第17章

Afterwaitingforaminuteortwo，andhearingnosignalfromthefloorabove，Iadvancedintothebroaderandbrighterpartofthehall，tolookbydaylightatthepictureswhichIhadonlyimperfectlydiscoveredinthedarknessofthenight。Apaintedinscriptioninmanycolors，justunderthecorniceoftheceiling，informedmethattheworksonthewallsweretheproductionoftheall—accomplishedDexterhimself。Notsatisfiedwithbeingpoetandcomposer，hewaspainteraswell。Ononewallthesubjectsweredescribedas"IllustrationsofthePassions；"

ontheother，as"EpisodesintheLifeoftheWanderingJew。"

Chancespeculatorslikemyselfweregravelywarned，bymeansoftheinscription，toviewthepicturesaseffortsofpureimagination。"PersonswholookformereNatureinworksofArt"

（theinscriptionannounced）"arepersonstowhomMr。Dexterdoesnotaddresshimselfwiththebrush。Hereliesentirelyonhisimagination。Natureputshimout。"

TakingduecaretodismissallideasofNaturefrommymind，tobeginwith，IlookedatthepictureswhichrepresentedthePassionsfirst。

LittleasIknewcriticallyofArt，IcouldseethatMiserrimusDexterknewstilllessoftherulesofdrawing，color，andcomposition。Hispictureswere，inthestrictestmeaningofthatexpressiveword，Daubs。ThediseasedandriotousdelightofthepainterinrepresentingHorrorswas（withcertainexceptionstobehereaftermentioned）theoneremarkablequalitythatIcoulddiscoverintheseriesofhisworks。

ThefirstofthePassionpicturesillustratedRevenge。Acorpse，infancycostume，layonthebankofafoamingriver，undertheshadeofagianttree。Aninfuriatedman，alsoinfancycostume，stoodastrideoverthedeadbody，withhisswordliftedtotheloweringsky，andwatched，withahorridexpressionofdelight，thebloodofthemanwhomhehadjustkilleddrippingslowlyinaprocessionofbigreddropsdownthebroadbladeofhisweapon。

ThenextpictureillustratedCruelty，inmanycompartments。InoneIsawadisemboweledhorsesavagelyspurredonbyhisrideratabull—fight。Inanother，anagedphilosopherwasdissectingalivingcat，andgloatingoverhiswork。Inathird，twopaganspolitelycongratulatedeachotheronthetortureoftwosaints：

onesaintwasroastingonagrid—iron；theother，hunguptoatreebyhisheels，hadbeenjustskinned，andwasnotquitedeadyet。Feelingnogreatdesire，afterthesespecimens，tolookatanymoreoftheillustratedPassions，IturnedtotheoppositewalltobeinstructedinthecareeroftheWanderingJew。HereasecondinscriptioninformedmethatthepainterconsideredtheFlyingDutchmantobenootherthantheWanderingJew，pursuinghisinterminableJourneybysea。ThemarineadventuresofthismysteriouspersonageweretheadventureschosenforrepresentationbyDexter’sbrush。Thefirstpictureshowedmeaharboronarockycoast。Avesselwasatanchor，withthehelmsmansingingonthedeck。Theseaintheoffingwasblackandrolling；thunder—cloudslaylowonthehorizon，splitbybroadflashesoflightning。Intheglareofthelightning，heavingandpitching，appearedthemistyformofthePhantomShipapproachingtheshore。Inthiswork，badlyasitwaspainted，therewerereallysignsofapowerfulimagination，andevenofapoeticalfeelingforthesupernatural。ThenextpictureshowedthePhantomShip，moored（tothehorrorandastonishmentofthehelmsman）

