第13章

"IftheFiscalhadseenmyoldfriendwhenIcommunicatedthedoctors’message，Idoubtifhewouldhaveventuredtochargetheprisonerwiththemurderofhiswife。Tomymindthechargewasnothinglessthananoutrage。Iresistedtheseizureoftheprisoner’sDiaryandletters，animatedbythatfeeling。NowthattheDiaryhasbeenproduced，Iagreewiththeprisoner’smotherindenyingthatitisfairevidencetobringagainsthim。ADiary（whenitextendsbeyondabarerecordoffactsanddates）isnothingbutanexpressionofthepoorestandweakestsideinthecharacterofthepersonwhokeepsit。Itis，inninecasesoutoften，themoreorlesscontemptibleoutpouringofvanityandconceitwhichthewriterdarenotexhibittoanymortalbuthimself。Iamtheprisoner’soldestfriend。IsolemnlydeclarethatIneverknewhecouldwritedownrightnonsenseuntilIheardhisDiaryreadinthisCourt！

"_He_killhiswife！_He_treathiswifewithneglectandcruelty！Iventuretosay，fromtwentyyears’experienceofhim，thatthereisnomaninthisassemblywhoisconstitutionallymoreincapableofcrimeandmoreincapableofcrueltythanthemanwhostandsattheBar。WhileIamaboutit，Igofurtherstill。Ievendoubtwhetheramancapableofcrimeandcapableofcrueltycouldhavefounditinhishearttodoeviltothewomanwhoseuntimelydeathisthesubjectofthisinquiry。

"Ihaveheardwhattheignorantandprejudicednurse，ChristinaOrmsay，hassaidofthedeceasedlady。Frommyownpersonalobservation，Icontradicteverywordofit。Mrs。EustaceMacallan——grantingherpersonaldefects——wasneverthelessoneofthemostcharmingwomenIevermetwith。Shewashighlybred，inthebestsenseoftheword。Ineversawinanyotherpersonsosweetasmileashers，orsuchgraceandbeautyofmovementashers。Ifyoulikedmusic，shesangbeautifully；andfewprofessedmusicianshadsuchatouchonthepianoashers。Ifyoupreferredtalking，Ineveryetmetwiththeman（oreventhewoman，whichissayingagreatdealmore）whomherconversationcouldnotcharm。Tosaythatsuchawifeasthiscouldbefirstcruellyneglected，andthenbarbarouslymurdered，bytheman——no！bythemartyr——whostandsthere，istotellmethatthesunnevershinesatnoonday，orthattheheavenisnotabovetheearth。

"Ohyes！Iknowthatthelettersofherfriendsshowthatshewrotetotheminbittercomplaintofherhusband’sconducttoher。Butrememberwhatoneofthosefriends（thewisestandthebestofthem）saysinreply。’Iowntothinking，’shewrites，’thatyoursensitivenatureexaggeratesormisinterpretstheneglectthatyouexperienceatthehandsofyourhusband。’There，inthatonesentence，isthewholetruth！

Mrs。EustaceMacallan’snaturewastheimaginative，self—tormentingnatureofapoet。Nomortallovecouldeverhavebeenrefinedenoughfor_her。_Trifleswhichwomenofacoarsermoralfiberwouldhavepassedoverwithoutnotice，werecausesofdownrightagonytothatexquisitelysensitivetemperament。Therearepersonsborntobeunhappy。Thatpoorladywasoneofthem。

WhenIhavesaidthis，Ihavesaidall。

"No！Thereisonewordmorestilltobeadded。

"ItmaybeaswelltoremindtheprosecutionthatMrs。EustaceMacallan’sdeathwasinthepecuniarysenseaseriouslosstoherhusband。Hehadinsistedonhavingthewholeofherfortunesettledonherself，andonherrelativesafterher，whenhemarried。HerincomefromthatfortunehelpedtokeepinsplendorthehouseandgroundsatGleninch。Theprisoner’sownresources（aidedevenbyhismother’sjointure）werequiteinadequatefitlytodefraytheexpensesoflivingathissplendidcountry—seat。

