第5章

lookingperson，whowasneverseenelsewhere，orunderothercircumstances。Itwasremarked，too，thatthisman，whoserelationtoSirRobertwasneverdistinctlyascertained，wastheonlypersontowhomheseemedtospeakunnecessarily；itwasobservedthatwhilewiththecountrygentryheexchangednofurthercommunicationthanwhatwasunavoidableinarranginghissportingtransactions，withthispersonhewouldconverseearnestlyandfrequently。Traditionassertsthat，toenhancethecuriositywhichthisunaccountableandexclusivepreferenceexcited，thestrangerpossessedsomestrikingandunpleasantpeculiaritiesofpersonandofgarb——shedoesnotsay，however，whatthesewere——butthey，inconjunctionwithSirRobert’ssecludedhabitsandextraordinaryrunofluck——asuccesswhichwassupposedtoresultfromthesuggestionsandimmediateadviceoftheunknown——weresufficienttowarrantreportinpronouncingthattherewassomethingQUEERinthewind，andinsurmisingthatSirRobertwasplayingafearfulandahazardousgame，andthat，inshort，hisstrangecompanionwaslittlebetterthanthedevilhimselfYears，however，rolledquietlyaway，andnothingnoveloccurredinthearrangementsofCastleArdagh，exceptingthatSirRobertpartedwithhisoddcompanion，butasnobodycouldtellwhencehecame，sonobodycouldsaywhitherhehadgone。SirRobert’shabits，however，underwentnoconsequentchange；hecontinuedregularlytofrequenttheracemeetings，withoutmixingatallintheconvivialitiesofthegentry，andimmediatelyafterwardstorelapseintothesecludedmonotonyofhisordinarylife。

Itwassaidthathehadaccumulatedvastsumsofmoney——and，ashisbetswerealwayssuccessful，andalwayslarge，suchmusthavebeenthecase。Hedidnotsuffertheacquisitionofwealth，however，toinfluencehishospitalityorhishousekeeping——heneitherpurchasedland，norextendedhisestablishment；andhismodeofenjoyinghismoneymusthavebeenaltogetherthatofthemiser——consistingmerelyinthepleasureoftouchingandtellinghisgold，andintheconsciousnessofwealth。

SirRobert’stemper，sofarfromimproving，becamemorethanevergloomyandmorose。Hesometimescarriedtheindulgenceofhisevildispositionstosuchaheightthatitbordereduponinsanity。

Duringtheseparoxysmshewouldneithereat，drink，norsleep。Onsuchoccasionsheinsistedonperfectprivacy，evenfromtheintrusionofhismosttrustedservants；

hisvoicewasfrequentlyheard，sometimesinearnestsupplication，sometimeasifinloudandangryaltercationwithsomeunknownvisitant；sometimeshewould，forhourstogether，walktoandfrothroughoutthelongoakwainscotedapartment，whichhegenerallyoccupied，withwildgesticulationsandagitatedpace，inthemannerofonewhohasbeenrousedtoastateofunnaturalexcitementbysomesuddenandappallingintimation。

Theseparoxysmsofapparentlunacyweresofrightful，thatduringtheircontinuanceevenhisoldestandmost-faithfuldomesticsdarednotapproachhim；

consequently，hishoursofagonywereneverintrudedupon，andthemysteriouscausesofhissufferingsappearedlikelytoremainhiddenforever。

Ononeoccasionafitofthiskindcontinuedforanunusualtime，theordinarytermoftheirduration——abouttwodays——hadbeenlongpast，andtheoldservantwhogenerallywaiteduponSirRobertafterthesevisitations，havinginvainlistenedforthewell-knowntinkleofhismaster’shand-bell，begantofeelextremelyanxious；hefearedthathismastermighthavediedfromsheerexhaustion，orperhapsputanendtohisownexistenceduringhismiserabledepression。Thesefearsatlengthbecamesostrong，thathavinginvainurgedsomeofhisbrotherservantstoaccompanyhim，hedeterminedtogoupalone，andhimselfseewhetheranyaccidenthadbefallenSirRobert。

Hetraversedtheseveralpassageswhichconductedfromthenewtothemoreancientpartsofthemansion，andhavingarrivedintheoldhallofthecastle，theuttersilenceofthehour，foritwasverylateinthenight，theideaofthenatureoftheenterpriseinwhichhewasengaginghimself，asensationofremotenessfromanythinglikehumancompanionship，but，morethanall，thevividbutundefinedanticipationofsomethinghorrible，cameuponhimwithsuchoppressiveweightthathehesitatedastowhetherheshouldproceed。Realuneasiness，however，respectingthefateofhismaster，forwhomhefeltthatkindofattachmentwhichtheforceofhabitualintercoursenotunfrequentlyengendersrespectingobjectsnotinthemselvesamiable，andalsoalatentunwillingnesstoexposehisweaknesstotheridiculeofhisfellow-servants，combinedtoovercomehisreluctance；andhehadjustplacedhisfootuponthefirststepofthestaircasewhichconductedtohismaster’schamber，whenhisattentionwasarrestedbyalowbutdistinctknockingatthehall-door。