behindtheearthlyvesselintheharbor。TheJewhadsteppedonshore。Hisboatwasonthebeach。Hiscrew——littlemenwithstony，whitefaces，dressedinfuneralblack——satinsilentrowsontheseatsoftheboat，withtheiroarsintheirlean，longhands。TheJew，alsoablack，stoodwithhiseyesandhandsraisedimploringlytothethunderousheaven。Thewildcreaturesoflandandsea——thetiger，therhinoceros，thecrocodile，thesea—serpent，theshark，andthedevil—fish——surroundedtheaccursedWandererinamysticcircle，dauntedandfascinatedatthesightofhim。Thelightningwasgone。Theskyandseahaddarkenedtoagreatblackblank。Afaintandluridlightlightedthescene，fallingdownwardfromatorch，brandishedbyanavengingSpiritthathoveredovertheJewonoutspreadvulturewings。Wildasthepicturemightbeinitsconception，therewasasuggestivepowerinitwhichIconfessstronglyimpressedme。

Themysterioussilenceinthehouse，andmystrangepositionatthemoment，nodoubthadtheireffectonmymind。WhileIwasstilllookingattheghastlycompositionbeforeme，theshrilltrillingsoundofthewhistleupstairsburstonthestillness。

ForthemomentmynervesweresocompletelyupsetthatIstartedwithacryofalarm。Ifeltamomentaryimpulsetoopenthedoorandrunout。Theideaoftrustingmyselfalonewiththemanwhohadpaintedthosefrightfulpicturesactuallyterrifiedme；Iwasobligedtositdownononeofthehallchairs。Someminutespassedbeforemymindrecovereditsbalance，andIbegantofeellikemyownordinaryselfagain。Thewhistlesoundedimpatientlyforthesecondtime。Iroseandascendedthebroadflightofstairswhichledtothefirststory。TodrawbackatthepointwhichIhadnowreachedwouldhaveutterlydegradedmeinmyownestimation。Still，myheartdidcertainlybeatfasterthanusualasIapproachedthedoorofthecircularanteroom；andIhonestlyacknowledgethatIsawmyownimprudence，justthen，inasingularlyvividlight。

Therewasaglassoverthemantel—pieceintheanteroom。I

lingeredforamoment（nervousasIwas）toseehowIlookedintheglass。

Thehangingtapestryovertheinnerdoorhadbeenleftpartiallydrawnaside。SoftlyasImoved，thedog’searsofMiserrimusDextercaughtthesoundofmydressonthefloor。Thefinetenorvoice，whichIhadlastheardsinging，calledtomesoftly。

"IsthatMrs。Valeria？Pleasedon’twaitthere。Comein！"

Ienteredtheinnerroom。

Thewheeledchairadvancedtomeetme，soslowlyandsosoftlythatIhardlyknewitagain。MiserrimusDexterlanguidlyheldouthishand。Hisheadinclinedpensivelytooneside；hislargeblueeyeslookedatmepiteously。Notavestigeseemedtobeleftoftheraging，shoutingcreatureofmyfirstvisit，whowasNapoleonatonemoment，andShakespeareatanother。Mr。Dexterofthemorningwasamild，thoughtful，melancholyman，whoonlyrecalledMr。Dexterofthenightbytheinveterateoddityofhisdress。

Hisjacket，onthisoccasion，wasofpinkquiltedsilk。Thecoverletwhichhidhisdeformitymatchedthejacketinpalesea—greensatin；and，tocompletethesestrangevagariesofcostume，hiswristswereactuallyadornedwithmassivebraceletsofgold，formedontheseverelysimplemodelswhichhavedescendedtousfromancienttimes。

"Howgoodofyoutocheerandcharmmebycominghere！"hesaid，inhismostmournfulandmostmusicaltones。"Ihavedressed，expresslytoreceiveyou，intheprettiestclothesIhave。Don’tbesurprised。Exceptinthisignobleandmaterialnineteenthcentury，menhavealwayswornpreciousstuffsandbeautifulcolorsaswellaswomen。Ahundredyearsagoagentlemaninpinksilkwasagentlemanproperlydressed。Fifteenhundredyearsagothepatriciansoftheclassictimesworebraceletsexactlylikemine。Idespisethebrutishcontemptforbeautyandthemeandreadofexpensewhichdegradeagentleman’scostumetoblackcloth，andlimitagentleman’sornamentstoafinger—ring，intheageIlivein。IliketobebrightandIbeautiful，especiallywhenbrightnessandbeautycometoseeme。Youdon’tknowhowpreciousyoursocietyistome。Thisisoneofmymelancholydays。Tearsriseunbiddentomyeyes。Isighandsorrowovermyself；Ilanguishforpity。JustthinkofwhatIam！Apoorsolitarycreature，cursedwithafrightfuldeformity。Howpitiable！howdreadful！Myaffectionateheart——wasted。Myextraordinarytalents——uselessormisapplied。Sad！sad！sad！