Knowingallthecircumstances，Icanpositivelyassertthatthewife’sdeathhasdeprivedthehusbandoftwo—thirdsofhisincome。Andtheprosecution，viewinghimasthebasestandcruelestofmen，declaresthathedeliberatelykilledher——withallhispecuniaryinterestspointingtothepreservationofherlife！

"ItisuselesstoaskmewhetherInoticedanythingintheconductoftheprisonerandMrs。Beaulywhichmightjustifyawife’sjealousy。IneverobservedMrs。Beaulywithanyattention，andIneverencouragedtheprisonerintalkingtomeabouther。

Hewasageneraladmirerofprettywomen——sofarasIknow，inaperfectlyinnocentway。ThathecouldpreferMrs。Beaulytohiswifeisinconceivabletome，unlesshewereoutofhissenses。I

neverhadanyreasontobelievethathewasoutofhissenses。

"Astothequestionofthearsenic——ImeanthequestionoftracingthatpoisontothepossessionofMrs。EustaceMacallan——I

amabletogiveevidencewhichmay，perhaps，beworthyoftheattentionoftheCourt。

"IwaspresentintheFiscal’sofficeduringtheexaminationofthepapers，andoftheotherobjectsdiscoveredatGleninch。Thedressing—casebelongingtothedeceasedladywasshowntomeafteritscontentshadbeenofficiallyinvestigatedbytheFiscalhimself。Ihappentohaveaverysensitivesenseoftouch。Inhandlingthelidofthedressing—case，ontheinnersideIfeltsomethingatacertainplacewhichinducedmetoexaminethewholestructureofthelidverycarefully。Theresultwasthediscoveryofaprivaterepositoryconcealedinthespacebetweentheouterwoodandthelining。InthatrepositoryIfoundthebottlewhichInowproduce。"

Thefurtherexaminationofthewitnesswassuspendedwhilethehiddenbottlewascomparedwiththebottlesproperlybelongingtothedressing—case。

Theselastwereofthefinestcutglass，andofaveryelegantform——entirelyunlikethebottlefoundintheprivaterepository，whichwasofthecommonestmanufacture，andoftheshapeordinarilyinuseamongchemists。Notadropofliquid，notthesmallestatomofanysolidsubstance，remainedinit。Nosmellexhaledfromit——and，moreunfortunatelystillfortheinterestsofthedefense，nolabelwasfoundattachedtothebottlewhenithadbeendiscovered。

Thechemistwhohadsoldthesecondsupplyofarsenictotheprisonerwasrecalledandexamined。Hedeclaredthatthebottlewasexactlylikethebottleinwhichhehadplacedthearsenic。

Itwas，however，equallylikehundredsofotherbottlesinhisshop。Intheabsenceofthelabel（onwhichhehadhimselfwrittentheword"Poison"），itwasimpossibleforhimtoidentifythebottle。Thedressing—caseandthedeceasedlady’sbedroomhadbeenvainlysearchedforthechemist’smissinglabel——onthechancethatitmighthavebecomeaccidentallydetachedfromthemysteriousemptybottle。Inbothinstancesthesearchhadbeenwithoutresult。Morally，itwasafairconclusionthatthismightbereallythebottlewhichhadcontainedthepoison。Legally，therewasnottheslightestproofofit。

Thusendedthelasteffortofthedefensetotracethearsenicpurchasedbytheprisonertothepossessionofhiswife。ThebookrelatingthepracticesoftheStyrianpeasantry（foundinthedeceasedlady’sroom）hadbeenproducedButcouldthebookprovethatshehadaskedherhusbandtobuyarsenicforher？Thecrumpledpaper，withthegrainsofpowderleftinit，hadbeenidentifiedbythechemist，andhadbeendeclaredtocontaingrainsofarsenic。ButwherewastheproofthatMrs。EustaceMacallan’shandhadplacedthepacketinthecabinet，andhademptieditofitscontents？Nodirectevidenceanywhere！Nothingbutconjecture！

TherenewedexaminationofMiserrimusDextertouchedonmattersofnogeneralinterest。Thecross—examinationresolveditself，insubstance，intoamentaltrialofstrengthbetweenthewitnessandtheLordAdvocate；thestruggleterminating（accordingtothegeneralopinion）infavorofthewitness。OnequestionandoneansweronlyIwillrepeathere。TheyappearedtometobeofseriousimportancetotheobjectthatIhadinviewinreadingtheTrial。

