"Theprisoneratthebarcalledatmyshoponthedateindicatedonmyregister，somedayslaterthanthedateindicatedintheregisterofMr。Kinlay。Hewishedtopurchasesixpenny—worthofarsenic。Myassistant，towhomhehadaddressedhimself，calledme。Itisaruleinmyshopthatnoonesellspoisonsbutmyself。
Iaskedtheprisonerwhathewantedthearsenicfor。Heansweredthathewanteditforkillingratsathishouse，calledGleninch。
Isaid，’HaveIthehonorofspeakingtoMr。Macallan，ofGleninch？’Hesaidthatwashisname。Isoldhimthearsenic——aboutanounceandahalf——andlabeledthebottleinwhichIputitwiththeword’Poison’inmyownhandwriting。Hesignedtheregister，andtookthearsenicawaywithhim，afterpayingforit。"
Thecross—examinationofthetwomensucceededinassertingcertaintechnicalobjectionstotheirevidence。Buttheterriblefactthatmyhusbandhimselfhadactuallypurchasedthearsenicinbothcasesremainedunshaken。
Thenextwitnesses——thegardenerandthecookatGleninch——woundthechainofhostileevidencearoundtheprisonermoremercilesslystill。
Onexaminationthegardenersaid，onhisoath：
"Ineverreceivedanyarsenicfromtheprisoner，orfromanyoneelse，atthedatetowhichyourefer，ofatanyotherdate。I
neverusedanysuchthingasasolutionofarsenic，oreverallowedthemenworkingundermetouseit，intheconservatoriesorinthegardenatGleninch。Idisapproveofarsenicasameansofdestroyingnoxiousinsectsinfestingflowersandplants。"
Thecook，beingcallednext，spokeaspositivelyasthegardener：
"Neithermymasternoranyotherpersongavemeanyarsenictodestroyratsatanytime。Nosuchthingwaswanted。Ideclare，onmyoath，thatIneversawanyratsinoraboutthehouse，oreverheardofanyratsinfestingit。"
OtherhouseholdservantsatGleninchgavesimilarevidence。
Nothingcouldbeextractedfromthemoncross—examinationexceptthattheremighthavebeenratsinthehouse，thoughtheywerenotawareofit。Thepossessionofthepoisonwastraceddirectlytomyhusband，andtonooneelse。Thathehadboughtitwasactuallyproved，andthathehadkeptitwastheoneconclusionthattheevidencejustified。
Thewitnesseswhocamenextdidtheirbesttopressthechargeagainsttheprisonerhometohim。Havingthearsenicinhispossession，whathadhedonewithit？Theevidenceledthejurytoinferwhathehaddonewithit。
Theprisoner’svaletdeposedthathismasterhadrungforhimattwentyminutestotenonthemorningofthedayonwhichhismistressdied，andhadorderedacupofteaforher。ThemanhadreceivedtheorderattheopendoorofMrs。Macallan’sroom，andcouldpositivelyswearthatnootherpersonbuthismasterwasthereatthetime。
Theunder—housemaid，appearingnext，saidthatshehadmadethetea，andhadherselftakenitupstairsbeforeteno’clocktoMrs。
Macallan’sroom。Hermasterhadreceiveditfromherattheopendoor。Shecouldlookin，andcouldseethathewasaloneinhermistress’sroom。
Thenurse，ChristinaOrmsay，beingrecalled，repeatedwhatMrs。
Macallanhadsaidtoheronthedaywhenthatladywasfirsttakenill。Shehadsaid（speakingtothenurseatsixo’clockinthemorning），"Mr。Macallancameinaboutanhoursince；hefoundmestillsleepless，andgavememycomposingdraught。"Thiswasatfiveo’clockinthemorning，whileChristinaOrmsaywasasleeponthesofa。Thenursefurthersworethatshehadlookedatthebottlecontainingthecomposingmixture，andhadseenbythemeasuringmarksonthebottlethatadosehadbeenpouredoutsincethedosepreviouslygiven，administeredbyherself。