Pleasepityme。"

Hiseyeswerepositivelyfilledwithtears——tearsofcompassionforhimself！Helookedatmeandspoketomewiththewailing，querulousentreatyofasickchildwantingtobenursed。Iwasutterlyatalosswhattodo。Itwasperfectlyridiculous——butI

wasnevermoreembarrassedinmylife。

"Pleasepityme！"herepeated。"Don’tbecruel。Ionlyaskalittlething。PrettyMrs。Valeria，sayyoupityme！"

IsaidIpitiedhim——andIfeltthatIblushedasIdidit。

"Thankyou，"saidMiserrimusDexter，humbly。"Itdoesmegood。Goalittlefurther。Patmyhand。"

Itriedtorestrainmyself；butthesenseoftheabsurdityofthislastpetition（quitegravelyaddressedtome，remember！）wastoostrongtobecontrolled。Iburstoutlaughing。

MiserrimusDexterlookedatmewithablankastonishmentwhichonlyincreasedmymerriment。HadIoffendedhim？Apparentlynot。

Recoveringfromhisastonishment，helaidhisheadluxuriouslyonthebackofhischair，withtheexpressionofamanwhowaslisteningcriticallytoaperformanceofsomesort。WhenIhadquiteexhaustedmyself，heraisedhisheadandclappedhisshapelywhitehands，andhonoredmewithan"encore。"

"Doitagain，"hesaid，stillinthesamechildishway。"MerryMrs。Valeria，_you_haveamusicallaugh——_I_haveamusicalear。

Doitagain。"

Iwasseriousenoughbythistime。"Iamashamedofmyself，Mr。

Dexter，"Isaid。"Prayforgiveme。"

Hemadenoanswertothis；Idoubtifheheardme。Hisvariabletemperappearedtobeincourseofundergoingsomenewchange。Hesatlookingatmydress（asIsupposed）withasteadyandanxiousattention，gravelyforminghisownconclusions，steadfastlypursuinghisowntrainofthought。

"Mrs。Valeria，"heburstoutsuddenly，"youarenotcomfortableinthatchair。"

"Pardonme，"Ireplied；"Iamquitecomfortable。"

"Pardon_me，_"herejoined。"ThereisachairofIndianbasket—workatthatendoftheroomwhichismuchbettersuitedtoyou。WillyouacceptmyapologiesifIamrudeenoughtoallowyoutofetchitforyourself？Ihaveareason。"

Hehadareason！Whatnewpieceofeccentricitywasheabouttoexhibit？Iroseandfetchedthechair。Itwaslightenoughtobequiteeasilycarried。AsIreturnedtohim，Inoticedthathiseyeswerestrangelyemployedinwhatseemedtobetheclosestscrutinyofmydress。And，strangerstill，theresultofthisappearedtobepartlytointerestandpartlytodistresshim。

Iplacedthechairnearhim，andwasabouttotakemyseatinit，whenhesentmebackagain，onanothererrand，totheendoftheroom。

"Obligemeindescribably，"hesaid。"Thereisahand—screenhangingonthewall，whichmatchesthechair。Wearerathernearthefirehere。Youmayfindthescreenuseful。Oncemoreforgivemeforlettingyoufetchitforyourself。OncemoreletmeassureyouthatIhaveareason。"