"Ibelieve，Mr。Dexter，"theLordAdvocateremarked，inhismostironicalmanner，"thatyouhaveatheoryofyourown，whichmakesthedeathofMrs。EustaceMacallannomysteryto_you？_"

"Imayhavemyownideasonthatsubject，asonothersubjects，"

thewitnessreplied。"Butletmeasktheirlordships，theJudges：

AmIheretodeclaretheoriesortostatefacts？"

Imadeanoteofthatanswer。Mr。Dexter’s"ideas"weretheideasofatruefriendtomyhusband，andofamanoffarmorethanaverageability。Theymightbeofinestimablevaluetomeinthecomingtime——ifIcouldprevailonhimtocommunicatethem。

Imaymention，whileIamwritingonthesubject，thatIaddedtothisfirstnoteasecond，containinganobservationofmyown。InalludingtoMrs。Beauly，whilehewasgivinghisevidence，Mr。

Dexterhadspokenofhersoslightingly——sorudely，Imightalmostsay——astosuggesthehadsomestrongprivatereasonsfordisliking（perhapsfordistrusting）thislady。Here，again，itmightbeofvitalimportancetometoseeMr。Dexter，andtoclearup，ifIcould，whatthedignityoftheCourthadpassedoverwithoutnotice。

Thelastwitnesshadbeennowexamined。Thechaironwheelsglidedawaywiththehalf—maninit，andwaslostinadistantcorneroftheCourt。TheLordAdvocaterosetoaddresstheJuryfortheprosecution。

IdonotscrupletosaythatIneverreadanythingsoinfamousasthisgreatlawyer’sspeech。Hewasnotashamedtodeclare，atstarting，thathefirmlybelievedtheprisonertobeguilty。Whatrighthadhetosayanythingofthesort？Wasitfor_him_todecide？WashetheJudgeandJuryboth，Ishouldliketoknow？

Havingbegunbycondemningtheprisoneronhisownauthority，theLordAdvocateproceededtopervertthemostinnocentactionsofthatunhappymansoastogivethemasvileanaspectaspossible。Thus：WhenEustacekissedhispoorwife’sforeheadonherdeath—bed，hedidittocreateafavorableimpressioninthemindsofthedoctorandthenurse！Again，whenhisgriefunderhisbereavementcompletelyoverwhelmedhim，hewastriumphinginsecret，andactingapart！Ifyoulookedintohisheart，youwouldseethereadiabolicalhatredforhiswifeandaninfatuatedpassionforMrs。Beauly！Ineverythinghehadsaidhehadlied；ineverythinghehaddonehehadactedlikeacraftyandheartlesswretch！Sothechiefcounselfortheprosecutionspokeoftheprisoner，standinghelplessbeforehimattheBar。

Inmyhusband’splace，ifIcouldhavedonenothingmore，Iwouldhavethrownsomethingathishead。Asitwas，ItorethepageswhichcontainedthespeechfortheprosecutionoutoftheReportandtrampledthemundermyfeet——andfeltallthebettertooforhavingdoneit。AtthesametimeIfeelalittleashamedofhavingrevengedmyselfontheharmlessprintedleavesnow。

ThefifthdayoftheTrialopenedwiththespeechforthedefense。Ah，whatacontrasttotheinfamiesutteredbytheLordAdvocatewasthegrandburstofeloquencebytheDeanofFaculty，speakingonmyhusband’sside！

