Isaiditwasunusuallyfarnorthtofindoneofhiscompatriots；
　　atwhichheshruggedhisshoulders，andrepliedthatamanwouldgoanywheretofindwork。WhatworkhecouldhopetofindatGradenWester，Iwastotallyunabletoconceive；andtheincidentstrucksounpleasantlyuponmymind，thatIaskedthelandlord，whilehewascountingmesomechange，whetherhehadeverbeforeseenanItalianinthevillage。HesaidhehadonceseensomeNorwegians，whohadbeenshipwreckedontheothersideofGradenNessandrescuedbythelifeboatfromCauldhaven。
　　“No！“saidI；“butanItalian，likethemanwhohasjusthadbreadandcheese。“
　　“What？“criedhe，“yonblack-avisedfellowwi’theteeth？WasheanI-talian？Weel，yon’sthefirstthateverIsaw，an’Idaresayhe’sliketobethelast。“
　　Evenashewasspeaking，Iraisedmyeyes，and，castingaglanceintothestreet，beheldthreemeninearnestconversationtogether，andnotthirtyyardsaway。Oneofthemwasmyrecentcompanioninthetavernparlor；theothertwo，bytheirhandsomesallowfeaturesandsofthats，shouldevidentlybelongtothesamerace。Acrowdofvillagechildrenstoodaroundthem，gesticulatingandtalkinggibberishinimitation。Thetriolookedsingularlyforeigntothebleakdirtystreetinwhichtheywerestandingandthedarkgrayheaventhatoverspreadthem；andIconfessmyincredulityreceivedatthatmomentashockfromwhichitneverrecovered。ImightreasonwithmyselfasIpleased，butIcouldnotarguedowntheeffectofwhatIhadseen，andIbegantoshareintheItalianterror。
　　ItwasalreadydrawingtowardthecloseofthedaybeforeIhadreturnedthenewspaperstothemanse，andgotwellforwardontothelinksonmywayhome。Ishallneverforgetthatwalk。Itgrewverycoldandboisterous；thewindsungintheshortgrassaboutmyfeet；thinrainshowerscamerunningonthegusts；andanimmensemountainrangeofcloudsbegantoariseoutofthebosomofthesea。Itwouldbehardtoimagineamoredismalevening；andwhetheritwasfromtheseexternalinfluences，orbecausemynerveswerealreadyaffectedbywhatIhadheardandseen，mythoughtswereasgloomyastheweather。
　　TheupperwindowsofthepavilioncommandedaconsiderablespreadoflinksinthedirectionofGradenWester。Toavoidobservation，itwasnecessarytohugthebeachuntilIhadgainedcoverfromthehighersandhillsonthelittleheadland，whenImightstrikeacross，throughthehollows，forthemarginofthewood。Thesunwasaboutsetting；thetidewaslow，andallthequicksandsuncovered；andIwasmovingalong，lostinunpleasantthought，whenIwassuddenlythunderstrucktoperceivetheprintsofhumanfeet。
　　Theyranparalleltomyowncourse，butlowdownuponthebeach，insteadofalongtheborderoftheturf；and，whenIexaminedthem，Isawatonce，bythesizeandcoarsenessoftheimpression，thatitwasastrangertomeandtothoseofthepavilionwhohadrecentlypassedthatway。Notonlyso；butfromtherecklessnessofthecoursewhichhehadfollowed，steeringneartothemostformidableportionsofthesand，hewasevidentlyastrangertothecountryandtotheill-reputeofGradenbeach。
　　StepbystepIfollowedtheprints；until，aquarterofamilefarther，IbeheldthemdieawayintothesoutheasternboundaryofGradenFloe。There，whoeverhewas，themiserablemanhadperished。Oneortwogulls，whohad，perhaps，seenhimdisappear，wheeledoverhissepulcherwiththeirusualmelancholypiping。Thesunhadbrokenthroughthecloudsbyalasteffort，andcoloredthewidelevelofquicksandswithaduskypurple。Istoodforsometimegazingatthespot，chilledanddisheartenedbymyownreflections，andwithastrongandcommandingconsciousnessofdeath。Irememberwonderinghowlongthetragedyhadtaken，andwhetherhisscreamshadbeenaudibleatthepavilion。Andthen，makingastrongresolution，Iwasabouttotearmyselfaway，whenagustfiercerthanusualfelluponthisquarterofthebeach，andI
　　saw，nowwhirlinghighinair，nowskimminglightlyacrossthesurfaceofthesands，asoft，black，felthat，somewhatconicalinshape，suchasIhadremarkedalreadyontheheadsoftheItalians。