Herewashis"reason，"reiterated，emphaticallyreiterated，forthesecondtime！CuriositymademeascompletelytheobedientservantofhiscapricesasArielherself。Ifetchedthehand—screen。Returningwithit，Imethiseyesstillfixedwiththesameincomprehensibleattentiononmyperfectlyplainandunpretendingdress，andstillexpressingthesamecuriousmixtureofinterestandregret。

"Thankyouathousandtimes，"hesaid。"Youhave（quiteinnocently）wrungmyheart。Butyouhavenotthelessdonemeaninestimablekindness。WillyoupromisenottobeoffendedwithmeifIconfessthetruth？"

HewasapproachinghisexplanationInevergaveapromisemorereadilyinmylife。

"Ihaverudelyallowedyoutofetchyourchairandyourscreenforyourself，"hewenton。"Mymotivewillseemaverystrangeone，Iamafraid。DidyouobservethatInoticedyouveryattentively——tooattentively，perhaps？"

"Yes，"Isaid。"Ithoughtyouwerenoticingmydress。"

Heshookhishead，andsighedbitterly。

"Notyourdress，"hesaid；"andnotyourface。Yourdressisdark。Yourfaceisstillstrangetome。DearMrs。Valeria，I

wantedtoseeyouwalk。"

Toseemewalk！Whatdidhemean？Wherewasthaterraticmindofhiswanderingtonow？

"YouhavearareaccomplishmentforanEnglishwoman，"heresumed——"youwalkwell。_She_walkedwell。Icouldn’tresistthetemptationofseeingheragain，inseeingyou。Itwas_her_

movement，_her_sweet，simple，unsoughtgrace（notyours），whenyouwalkedtotheendoftheroomandreturnedtome。Youraisedherfromthedeadwhenyoufetchedthechairandthescreen。

Pardonmeformakinguseofyou：theideawasinnocent，themotivewassacred。Youhavedistressed——anddelightedme。Myheartbleeds——andthanksyou。"

Hepausedforamoment；helethisheaddrooponhisbreast，thensuddenlyraiseditagain。

"Surelyweweretalkingaboutherlastnight？"hesaid。"WhatdidIsay？whatdidyousay？Mymemoryisconfused；Ihalfremember，halfforget。Pleaseremindme。You’renotoffendedwithme——areyou？"

Imighthavebeenoffendedwithanotherman。Notwithhim。Iwasfartooanxioustofindmywayintohisconfidence——nowthathehadtouchedofhisownaccordonthesubjectofEustace’sfirstwife——tobeoffendedwithMiserrimusDexter。

"Wewerespeaking，"Ianswered，"ofMrs。EustaceMacallan’sdeath，andweweresayingtooneanother——"

Heinterruptedme，leaningforwardeagerlyinhischair。

"Yes！yes！"heexclaimed。"AndIwaswonderingwhatinterest_you_couldhaveinpenetratingthemysteryofherdeath。Tellme！Confideinme！Iamdyingtoknow！"

"NotevenyouhaveastrongerinterestinthatsubjectthantheinterestthatIfeel，"Isaid。"Thehappinessofmywholelifetocomedependsonmyclearingupthemystery。"

"GoodGod——why？"hecried。"Stop！Iamexcitingmyself。Imustn’tdothat。Imusthaveallmywitsaboutme；Imustn’twander。Thethingistooserious。Waitaminute！"

Anelegantlittlebasketwashookedontooneofthearmsofhischair。Heopenedit，anddrewoutastripofembroiderypartiallyfinished，withthenecessarymaterialsforworking，acomplete。

Welookedateachotheracrosstheembroidery。Henoticedmysurprise。

"Women，"hesaid，"wiselycomposetheirminds，andhelpthemselvestothinkquietly，bydoingneedle—work。Whyaremensuchfoolsastodenythemselvesthesameadmirableresource——thesimpleandsoothingoccupationwhichkeepsthenervessteadyandleavesthemindcalmandfree？Asaman，Ifollowthewoman’swiseexample。Mrs。Valeria，permitmetocomposemyself。"

Gravelyarranginghisembroidery，thisextraordinarybeingbegantoworkwiththepatientandnimbledexterityofanaccomplishedneedle—woman。

