethesetheonlycausesfortheapprehensionthatInowfeltonhisaccount。
Towardtheendofourvoyagehebegantosufferfromalternationsoffever—fitsandshivering—fits，whichIignorantlyimaginedtobeattacksofague。Iwassoonundeceived。WehadhardlybeenadayonshorebeforehebecamesomuchworsethatIsecuredthebestmedicalassistanceCartagenacouldafford。Foradayortwothedoctorsdiffered，asusual，aboutthenatureofhiscomplaint，buterelongalarmingsymptomsdisplayedthemselves。
Themedicalmendeclaredthathislifewasindanger，andtoldmethathisdiseasewasbrainfever。
ShockedandgrievedasIwas，Ihardlyknewhowtoactatfirstunderthefreshresponsibilitynowlaiduponme。UltimatelyI
decidedonwritingtotheoldpriestwhohadbeenAlfred’stutor，andwho，asIknew，stillresidedatWincotAbbey。Itoldthisgentlemanallthathadhappened，beggedhimtobreakmymelancholynewsasgentlyaspossibletoMissElmslie，andassuredhimofmyresolutiontoremainwithMonktontothelast。
AfterIhaddispatchedmyletter，andhadsenttoGibraltartosecurethebestEnglishmedicaladvicethatcouldbeobtained，I
feltthatIhaddonemybest，andthatnothingremainedbuttowaitandhope。
ManyasadandanxioushourdidIpassbymypoorfriend’sbedside。ManyatimedidIdoubtwhetherIhaddonerightingivinganyencouragementtohisdelusion。Thereasonsfordoingsowhichhadsuggestedthemselvestomeaftermyfirstinterviewwithhimseemed，however，onreflection，tobevalidreasonsstill。TheonlywayofhasteninghisreturntoEnglandandtoMissElmslie，whowaspiningforthatreturn，wasthewayIhadtaken。Itwasnotmyfaultthatadisasterwhichnomancouldforeseehadoverthrownallhisprojectsandallmine。But，nowthatthecalamityhadhappenedandwasirretrievable，how，intheeventofhisphysicalrecovery，washismoralmaladytobecombated？
WhenIreflectedonthehereditarytaintinhismentalorganization，onthatfirstchildishfrightofStephenMonktonfromwhichhehadneverrecovered，ontheperilously—secludedlifethathehadledattheAbbey，andonhisfirmpersuasionoftherealityoftheapparitionbywhichhebelievedhimselftobeconstantlyfollowed，IconfessIdespairedofshakinghissuperstitiousfaithineverywordandlineoftheoldfamilyprophecy。Iftheseriesofstrikingcoincidenceswhichappearedtoattestitstruthhadmadeastrongandlastingimpressionon_me_（andthiswasassuredlythecase），howcouldIwonderthattheyhadproducedtheeffectofabsoluteconvictionon_his_
mind，constitutedasitwas？IfIarguedwithhim，andheansweredme，howcouldIrejoin？Ifhesaid，\"Theprophecypointsatthelastofthefamily：_I_amthelastofthefamily。TheprophecymentionsanemptyplaceinWincotvault；thereissuchanemptyplacethereatthismoment。OnthefaithoftheprophecyItoldyouthatStephenMonkton’sbodywasunburied，andyoufoundthatitwasunburied\"——ifhesaidthis，whatusewoulditbeformetoreply，\"Theseareonlystrangecoincidencesafterall？\"
ThemoreIthoughtofthetaskthatlaybeforeme，ifherecovered，themoreIfeltinclinedtodespond。TheoftenertheEnglishphysicianwhoattendedonhimsaidtome，\"Hemaygetthebetterofthefever，buthehasafixedidea，whichneverleaveshimnightorday，whichhasunsettledhisreason，andwhichwillendinkillinghim，unlessyouorsomeofhisfriendscanremoveit\"——theoftenerIheardthis，themoreacutelyIfeltmyownpowerlessness，themoreIshrankfromeveryideathatwasconnectedwiththehopelessfuture。