Not，perhaps，verysorryatfindingthusanexcuseevenfordeferringhisintendedexpedition，heplacedthecandleuponastoneblockwhichlayinthehall，andapproachedthedoor，uncertainwhetherhisearshadnotdeceivedhim。Thisdoubtwasjustifiedbythecircumstancethatthehallentrancehadbeenfornearlyfiftyyearsdisusedasamodeofingresstothecastle。

Thesituationofthisgatealso，whichwehaveendeavouredtodescribe，openinguponanarrowledgeofrockwhichoverhangsaperilouscliff，rendereditatalltimes，butparticularlyatnight，adangerousentrance。Thisshelvingplatformofrock，whichformedtheonlyavenuetothedoor，wasdivided，asIhavealreadystated，byabroadchasm，theplanksacrosswhichhadlongdisappearedbydecayorotherwise，sothatitseemedatleasthighlyim-

probablethatanymancouldhavefoundhiswayacrossthepassageinsafetytothedoor，moreparticularlyonanightlikethat，ofsingulardarkness。Theoldman，therefore，listenedattentively，toascertainwhetherthefirstapplicationshouldbefollowedbyanother。Hehadnotlongtowait；thesamelowbutsingularlydistinctknockingwasrepeated；solowthatitseemedasiftheapplicanthademployednoharderorheavierinstrumentthanhishand，andyet，despitetheimmensethicknessofthedoor，withsuchstrengththatthesoundwasdistinctlyaudible。

Theknockwasrepeatedathirdtime，withoutanyincreaseofloudness；andtheoldman，obeyinganimpulseforwhichtohisdyinghourhecouldneveraccount，proceededtoremove，onebyone，thethreegreatoakenbarswhichsecuredthedoor。Timeanddamphadeffectuallycorrodedtheironchambersofthelock，sothatitaffordedlittleresistance。Withsomeeffort，ashebelieved，assistedfromwithout，theoldservantsucceededinopeningthedoor；

andalow，square-builtfigure，apparentlythatofamanwrappedinalargeblackcloak，enteredthehall。Theservantcouldnotseemuchofthisvisitantwithanydistinctness；hisdressappearedforeign，theskirtofhisamplecloakwasthrownoveroneshoulder；heworealargefelthat，withaveryheavyleaf，fromunderwhichescapedwhatappearedtobeamassoflongsooty-blackhair；hisfeetwerecasedinheavyriding-boots。Suchwerethefewparticularswhichtheservanthadtimeandlighttoobserve。Thestrangerdesiredhimtolethismasterknowinstantlythatafriendhadcome，byappointment，tosettlesomebusinesswithhim。Theservanthesitated，butaslightmotiononthepartofhisvisitor，asiftopossesshimselfofthecandle，determinedhim；so，takingitinhishand，heascendedthecastlestairs，leavinghisguestinthehall。

Onreachingtheapartmentwhichopenedupontheoak-chamberhewassurprisedtoobservethedoorofthatroompartlyopen，andtheroomitselflitup。Hepaused，buttherewasnosound；helookedin，andsawSirRobert，hisheadandtheupperpartofhisbodyrecliningonatable，uponwhichburnedalamp；hisarmswerestretchedforwardoneitherside，andperfectlymotionless；itappearedthat，havingbeensittingatthetable，hehadthussunkforward，eitherdeadorinaswoon。Therewasnosoundofbreathing；allwassilent，exceptthesharptickingofawatch，whichlaybesidethelamp。Theservantcoughedtwiceorthrice，butwithnoeffect；hisfearsnowalmostamountedtocertainty，andhewasapproachingthetableonwhichhismasterpartlylay，tosatisfyhimselfofhisdeath，whenSirRobertslowlyraisedhishead，andthrowinghimselfbackinhischair，fixedhiseyesinaghastlyanduncertaingazeuponhisattendant。Atlengthhesaid，slowlyandpainfully，asifhedreadedtheanswer：

’InGod’sname，whatareyou？“

’Sir，’saidtheservant，’astrangegentlemanwantstoseeyoubelow。’

AtthisintimationSirRobert，startingonhisfeetandtossinghisarmswildlyupwards，utteredashriekofsuchappallinganddespairingterrorthatitwasalmosttoofearfulforhumanendurance；andlongafterthesoundhadceaseditseemedtotheterrifiedimaginationoftheoldservanttorollthroughthedesertedpassagesinburstsofunnaturallaughter。AfterafewmomentsSirRobertsaid：

’Can’tyousendhimaway？Whydoeshecomesosoon？OGod!OGod!lethimleavemeforanhour；alittletime。

Ican’tseehimnow；trytogethimaway。

YouseeIcan’tgodownnow；Ihavenotstrength。OGod!OGod!lethimcomebackinanhour；itisnotlongtowait。

Hecannotloseanythingbyit；nothing，nothing，nothing。Tellhimthat；sayanythingtohim。’

Theservantwentdown。Inhisownwords，hedidnotfeelthestairsunderhimtillhegottothehall。Thefigurestoodexactlyashehadleftit。Hedeliveredhismaster’smessageascoherentlyashecould。