Thisillustriouslawyerstrucktherightnoteatstarting。

"Iyieldtonoone，"hebegan，"inthepityIfeelforthewife。

ButIsay，themartyrinthiscase，fromfirsttolast，isthehusband。Whateverthepoorwomanmayhaveendured，thatunhappymanattheBarhassuffered，andisnowsuffering，more。Ifhehadnotbeenthekindestofmen，themostdocileandmostdevotedofhusbands，hewouldneverhaveoccupiedhispresentdreadfulsituation。Amanofameanerandhardernaturewouldhavefeltsuspicionsofhiswife’smotiveswhensheaskedhimtobuypoison——wouldhaveseenthroughthewretchedlycommonplaceexcusesshemadeforwantingit——andwouldhavewiselyandcruellysaid，’No。’Theprisonerisnotthatsortofman。Heistoogoodtohiswife，tooinnocentofanyevilthoughttowardher，ortowardanyone，toforeseetheinconveniencesandthedangerstowhichhisfatalcompliancemayexposehim。Andwhatistheresult？Hestandsthere，brandedasamurderer，becausehewastoohigh—mindedandtoohonorabletosuspecthiswife。"

Speakingthusofthehusband，theDeanwasjustaseloquentandjustasunanswerablewhenhecametospeakofthewife。

"TheLordAdvocate，"hesaid，"hasasked，withthebitterironyforwhichheiscelebratedattheScottishBar，whywehavefailedentirelytoprovethattheprisonerplacedthetwopacketsofpoisoninthepossessionofhiswife。Isay，inanswer，wehaveproved，first，thatthewifewaspassionatelyattachedtothehusband；secondly，thatshefeltbitterlythedefectsinherpersonalappearance，andespeciallythedefectsinhercomplexion；and，thirdly，thatshewasinformedofarsenicasasupposedremedyforthosedefects，takeninternally。Tomenwhoknowanythingofhumannature，thereisproofenough。Doesmylearnedfriendactuallysupposethatwomenareinthehabitofmentioningthesecretartificesandapplicationsbywhichtheyimprovetheirpersonalappearance？Isitinhisexperienceofthesexthatawomanwhoiseagerlybentonmakingherselfattractivetoamanwouldtellthatman，ortellanybodyelsewhomightcommunicatewithhim，thatthecharmbywhichshehopedtowinhisheart——saythecharmofaprettycomplexion——hadbeenartificiallyacquiredbytheperiloususeofadeadlypoison？Thebareideaofsuchathingisabsurd。OfcoursenobodyeverheardMrs。EustaceMacallanspeakofarsenic。Ofcoursenobodyeversurprisedherintheactoftakingarsenic。Itisintheevidencethatshewouldnotevenconfideherintentiontotrythepoisontothefriendswhohadtoldherofitasaremedy，andwhohadgotherthebook。Sheactuallybeggedthemtoconsidertheirbriefconversationonthesubjectasstrictlyprivate。Fromfirsttolast，poorcreature，shekepthersecret；justasshewouldhavekepthersecretifshehadwornfalsehair，orifshehadbeenindebtedtothedentistforherteeth。Andthereyouseeherhusband，inperilofhislife，becauseawomanacted_like_awoman——asyourwives，gentlemenoftheJury，would，inasimilarposition，acttowardYou。"

Aftersuchgloriousoratoryasthis（IwishIhadroomtoquotemoreofit！），thenext，andlast，speechdeliveredattheTrial——thatistosay，theChargeoftheJudgetotheJury——isdrearyreadingindeed。

HislordshipfirsttoldtheJurythattheycouldnotexpecttohavedirectevidenceofthepoisoning。Suchevidencehardlyeveroccurredincasesofpoisoning。Theymustbesatisfiedwiththebestcircumstantialevidence。Allquitetrue，Idaresay。But，havingtoldtheJurytheymightacceptcircumstantialevidence，heturnedbackagainonhisownwords，andwarnedthemagainstbeingtooreadytotrustit！"Youmusthaveevidencesatisfactoryandconvincingtoyourownminds，"hesaid，"inwhichyoufindnoconjectures——butonlyirresistibleandjustinferences。"Whoistodecidewhatisajustinference？Andwhatiscircumstantialevidence_but_conjecture？

Afterthisspecimen，Ineedgivenofurtherextractsfromthesummingup。TheJury，thoroughlybewilderednodoubt，tookrefugeinacompromise。Theyoccupiedanhourinconsideringanddebatingamongthemselvesintheirownroom。（Ajuryofwomenwouldnothavetakenaminute！）ThentheyreturnedintoCourt，andgavetheirtimidandtrimmingScotchVerdictinthesewords：

"NotProven。"