IhadonlyexpectedtoreceivemyanswerfromWincotintheshapeofaletter。Itwasconsequentlyagreatsurprise，aswellasagreatrelief，tobeinformedonedaythattwogentlemenwishedtospeakwithme，andtofindthatofthesetwogentlementhefirstwastheoldpriest，andthesecondamalerelativeofMrs。
Elmslie。
Justbeforetheirarrivalthefeversymptomshaddisappeared，andAlfredhadbeenpronouncedoutofdanger。Boththepriestandhiscompanionwereeagertoknowwhenthesuffererwouldbestrongenoughtotravel。TheyhadcometoCartagenaexpresslytotakehimhomewiththem，andfeltfarmorehopefulthanIdidoftherestorativeeffectsofhisnativeair。AfterallthequestionsconnectedwiththefirstimportantpointofthejourneytoEnglandhadbeenaskedandanswered，IventuredtomakesomeinquiriesafterMissElmslie。HerrelativeinformedmethatshewassufferingbothinbodyandinmindfromexcessofanxietyonAlfred’saccount。TheyhadbeenobligedtodeceiveherastothedangerousnatureofhisillnessinordertodeterherfromaccompanyingthepriestandherrelationontheirmissiontoSpain。
Slowlyandimperfectly，astheweeksworeon，Alfredregainedsomethingofhisformerphysicalstrength，butnoalterationappearedinhisillnessasitaffectedhismind。
Fromtheveryfirstdayofhisadvancetowardrecovery，ithadbeendiscoveredthatthebrainfeverhadexercisedthestrangestinfluenceoverhisfacultiesofmemory。Allrecollectionofrecenteventswasgonefromhim。EverythingconnectedwithNaples，withme，withhisjourneytoItaly，haddroppedinsomemysteriousmannerentirelyoutofhisremembrance。Socompletelyhadalllatecircumstancespassedfromhismemorythat，thoughherecognizedtheoldpriestandhisownservanteasilyonthefirstdaysofhisconvalescence，heneverrecognizedme，butregardedmewithsuchawistful，doubtingexpression，thatIfeltinexpressiblypainedwhenIapproachedhisbedside。AllhisquestionswereaboutMissElmslieandWincotAbbey，andallhistalkreferredtotheperiodwhenhisfatherwasyetalive。
Thedoctorsauguredgoodratherthanillfromthislossofmemoryofrecentincidents，sayingthatitwouldturnouttobetemporary，andthatitansweredthefirstgreathealingpurposeofkeepinghismindatease。Itriedtobelievethem——triedtofeelassanguine，whenthedaycameforhisdeparture，astheoldfriendsfeltwhoweretakinghimhome。Buttheeffortwastoomuchforme。AforebodingthatIshouldneverseehimagainoppressedmyheart，andthetearscameintomyeyesasIsawthewornfigureofmypoorfriendhalfhelped，halfliftedintothetraveling—carriage，andborneawaygentlyontheroadtowardhome。
Hehadneverrecognizedme，andthedoctorshadbeggedthatI
wouldgivehim，forsometimetocome，asfewopportunitiesaspossibleofdoingso。ButforthisrequestIshouldhaveaccompaniedhimtoEngland。Asitwas，nothingbetterremainedformetodothantochangethescene，andrecruitasIbestcouldmyenergiesofbodyandmind，depressedoflatebymuchwatchingandanxiety。ThefamouscitiesofSpainwerenotnewtome，butIvisitedthemagainandrevivedoldimpressionsoftheAlhambraandMadrid。OnceortwiceIthoughtofmakingapilgrimagetotheEast，butlateeventshadsoberedandalteredme。Thatyearning，unsatisfiedfeelingwhichwecall\"homesickness\"begantopreyuponmyheart，andIresolvedtoreturntoEngland。
IwentbackbywayofParis，havingsettledwiththepriestthatheshouldwritetomeatmybanker’sthereassoonashecouldafterAlfredhadreturnedtoWincot。IfIhadgonetotheEast，theletterwouldhavebeenforwardedtome。Iwrotetopreventthis；and，onmyarrivalatParis，stoppedatthebanker’sbeforeIwenttomyhotel。