"Now，"saidMiserrimusDexter，"ifyouareready，Iam。Youtalk——Iwork。Pleasebegin。"

Iobeyedhim，andbegan。

CHAPTERXXVIII。

INTHEDARK。

WITHsuchamanasMiserrimusDexter，andwithsuchapurposeasIhadinview，nohalf—confidenceswerepossible。ImusteitherriskthemostunreservedacknowledgmentoftheintereststhatI

reallyhadatstake，orImustmakethebestexcusethatoccurredtomeforabandoningmycontemplatedexperimentatthelastmoment。Inmypresentcriticalsituation，nosuchrefugeasamiddlecourselaybeforeme——evenifIhadbeeninclinedtotakeit。Asthingswere，Iranrisks，andplungedheadlongintomyownaffairsatstarting。

"Thusfar，youknowlittleornothingaboutme，Mr。Dexter，"I

said。"Youare，asIbelieve，quiteunawarethatmyhusbandandI

arenotlivingtogetheratthepresenttime。"

"Isitnecessarytomentionyourhusband？"heasked，coldly，withoutlookingupfromhisembroidery，andwithoutpausinginhiswork。

"Itisabsolutelynecessary，"Ianswered。"Icanexplainmyselftoyouinnootherway。"

Hebenthishead，andsighedresignedly。

"Youandyourhusbandarenotlivingtogetheratthepresenttime，"heresumed。"DoesthatmeanthatEustacehasleftyou？"

"Hehasleftme，andhasgoneabroad。"

"Withoutanynecessityforit？"

"Withouttheleastnecessity。"

"Hasheappointednotimeforhisreturntoyou？"

"Ifhepersevereinhispresentresolution，Mr。Dexter，Eustacewillneverreturntome。"

Forthefirsttimeheraisedhisheadfromhisembroidery——withasuddenappearanceofinterest。

"Isthequarrelsoseriousasthat？"heasked。"Areyoufreeofeachother，prettyMrs。Valeria，bycommonconsentofbothparties？"

Thetoneinwhichheputthequestionwasnotatalltomyliking。ThelookhefixedonmewasalookwhichunpleasantlysuggestedthatIhadtrustedmyselfalonewithhim，andthathemightendintakingadvantageofit。Iremindedhimquietly，bymymannermorethanbymywords，oftherespectwhichheowedtome。

"Youareentirelymistaken，"Isaid。"Thereisnoanger——thereisnotevenamisunderstandingbetweenus。Ourpartinghascostbittersorrow，Mr。Dexter，tohimandtome。"

Hesubmittedtobesetrightwithironicalresignation。"Iamallattention，"hesaid，threadinghisneedle。"Praygoon；Iwon’tinterruptyouagain。"Actingonthisinvitation，Itoldhimthetruthaboutmyhusbandandmyselfquiteunreservedly，takingcare，however，atthesametime，toputEustace’smotivesinthebestlightthattheywouldbear。MiserrimusDexterdroppedhisembroideryonhislap，andlaughedsoftlytohimself，withanimpishenjoymentofmypoorlittlenarrative，whichseteverynerveinmeonedgeasIlookedathim。

"Iseenothingtolaughat，"Isaid，sharply。

Hisbeautifulblueeyesrestedonmewithalookofinnocentsurprise。

"Nothingtolaughat，"herepeated，"insuchanexhibitionofhumanfollyasyouhavejustdescribed？"Hisexpressionsuddenlychangedhisfacedarkenedandhardenedverystrangely。"Stop！"hecried，beforeIcouldanswerhim。"Therecanbeonlyonereasonforyou’retakingitasseriouslyasyoudo。Mrs。Valeria！youarefondofyourhusband。"

"Fondofhimisn’tstrongenoughtoexpressit，"Iretorted。"I

lovehimwithmywholeheart。"

MiserrimusDexterstrokedhismagnificentbeard，andcontemplativelyrepeatedmywords。"Youlovehimwithyourwholeheart？Doyouknowwhy？"