　　Ibelieve，butIamnotsure，thatIutteredacry。Thewindwasdrivingthehatshoreward，andIranroundtheborderofthefloetobereadyagainstitsarrival。Thegustfell，droppingthehatforawhileuponthequicksand，andthen，oncemorefreshening，landeditafewyardsfromwhereIstood。Iseizeditwiththeinterestyoumayimagine。Ithadseensomeservice；indeed，itwasrustierthaneitherofthoseIhadseenthatdayuponthestreet。
　　Theliningwasred，stampedwiththenameofthemaker，whichI
　　haveforgotten，andthatoftheplaceofmanufacture，Venedig。
　　ThisitisnotyetforgottenwasthenamegivenbytheAustrianstothebeautifulcityofVenice，then，andforlongafter，apartoftheirdominions。
　　Theshockwascomplete。IsawimaginaryItaliansuponeveryside；
　　andforthefirst，and，Imaysay，forthelasttimeinmyexperience，becameoverpoweredbywhatiscalledapanicterror。I
　　knewnothing，thatis，tobeafraidof，andyetIadmitthatIwasheartilyafraid；anditwaswithsensiblereluctancethatI
　　returnedtomyexposedandsolitarycampintheSea-Wood。
　　ThereIeatsomecoldporridgewhichhadbeenleftoverfromthenightbefore，forIwasdisinclinedtomakeafire；and，feelingstrengthenedandreassured，dismissedallthesefancifulterrorsfrommymind，andlaydowntosleepwithcomposure。
　　HowlongImayhavesleptitisimpossibleformetoguess；butI
　　wasawakenedatlastbyasudden，blindingflashoflightintomyface。Itwokemelikeablow。InaninstantIwasuponmyknees。
　　Butthelighthadgoneassuddenlyasitcame。Thedarknesswasintense。And，asitwasblowinggreatgunsfromthesea，andpouringwithrain，thenoisesofthestormeffectuallyconcealedallothers。
　　Itwas，Idaresay，halfaminutebeforeIregainedmyself-
　　possession。Butfortwocircumstances，IshouldhavethoughtIhadbeenawakenedbysomenewandvividformofnightmare。First，theflapofmytent，whichIhadshutcarefullywhenIretired，wasnowunfastened；and，second，Icouldstillperceive，withasharpnessthatexcludedanytheoryofhallucination，thesmellofhotmetalandofburningoil。Theconclusionwasobvious。Ihadbeenawakenedbysomeoneflashingabull’s-eyelanterninmyface。Ithadbeenbutaflash，andaway。Hehadseenmyface，andthengone。Iaskedmyselftheobjectofsostrangeaproceeding，andtheanswercamepat。Theman，whoeverhewas，hadthoughttorecognizeme，andhehadnot。Therewasanotherquestionunresolved；andtothis，Imaysay，Ifearedtogiveananswer；ifhehadrecognizedme，whatwouldhehavedone？
　　Myfearswereimmediatelydivertedfrommyself，forIsawthatI
　　hadbeenvisitedinamistake；andIbecamepersuadedthatsomedreadfuldangerthreatenedthepavilion。Itrequiredsomenervetoissueforthintotheblackandintricatethicketwhichsurroundedandoverhungtheden；butIgropedmywaytothelinks，drenchedwithrain，beatenuponanddeafenedbythegusts，andfearingateverysteptolaymyhanduponsomelurkingadversary。ThedarknesswassocompletethatImighthavebeensurroundedbyanarmyandyetnonethewiser，andtheuproarofthegalesoloudthatmyhearingwasasuselessasmysight。
　　Fortherestofthatnight，whichseemedinterminablylong，I
　　patrolledthevicinityofthepavilion，withoutseeingalivingcreatureorhearinganynoisebuttheconcertofthewind，thesea，andtherain。Alightintheupperstoryfilteredthroughacrannyoftheshutter，andkeptmecompanytilltheapproachofdawn。
　　V
　　Withthefirstpeepofday，Iretiredfromtheopentomyoldlairamongthesandhills，theretoawaitthecomingofmywife。Themorningwasgray，wild，andmelancholy；thewindmoderatedbeforesunrise，andthenwentabout，andblewinpuffsfromtheshore；theseabegantogodown，buttherainstillfellwithoutmercy。Overallthewildernessoflinkstherewasnotacreaturetobeseen。
　　YetIfeltsuretheneighborhoodwasalivewithskulkingfoes。ThelightthathadbeensosuddenlyandsurprisinglyflasheduponmyfaceasIlaysleeping，andthehatthathadbeenblownashorebythewindfromoverGradenFloe，weretwospeakingsignalsoftheperilthatenvironedClaraandthepartyinthepavilion。
　　Itwas，perhaps，half-pastseven，ornearereight，beforeIsawthedooropen，andthatdearfigurecometowardmeintherain。Iwaswaitingforheronthebeachbeforeshehadcrossedthesandhills。
　　“Ihavehadsuchtroubletocome！“shecried。“Theydidnotwishmetogowalkingintherain。“
　　“Clara，“Isaid，“youarenotfrightened！“