Themomenttheletterwasputintomyhands，theblackborderontheenvelopetoldmetheworst。Hewasdead。
Therewasbutoneconsolation——hehaddiedcalmly，almosthappily，withoutoncereferringtothosefatalchanceswhichhadwroughtthefulfillmentoftheancientprophecy。\"Mybelovedpupil，\"theoldpriestwrote，\"seemedtorallyalittlethefirstfewdaysafterhisreturn，buthegainednorealstrength，andsoonsufferedaslightrelapseoffever。Afterthishesankgraduallyandgentlydaybyday，andsodepartedfromusonthelastdreadjourney。MissElmslie（whoknowsthatIamwritingthis）desiresmetoexpressherdeepandlastinggratitudeforallyourkindnesstoAlfred。Shetoldmewhenwebroughthimbackthatshehadwaitedforhimashispromisedwife，andthatshewouldnursehimnowasawifeshould；andsheneverlefthim。hisfacewasturnedtowardher，hishandwasclaspedinherswhenhedied。ItwillconsoleyoutoknowthathenevermentionedeventsatNaples，ortheshipwreckthatfollowedthem，fromthedayofhisreturntothedayofhisdeath。\"
ThreedaysafterreadingtheletterIwasatWincot，andheardallthedetailsofAlfred’slastmomentsfromthepriest。IfeltashockwhichitwouldnotbeveryeasyformetoanalyzeorexplainwhenIheardthathehadbeenburied，athisowndesire，inthefatalAbbeyvault。
Thepriesttookmedowntoseetheplace——agrim，cold，subterraneanbuilding，withalowroof，supportedonheavySaxonarches。Narrowniches，withtheendsonlyofcoffinsvisiblewithinthem，randowneachsideofthevault。Thenailsandsilverornamentsflashedhereandthereasmycompanionmovedpastthemwithalampinhishand。Atthelowerendoftheplacehestopped，pointedtoaniche，andsaid，\"Heliesthere，betweenhisfatherandmother。\"Ilookedalittlefurtheron，andsawwhatappearedatfirstlikealongdarktunnel。\"Thatisonlyanemptyniche，\"saidthepriest，followingme。\"IfthebodyofMr。
StephenMonktonhadbeenbroughttoWincot，hiscoffinwouldhavebeenplacedthere。\"
Achillcameoverme，andasenseofdreadwhichIamashamedofhavingfeltnow，butwhichIcouldnotcombatthen。Theblessedlightofdaywaspouringdowngaylyattheotherendofthevaultthroughtheopendoor。Iturnedmybackontheemptyniche，andhurriedintothesunlightandthefreshair。
AsIwalkedacrossthegrassgladeleadingdowntothevault，I
heardtherustleofawoman’sdressbehindme，andturninground，sawayoungladyadvancing，cladindeepmourning。Hersweet，sadface，hermannerassheheldoutherhand，toldmewhoitwasinaninstant。
\"Iheardthatyouwerehere，\"shesaid，\"andIwished——\"Hervoicefalteredalittle。MyheartachedasIsawhowherliptrembled，butbeforeIcouldsayanythingsherecoveredherselfandwenton：\"Iwishedtotakeyourhand，andthankyouforyourbrotherlykindnesstoAlfred；andIwantedtotellyouthatIamsureinallyoudidyouactedtenderlyandconsideratelyforthebest。Perhapsyoumaybesoongoingawayfromhomeagain，andwemaynotmeetanymore。Ishallnever，neverforgetthatyouwerekindtohimwhenhewantedafriend，andthatyouhavethegreatestclaimofanyoneonearthtobegratefullyrememberedinmythoughtsaslongasIlive。\"
Theinexpressibletendernessofhervoice，tremblingalittleallthewhileshespoke，thepalebeautyofherface，theartlesscandorinhersad，quieteyes，soaffectedmethatIcouldnottrustmyselftoanswerheratfirstexceptbygesture。BeforeI
recoveredmyvoiceshehadgivenmeherhandoncemoreandhadleftme。