Someslightapplausefollowedamongtheaudience，whichwasinstantlychecked。TheprisonerwasdismissedfromtheBar。Heslowlyretired，likeamanindeepgrief：hisheadsunkonhisbreast——notlookingatanyone，andnotreplyingwhenhisfriendsspoketohim。Heknew，poorfellow，theslurthattheVerdictleftonhim。"Wedon’tsayyouareinnocentofthecrimechargedagainstyou；weonlysaythereisnotevidenceenoughtoconvictyou。"Inthatlameandimpotentconclusiontheproceedingsendedatthetime。Andtheretheywouldhaveremainedforalltime——butforMe。

CHAPTERXXI。

ISEEMYWAY。

INthegraylightofthenewmorningIclosedtheReportofmyhusband’sTrialfortheMurderofhisfirstWife。

Nosenseoffatigueoverpoweredme。Ihadnowish，aftermylonghoursofreadingandthinking，toliedownandsleep。Itwasstrange，butitwasso。IfeltasifI_had_slept，andhadnowjustawakened——anewwoman，withanewmind。

IcouldnowatlastunderstandEustace’sdesertionofme。ToamanofhisrefinementitwouldhavebeenamartyrdomtomeethiswifeaftershehadreadthethingspublishedofhimtoalltheworldintheReport。Ifeltthatashewouldhavefeltit。AtthesametimeIthoughthemighthavetrustedMetomakeamendstohimforthemartyrdom，andmighthavecomeback。Perhapsitmightyetendinhiscomingback。Inthemeanwhile，andinthatexpectation，Ipitiedandforgavehimwithmywholeheart。

Onelittlematteronlydweltonmyminddisagreeably，inspiteofmyphilosophy。DidEustacestillsecretlyloveMrs。Beauly？orhadIextinguishedthatpassioninhim？Towhatorderofbeautydidthisladybelong？Werewebyanychance，theleastintheworldlikeoneanother？

Thewindowofmyroomlookedtotheeast。Idrewuptheblind，andsawthesunrisinggrandlyinaclearsky。Thetemptationtogooutandbreathethefreshmorningairwasirresistible。Iputonmyhatandshawl，andtooktheReportoftheTrialundermyarm。Theboltsofthebackdoorwereeasilydrawn。InanotherminuteIwasoutinBenjamin’sprettylittlegarden。

Composedandstrengthenedbytheinvitingsolitudeandthedeliciousair，Ifoundcourageenoughtofacetheseriousquestionthatnowconfrontedme——thequestionofthefuture。

IhadreadtheTrial。Ihadvowedtodevotemylifetothesacredobjectofvindicatingmyhusband’sinnocence。Asolitary，defenselesswoman，Istoodpledgedtomyselftocarrythatdesperateresolutionthroughtoanend。HowwasItobegin？

Theboldwayofbeginningwassurelythewisewayinsuchapositionasmine。Ihadgoodreasons（founded，asIhavealreadymentioned，ontheimportantpartplayedbythiswitnessattheTrial）forbelievingthatthefittestpersontoadviseandassistmewas——MiserrimusDexter。HemightdisappointtheexpectationsthatIhadfixedonhim，orhemightrefusetohelpme，or（likemyuncleStarkweather）hemightthinkIhadtakenleaveofmysenses。Alltheseeventswerepossible。Nevertheless，Iheldtomyresolutiontotrytheexperiment。Ifhewereinthelandoftheliving，Idecidedthatmyfirststepatstartingshouldtakemetothedeformedmanwiththestrangename。

Supposinghereceivedme，sympathizedwithme，understoodme？

Whatwouldhesay？Thenurse，inherevidence，hadreportedhimasspeakinginanoff—handmanner。Hewouldsay，inallprobability，"Whatdoyoumeantodo？AndhowcanIhelpyoutodoit？"

HadIanswersreadyifthosetwoplainquestionswereputtome？

Yes！ifIdaredowntoanyhumancreaturewhatwasatthatverymomentsecretlyfermentinginmymind。Yes！ifIcouldconfidetoastrangerasuspicionrousedinmebytheTrialwhichIhavebeenthusfarafraidtomentioneveninthesepages！