　　“No，“saidshe，withasimplicitythatfilledmyheartwithconfidence。Formywifewasthebravestaswellasthebestofwomen；inmyexperience，Ihavenotfoundthetwogoalwaystogether，butwithhertheydid；andshecombinedtheextremeoffortitudewiththemostendearingandbeautifulvirtues。
　　Itoldherwhathadhappened；and，thoughhercheekgrewvisiblypaler，sheretainedperfectcontroloverhersenses。
　　“YouseenowthatIamsafe，“saidI，inconclusion。“Theydonotmeantoharmme；for，hadtheychosen，Iwasadeadmanlastnight。“
　　Shelaidherhanduponmyarm。
　　“AndIhadnopresentiment！“shecried。
　　Heraccentthrilledmewithdelight。Iputmyarmabouther，andstrainedhertomyside；and，beforeeitherofuswasaware，herhandswereonmyshouldersandmylipsuponhermouth。Yetuptothatmomentnowordoflovehadpassedbetweenus。TothisdayI
　　rememberthetouchofhercheek，whichwaswetandcoldwiththerain；andmanyatimesince，whenshehasbeenwashingherface，I
　　havekisseditagainforthesakeofthatmorningonthebeach。
　　Nowthatsheistakenfromme，andIfinishmypilgrimagealone，I
　　recallouroldlovingkindnessesandthedeephonestyandaffectionwhichunitedus，andmypresentlossseemsbutatrifleincomparison。
　　Wemayhavethusstoodforsomeseconds——fortimepassesquicklywithlovers——beforewewerestartledbyapealoflaughtercloseathand。Itwasnotnaturalmirth，butseemedtobeaffectedinordertoconcealanangrierfeeling。Webothturned，thoughIstillkeptmyleftarmaboutClara’swaist；nordidsheseektowithdrawherself；andthere，afewpacesoffuponthebeach，stoodNorthmour，hisheadlowered，hishandsbehindhisback，hisnostrilswhitewithpassion。
　　“Ah！Cassilis！“hesaid，asIdisclosedmyface。
　　“Thatsame，“saidI；forIwasnotatallputabout。
　　“Andso，MissHuddlestone，“hecontinuedslowlybutsavagely，“thisishowyoukeepyourfaithtoyourfatherandtome？Thisisthevalueyousetuponyourfather’slife？Andyouaresoinfatuatedwiththisyounggentlemanthatyoumustbraveruin，anddecency，andcommonhumancaution——“
　　“MissHuddlestone——“Iwasbeginningtointerrupthim，whenhe，inhisturn，cutinbrutally——
　　“Youholdyourtongue，“saidhe；“Iamspeakingtothatgirl。“
　　“Thatgirl，asyoucallher，ismywife，“saidI；andmywifeonlyleanedalittlenearer，sothatIknewshehadaffirmedmywords。
　　“Yourwhat？“hecried。“Youlie！“
　　“Northmour，“Isaid，“weallknowyouhaveabadtemper，andIamthelastmantobeirritatedbywords。Forallthat，Iproposethatyouspeaklower，forIamconvincedthatwearenotalone。“
　　Helookedroundhim，anditwasplainmyremarkhadinsomedegreesoberedhispassion。“Whatdoyoumean？“heasked。
　　Ionlysaidoneword:“Italians。“
　　Hesworearoundoath，andlookedatus，fromonetotheother。
　　“Mr。CassilisknowsallthatIknow，“saidmywife。
　　“WhatIwanttoknow，“hebrokeout，“iswherethedevilMr。
　　Cassiliscomesfrom，andwhatthedevilMr。Cassilisisdoinghere。
　　Yousayyouaremarried；thatIdonotbelieve。Ifyouwere，GradenFloewouldsoondivorceyou；fourminutesandahalf，Cassilis。Ikeepmyprivatecemeteryformyfriends。“
　　“Ittooksomewhatlonger，“saidI，“forthatItalian。“
　　Helookedatmeforamomenthalfdaunted，andthen，almostcivilly，askedmetotellmystory。“Youhavetoomuchtheadvantageofme，Cassilis，“headded。Icompliedofcourse；andhelistened，withseveralejaculations，whileItoldhimhowIhadcometoGraden:thatitwasIwhomhehadtriedtomurderonthenightoflanding；andwhatIhadsubsequentlyseenandheardoftheItalians。
　　“Well，“saidhe，whenIhaddone，“itishereatlast；thereisnomistakeaboutthat。Andwhat，mayIask，doyouproposetodo？“
　　“Iproposetostaywithyouandlendahand，“saidI。
　　“Youareabraveman，“hereturned，withapeculiarintonation。
　　“Iamnotafraid，“saidI。
　　“Andso，“hecontinued，“Iamtounderstandthatyoutwoaremarried？Andyoustanduptoitbeforemyface，MissHuddlestone？“
　　“Wearenotyetmarried，“saidClara；“butweshallbeassoonaswecan。“
　　“Bravo！“criedNorthmour。“Andthebargain？D——nit，you’renotafool，youngwoman；Imaycallaspadeaspadewithyou。Howaboutthebargain？YouknowaswellasIdowhatyourfather’slifedependsupon。Ihaveonlytoputmyhandsundermycoattailsandwalkaway，andhisthroatwouldbecutbeforetheevening。“