Ineversawheragain。Thechancesandchangesoflifekeptusapart。WhenIlastheardofher，yearsandyearsago，shewasfaithfultothememoryofthedead，andwasAdaElmsliestillforAlfredMonkton’ssake。
THEFIFTHDAY。
STILLcloudy，butnoraintokeepouryoungladyindoors。Thepaper，asusual，withoutinterestto_me_。
To—dayOwenactuallyvanquishedhisdifficultiesandfinishedhisstory。InumbereditEight，andthrewthecorrespondingnumber（asIhaddonethedaybeforeinMorgan’scase）intothechinabowl。
AlthoughIcoulddiscovernodirectevidenceagainsther，I
stronglysuspectedTheQueenofHeartsoftamperingwiththelotsonthefifthevening，toirritateMorganbymakingithisturntoreadagain，aftertheshortestpossibleintervalofrepose。
Howeverthatmightbe，thenumberdrawnwascertainlySeven，andthestorytobereadwasconsequentlythestorywhichmybrotherhadfinishedonlytwodaysbefore。
IfIhadnotknownthatitwaspartofMorgan’scharacteralwaystodoexactlythereverseofwhatmightbeexpectedfromhim，I
shouldhavebeensurprisedattheextraordinarydocilityheexhibitedthemomenthismanuscriptwasplacedinhishands。
\"Myturnagain？\"hesaid。\"Howverysatisfactory！Iwasanxioustoescapefromthisabsurdpositionofmineassoonaspossible，andhereistheopportunitymostconsideratelyputintomyhands。
Lookout，allofyou！Iwon’twasteanothermoment。Imeantobegininstantly。\"
\"Dotellme，\"interposedJessie，mischievously，\"shallIbeverymuchinterestedto—night’？’
\"Notyou！\"retortedMorgan。\"Youwillbeverymuchfrightenedinstead。Youhairisuncommonlysmoothatthepresentmoment，butitwillbeallstandingonendbeforeI’vedone。Don’tblameme，miss，ifyouareanobjectwhenyougotobedto—night！\"
Withthiscuriousintroductoryspeechhebegantoread。Iwasobligedtointerrupthimtosaythefewwordsofexplanationwhichthestoryneeded。
\"Beforemybrotherbegins，\"Isaid，\"itmaybeaswelltomentionthatheishimselfthedoctorwhoissupposedtorelatethisnarrative。TheeventshappenedatatimeofhislifewhenhehadleftLondon，andhadestablishedhimselfinmedicalpracticeinoneofourlargenortherntowns。\"
Withthatbriefexplanation，Iapologizedforinterruptingthereader，andMorganbeganoncemore。
BROTHERMORGAN’SSTORY
ofTHEDEADHAND
WHENthispresentnineteenthcenturywasyoungerbyagoodmanyyearsthanitisnow，acertainfriendofmine，namedArthurHolliday，happenedtoarriveinthetownofDoncasterexactlyinthemiddleoftherace—week，or，inotherwords，inthemiddleofthemonthofSeptember。
Hewasoneofthosereckless，rattle—pated，open—hearted，andopen—mouthedyounggentlemenwhopossessthegiftoffamiliarityinitshighestperfection，andwhoscramblecarelesslyalongthejourneyoflife，makingfriends，asthephraseis，wherevertheygo。Hisfatherwasarichmanufacturer，andhadboughtlandedpropertyenoughinoneofthemidlandcountiestomakeallthebornsquiresinhisneighborhoodthoroughlyenviousofhim。
Arthurwashisonlyson，possessorinprospectofthegreatestateandthegreatbusinessafterhisfather’sdeath；wellsuppliedwithmoney，andnottoorigidlylookedafterduringhisfather’slifetime。Report，orscandal，whicheveryouplease，saidthattheoldgentlemanhadbeenratherwildinhisyouthfuldays，andthat，unlikemostparents，hewasnotdisposedtobeviolentlyindignantwhenhefoundthathissontookafterhim。
Thismaybetrueornot。ImyselfonlyknewtheelderMr。
Hollidaywhenhewasgettingoninyears，andthenhewasasquietandasrespectableagentlemanaseverImetwith。