Itmust，nevertheless，bementionednow。Mysuspicionledtoresultswhicharepartofmystoryandpartofmylife。

Letmeown，then，tobeginwith，thatIclosedtherecordoftheTrialactuallyagreeinginoneimportantparticularwiththeopinionofmyenemyandmyhusband’senemy——theLordAdvocate！HehadcharacterizedtheexplanationofMrs。EustaceMacallan’sdeathofferedbythedefenseasa"clumsysubterfuge，inwhichnoreasonablebeingcoulddiscernthesmallestfragmentofprobability。"Withoutgoingquitesofarasthis，I，too，couldseenoreasonwhateverintheevidenceforassumingthatthepoorwomanhadtakenanoverdoseofthepoisonbymistake。Ibelievedthatshehadthearsenicsecretlyinherpossession，andthatshehadtried，orintendedtotry，theuseofitinternally，forthepurposeofimprovinghercomplexion。ButfurtherthanthisI

couldnotadvance。ThemoreIthoughtofit，themoreplainlyjustifiedthelawyersfortheprosecutionseemedtometobeindeclaringthatMrs。EustaceMacallanhaddiedbythehandofapoisoner——althoughtheywereentirelyandcertainlymistakeninchargingmyhusbandwiththecrime。

Myhusbandbeinginnocent，somebodyelse，onmyownshowing，mustbeguilty。WhoamongthepersonsinhabitingthehouseatthetimehadpoisonedMrs。EustaceMacallan？Mysuspicioninansweringthatquestionpointedstraighttoawoman。Andthenameofthatwomanwas——Mrs。Beauly！

Yes！TothatstartlingconclusionIhadarrived。Itwas，tomymind，theinevitableresultofreadingtheevidence。

Lookbackforamomenttotheletterproducedincourt，signed"Helena，"andaddressedtoMr。Macallan。Noreasonablepersoncandoubt（thoughtheJudgesexcusedherfromansweringthequestion）

thatMrs。Beaulywasthewriter。Verywell。Theletteroffers，asIthink，trustworthyevidencetoshowthestateofthewoman’smindwhenshepaidhervisittoGleninch。

WritingtoMr。Macallan，atatimewhenshewasmarriedtoanotherman——amantowhomshehadengagedherselfbeforeshemetwithMr。Macallanwhatdoesshesay？Shesays，"WhenIthinkofyourlifesacrificedtothatwretchedwoman，myheartbleedsforyou。"And，again，shesays，"Ifithadbeenmyunutterablehappinesstoloveandcherishthebest，thedearestofmen，whataparadiseofourownwemighthavelivedin，whatdelicioushourswemighthaveknown！"

Ifthisisnotthelanguageofawomanshamelesslyandfuriouslyinlovewithaman——notherhusband——whatis？Sheissofullofhimthatevenherideaofanotherworld（seetheletter）istheideaof"embracing"Mr。Macallan’s"soul。"Inthisconditionofmindandmorals，theladyonedayfindsherselfandherembracesfree，throughthedeathofherhusband。Assoonasshecandecentlyvisitshegoesvisiting；andinduecourseoftimeshebecomestheguestofthemanwhomsheadores。Hiswifeisillinherbed。TheoneothervisitoratGleninchisacripple，whocanonlymoveinhischaironwheels。Theladyhasthehouseandtheonebelovedobjectinitalltoherself。Noobstaclestandsbetweenherand"theunutterablehappinessoflovingandcherishingthebest，thedearestofmen"butapoor，sick，uglywife，forwhomMr。Macallanneverhasfelt，andnevercanfeel，thesmallestparticleoflove。

Isitperfectlyabsurdtobelievethatsuchawomanasthis，impelledbythesemotives，andsurroundedbythesecircumstances，wouldbecapableofcommittingacrime——ifthesafeopportunityoffereditself？

Whatdoesherownevidencesay？

SheadmitsthatshehadaconversationwithMrs。EustaceMacallan，inwhichthatladyquestionedheronthesubjectofcosmeticapplicationstothecomplexion。"Didnothingelsetakeplaceatthatinterview？DidMrs。Beaulymakenodiscoveries（afterwardturnedtofatalaccount）ofthedangerousexperimentwhichherhostesswasthentryingtoimproveheruglycomplexion？