"BecauseIcan’thelpit，"Ianswered，doggedly。

Hesmiledsatirically，andwentonwithhisembroidery。

"Curious！"hesaidtohimself；"Eustace’sfirstwifelovedhimtoo。Therearesomemenwhomthewomenalllike，andthereareothermenwhomthewomennevercarefor。Withouttheleastreasonforitineithercase。Theonemanisjustasgoodastheother；

justashandsome，asagreeable，ashonorable，andashighinrankastheother。AndyetforNumberOnetheywillgothroughfireandwater，andforNumberTwotheywon’tsomuchasturntheirheadstolookathim。Why？Theydon’tknowthemselves——asMrs。

Valeriahasjustsaid！Isthereaphysicalreasonforit？IstheresomepotentmagneticemanationfromNumberOnewhichNumberTwodoesn’tpossess？ImustinvestigatethiswhenIhavethetime，andwhenIfindmyselfinthehumor。"Havingsofarsettledthequestiontohisownentiresatisfaction，helookedupatmeagain。"Iamstillinthedarkaboutyouandyourmotives，"hesaid。"IamstillasfaraseverfromunderstandingwhatyourinterestisininvestigatingthathideoustragedyatGleninch。

CleverMrs。Valeria，pleasetakemebythehand，andleadmeintothelight。You’renotoffendedwithmeareyou？Makeitup；andI

willgiveyouthisprettypieceofembroiderywhenIhavedoneit。Iamonlyapoor，solitary，deformedwretch，withaquaintturnofmind；Imeannoharm。Forgiveme！indulgeme！enlightenme！"

Heresumedhischildishways；herecover，hisinnocentsmile，withtheoddlittlepuckersandwrinklesaccompanyingitatthecornersofhiseyes。IbegantodoubtwhetherImightnothavebeenunreasonablyhardonhim。Ipenitentlyresolvedtobemoreconsideratetowardhisinfirmitiesofmindandbodyduringtheremainderofmyvisit。

"Letmegobackforamoment，Mr。Dexter，topasttimesatGleninch，"Isaid。"YouagreewithmeinbelievingEustacetobeabsolutelyinnocentofthecrimeforwhichhewastried。YourevidenceattheTrialtellsmethat。"

Hepausedoverhiswork，andlookedatmewithagraveandsternattentionwhichpresentedhisfaceinquiteanewlight。

"Thatis_our_opinion，"Iresumed。"ButitwasnottheopinionoftheJury。Theirverdict，youremember，wasNotProven。InplainEnglish，theJurywhotriedmyhusbanddeclinedtoexpresstheiropinion，positivelyandpublicly，thathewasinnocent。AmIright？"

Insteadofanswering，hesuddenlyputhisembroiderybackinthebasket，andmovedthemachineryofhischair，soastobringitclosebymine。

"Whotoldyouthis？"heasked。

"Ifounditformyselfinabook。"

Thusfarhisfacehadexpressedsteadyattention——andnomore。

Now，forthefirsttime，IthoughtIsawsomethingdarklypassingoverhimwhichbetrayeditselftomymindasrisingdistrust。

"Ladiesarenotgenerallyinthehabitoftroublingtheirheadsaboutdryquestionsoflaw，"hesaid。"Mrs。EustaceMacallantheSecond，youmusthavesomeverypowerfulmotiveforturningyourstudiesthatway。"

"Ihaveaverypowerfulmotive，Mr。DexterMyhusbandisresignedtotheScotchVerdictHismotherisresignedtoit。Hisfriends（sofarasIknow）areresignedtoit——"

"Well？"

"Well！Idon’tagreewithmyhusband，orhismother，orhisfriends。IrefusetosubmittotheScotchVerdict。"

TheinstantIsaidthosewords，themadnessinhimwhichIhadhithertodenied，seemedtobreakout。Hesuddenlystretchedhimselfoverhischair：hepouncedonme，withahandoneachofmyshoulders；hiswildeyesquestionedmefiercely，frantically，withinafewinchesofmyface。