Thestrangerrepliedinacarelesstone：

’IfSirRobertwillnotcomedowntome，Imustgouptohim。’

Themanreturned，andtohissurprisehefoundhismastermuchmorecomposedinmanner。Helistenedtothemessage，andthoughthecoldperspirationroseindropsuponhisforeheadfasterthanhecouldwipeitaway，hismannerhadlostthedreadfulagitationwhichhadmarkeditbefore。Herosefeebly，andcastingalastlookofagonybehindhim，passedfromtheroomtothelobby，wherehesignedtohisattendantnottofollowhim。Themanmovedasfarastheheadofthestaircase，fromwhencehehadatolerablydistinctviewofthehall，whichwasimperfectlylightedbythecandlehehadleftthere。

Hesawhismasterreel，ratherthanwalkdownthestairs，clingingallthewaytothebanisters。Hewalkedon，asifabouttosinkeverymomentfromweakness。

Thefigureadvancedasiftomeethim，andinpassingstruckdownthelight。

Theservantcouldseenomore；buttherewasasoundofstruggling，renewedatintervalswithsilentbutfearfulenergy。Itwasevident，however，thatthepartieswereapproachingthedoor，forheheardthesolidoaksoundtwiceorthrice，asthefeetofthecombatants，inshufflinghitherandthitheroverthefloor，struckuponit。

Afteraslightpauseheheardthedoorthrownopenwithsuchviolencethattheleafseemedtostriketheside-wallofthehall，foritwassodarkwithoutthatthiscouldonlybesurmisedbythesound。

Thestrugglewasrenewedwithanagonyandintensenessofenergythatbetrayeditselfindeep-drawngasps。Onedesperateeffort，whichterminatedinthebreakingofsomepartofthedoor，producingasoundasifthedoor-postwaswrenchedfromitsposition，wasfollowedbyanotherwrestle，evidentlyuponthenarrowledgewhichranoutsidethedoor，overtoppingtheprecipice。

Thisprovedtobethefinalstruggle，foritwasfollowedbyacrashingsoundasifsomeheavybodyhadfallenover，andwasrushingdowntheprecipice，throughthelightboughsthatcrossednearthetop。Allthenbecamestillasthegrave，exceptwhenthemoanofthenightwindsighedupthewoodedglen。

Theoldservanthadnotnervetoreturnthroughthehall，andtohimthedarknessseemedallbutendless；butmorningatlengthcame，andwithitthedisclosureoftheeventsofthenight。Nearthedoor，upontheground，laySirRobert’ssword-

belt，whichhadgivenwayinthescuffle。

Ahugesplinterfromthemassivedoor-

posthadbeenwrenchedoffbyanalmostsuperhumaneffort——onewhichnothingbutthegripeofadespairingmancouldhavesevered——andontherockoutsidewereleftthemarksoftheslippingandslidingoffeet。

Atthefootoftheprecipice，notimmediatelyunderthecastle，butdraggedsomewayuptheglen，werefoundtheremainsofSirRobert，withhardlyavestigeofalimborfeatureleftdistinguishable。Therighthand，however，wasuninjured，andinitsfingerswereclutched，withthefixednessofdeath，alonglockofcoarsesootyhair——theonlydirectcircumstantialevidenceofthepresenceofasecondperson。

Sosaystradition。

Thisstory，asIhavementioned，wascurrentamongthedealersinsuchlore；

buttheoriginalfactsaresodissimilarinallbutthenameoftheprincipalpersonmentionedandhismodeoflife，andthefactthathisdeathwasaccompaniedwithcircumstancesofextraordinarymystery，thatthetwonarrativesaretotallyirreconcilable(evenallowingtheutmostfortheexaggeratinginfluenceoftradition)，exceptbysupposingreporttohavecombinedandblendedtogetherthefabuloushistoriesofseveraldistinctbearersofthefamilyname。Howeverthismaybe，Ishalllaybeforethereaderadistinctrecitaloftheeventsfromwhichtheforegoingtraditionarose。Withrespecttothesetherecanbenomistake；theyareauthenticatedasfullyasanythingcanbebyhumantestimony；andIstatethemprincipallyupontheevidenceofaladywhoherselfboreaprominentpartinthestrangeeventswhichsherelated，andwhichInowrecordasbeingamongthefewwell-attestedtalesofthemarvellouswhichithasbeenmyfatetohear。I

shall，asfarasIamable，arrangeinonecombinednarrativetheevidenceofseveraldistinctpersonswhowereeye-witnessesofwhattheyrelated，andwiththetruthofwhosetestimonyIamsolemnlyanddeeplyimpressed。

SirRobertArdagh，aswechoosetocallhim，wastheheirandrepresentativeofthefamilywhosenamehebore；butowingtotheprodigalityofhisfather，theestatesdescendedtohiminaveryimpairedcondition。Urgedbytherestlessspiritofyouth，ormoreprobablybyafeelingofpridewhichcouldnotsubmittowitness，inthepaternalmansion，whatheconsideredahumiliatingalterationinthestyleandhospitalitywhichuptothattimehaddistinguishedhisfamily，SirRobertleftIrelandandwentabroad。