AllweknowisthatMrs。Beaulysaidnothingaboutit。

Whatdoestheunder—gardenersay？

HeheardaconversationbetweenMr。MacallanandMrs。Beauly，whichshowsthatthepossibilityofMrs。BeaulybecomingMrs。

EustaceMacallanhadcertainlypresenteditselftothatlady’smind，andwascertainlyconsideredbyhertobetoodangerousatopicofdiscoursetobepursued。InnocentMr。Macallanwouldhavegoneontalking。Mrs。Beaulyisdiscreetandstopshim。

Andwhatdoesthenurse（ChristinaOrmsay）tellus？

OnthedayofMrs。EustaceMacallan’sdeath，thenurseisdismissedfromattendance，andissentdownstairs。Sheleavesthesickwoman，recoveredfromherfirstattackofillness，andabletoamuseherselfwithwriting。Thenurseremainsawayforhalfanhour，andthengetsuneasyatnothearingtheinvalid’sbell。ShegoestotheMorning—RoomtoconsultMr。Macallan，andthereshehearsthatMrs。Beaulyismissing。Mr。Macallandoesn’tknowwheresheis，andasksMr。Dexterifhehasseenher。Mr。Dexterhadnotseteyesonher。AtwhattimedoesthedisappearanceofMrs。Beaulytakeplace？AttheverytimewhenChristinaOrmsayhadleftMrs。EustaceMacallanaloneinherroom！

Meanwhilethebellringsatlast——ringsviolently。Thenursegoesbacktothesick—roomatfiveminutestoeleven，orthereabouts，andfindsthatthebadsymptomsofthemorninghavereturnedinagravelyaggravatedform。Aseconddoseofpoison——largerthanthedoseadministeredintheearlymorning——hasbeengivenduringtheabsenceofthenurse，and（observe）duringthedisappearancealsoofMrs。Beauly。Thenurselookingoutintothecorridorforhelp，encountersMrs。Beaulyherself，innocentlyonherwayfromherownroom——justup，wearetosuppose，ateleveninthemorning！——toinquireafterthesickwoman。

AlittlelaterMrs。BeaulyaccompaniesMr。Macallantovisittheinvalid。Thedyingwomancastsastrangelookatbothofthem，andtellsthemtoleaveher。Mr。Macallanunderstandsthisasthefretfuloutbreakofapersoninpain，andwaitsintheroomtotellthenursethatthedoctorissentfor。WhatdoesMrs。Beaulydo？

Sherunsoutpanic—strickentheinstantMrs。EustaceMacallanlooksather。EvenMrs。Beauly，itseems，hasaconscience！

Istherenothingtojustifysuspicioninsuchcircumstancesasthese——circumstancessworntoontheoathsofthewitnesses？

Tometheconclusionisplain。Mrs。Beauly’shandgavethatseconddoseofpoison。Admitthis；andtheinferencefollowsthatshealsogavethefirstdoseintheearlymorning。Howcouldshedoit？Lookagainattheevidence。Thenurseadmitsthatshewasasleepfrompasttwointhemorningtosix。Shealsospeaksofalockeddoorofcommunicationwiththesickroom，thekeyofwhichhadbeenremoved，nobodyknewbywhom。Somepersonmusthavestolenthatkey。WhynotMrs。Beauly？

Onewordmore，andallthatIhadinmymindatthattimewillbehonestlyrevealed。

MiserrimusDexter，undercross—examination，hadindirectlyadmittedthathehadideasofhisownonthesubjectofMrs。

EustaceMacallan’sdeath。AtthesametimehehadspokenofMrs。

Beaulyinatonewhichplainlybetrayedthathewasnofriendtothatlady。Did_he_suspecthertoo？MychiefmotiveindecidingtoaskhisadvicebeforeIappliedtoanyoneelsewastofindanopportunityofputtingthatquestiontohim。IfhereallythoughtofherasIdid，mycoursewasclearbeforeme。Thenextsteptotakewouldbecarefullytoconcealmyidentity——andthentopresentmyself，inthecharacterofaharmlessstranger，toMrs。

Beauly。