"Whatdoyoumean？"heshouted，attheutmostpitchofhisringingandresonantvoice。

Adeadlyfearofhimshookme。Ididmybesttohidetheoutwardbetrayalofit。Bylookandword，Ishowedhim，asfirmlyasI

could，thatIresentedthelibertyhehadtakenwithme。

"Removeyourhands，sir，"Isaid，"andretiretoyourproperplace。"

Heobeyedmemechanically。Heapologizedtomemechanically。HiswholemindwasevidentlystillfilledwiththewordsthatIhadspokentohim，andstillbentondiscoveringwhatthosewordsmeant。

"Ibegyourpardon，"hesaid；"Ihumblybegyourpardon。Thesubjectexcitesme，frightensme，maddensme。Youdon’tknowwhatadifficultyIhaveincontrollingmyself。Nevermind。Don’ttakemeseriously。Don’tbefrightenedatme。Iamsoashamedofmyself——Ifeelsosmallandsomiserableathavingoffendedyou。

Makemesufferforit。Takeastickandbeatme。Tiemedowninmychair。CallupAriel，whoisasstrongasahorse，andtellhertoholdme。DearMrs。Valeria！InjuredMrs。Valeria！I’llendureanythinginthewayofpunishment，ifyouwillonlytellmewhatyoumeanbynotsubmittingtotheScotchVerdict。"Hebackedhischairpenitentlyashemadethatentreaty。"AmIfarenoughawayyet？"heasked，witharuefullook。"DoIstillfrightenyou？I’lldropoutofsight，ifyoupreferit，inthebottomofthechair。"

Heliftedthesea—greencoverlet。InanothermomenthewouldhavedisappearedlikeapuppetinashowifIhadnotstoppedhim。

"Saynothingmore，anddonothingmore；Iacceptyourapologies，"Isaid。"WhenItellyouthatIrefusetosubmittotheopinionoftheScotchJury，Imeanexactlywhatmywordsexpress。Thatverdicthasleftastainonmyhusband’scharacter。Hefeelsthestainbitterly。HowbitterlynooneknowssowellasIdo。Hissenseofhisdegradationisthesensethathaspartedhimfromme。Itisnotenoughfor_him_

thatIampersuadedofhisinnocence。Nothingwillbringhimbacktome——nothingwillpersuadeEustacethatIthinkhimworthytobetheguideandcompanionofmylife——buttheproofofhisinnocence，setbeforetheJurywhichdoubtsit，andthepublicwhichdoubtsit，tothisday。Heandhisfriendsandhislawyersalldespairofeverfindingthatproofnow。ButIamhiswife；

andnoneofyoulovehimasIlovehim。Ialonerefusetodespair；Ialonerefusetolistentoreason。IfGodspareme，Mr。

Dexter，Idedicatemylifetothevindicationofmyhusband’sinnocence。Youarehisoldfriend——Iamheretoaskyoutohelpme。"

Itappearedtobenowmyturntofrighten_him。_Thecolorlefthisface。Hepassedhishandrestlesslyoverhisforehead，asifheweretryingtobrushsomedelusionoutofhisbrain。

"Isthisoneofmydreams？"heasked，faintly。"AreyouaVisionofthenight？"

"Iamonlyafriendlesswoman，"Isaid，"whohaslostallthatshelovedandprized，andwhoistryingtowinitbackagain。"

Hebegantomovehischairnearertomeoncemore。Iliftedmyhand。Hestoppedthechairdirectly。Therewasamomentofsilence。Wesatwatchingoneanother。Isawhishandstrembleashelaidthemonthecoverlet；Isawhisfacegrowpalerandpaler，andhisunderlipdrop。WhatdeadandburiedremembranceshadIbroughttolifeinhim，inalltheiroldenhorror？

Hewasthefirsttospeakagain。

"Sothisisyourinterest，"hesaid，"inclearingupthemysteryofMrs。EustaceMacallan’sdeath？"

"Yes。"

"AndyoubelievethatIcanhelpyou？"

"Ido。"