Onthisoccasionspecialinterestwasexcitedbythecross—examination。Theclosingquestionsputtotheunder—housemaidandthenurserevealedforthefirsttimewhatthenatureofthedefensewastobe。
Cross—examiningtheunder—housemaid，theDeanofFacultysaid：
"DidyouevernoticewhenyouweresettingMrs。EustaceMacallan’sroomtorightswhetherthewaterleftinthebasinwasofablackishorbluishcolor？"Thewitnessanswered，"Inevernoticedanythingofthesort。"
TheDeanofFacultywenton：
"Didyoueverfindunderthepillowofthebed，orinanyotherhidingplaceinMrs。Macallan’sroom，anybooksorpamphletstellingofremediesusedforimprovingabadcomplexion？"Thewitnessanswered，"No。"
TheDeanofFacultypersisted：
"DidyoueverhearMrs。Macallanspeakofarsenic，takenasawashortakenasamedicine，asagoodthingtoimprovethecomplexion？"Thewitnessanswered，"Never。"
Similarquestionswerenextputtothenurse，andwereallansweredbythiswitnessalsointhenegative。
Here，then，inspiteofthenegativeanswers，wastheplanofthedefensemadedimlyvisibleforthefirsttimetothejuryandtotheaudience。Bywayofpreventingthepossibilityofamistakeinsoseriousamatter，theChiefJudge（theLordJusticeClerk）
putthisplainquestion，whenthewitnesseshadretired，totheCounselforthedefense：
"TheCourtandthejury，"saidhislordship，"wishdistinctlytounderstandtheobjectofyourcross—examinationofthehousemaidandthenurse。IsitthetheoryofthedefensethatMrs。EustaceMacallanusedthearsenicwhich——herhusbandpurchasedforthepurposeofimprovingthedefectsofhercomplexion？"
TheDeanofFacultyanswered：
"Thatiswhatwesay，mylord，andwhatweproposetoproveasthefoundationofthedefense。WecannotdisputethemedicalevidencewhichdeclaresthatMrs。Macallandiedpoisoned。Butweassertthatshediedofanoverdoseofarsenic，ignorantlytaken，intheprivacyofherownroom，asaremedyforthedefects——theprovedandadmitteddefects——ofhercomplexion。Theprisoner’sDeclarationbeforetheSheriffexpresslysetsforththathepurchasedthearsenicattherequestofhiswife。"
TheLordJusticeClerkinquireduponthisiftherewereanyobjectiononthepartofeitherofthelearnedcounseltohavetheDeclarationreadinCourtbeforetheTrialproceededfurther。
TothistheDeanofFacultyrepliedthathewouldbegladtohavetheDeclarationread。Ifhemightusetheexpression，itwouldusefullypavethewayinthemindsofthejuryforthedefensewhichhehadtosubmittothem。
TheLordAdvocate（speakingontheotherside）washappytobeabletoaccommodatehislearnedbrotherinthismatter。SolongasthemereassertionswhichtheDeclarationcontainedwerenotsupportedbyproof，helookeduponthatdocumentasevidencefortheprosecution，andhetoowasquitewillingtohaveitread。
Thereupontheprisoner’sDeclarationofhisinnocence——onbeingchargedbeforetheSheriffwiththemurderofhiswife——wasread，inthefollowingterms：
"Iboughtthetwopacketsofarsenic，oneachoccasionatmywife’sownrequest。Onthefirstoccasionshetoldmethepoisonwaswantedbythegardenerforuseintheconservatories。Onthesecondoccasionshesaiditwasrequiredbythecookforriddingthelowerpartofthehouseofrats。
"Ihandedbothpacketsofarsenictomywifeimmediatelyonmyreturnhome。Ihadnothingtodowiththepoisonafterbuyingit。
Mywifewasthepersonwhogaveorderstothegardenerandcook——notI。Ineverheldanycommunicationwitheitherofthem。
"Iaskedmywifenoquestionsabouttheuseofthearsenic，feelingnointerestinthesubject。Ineverenteredtheconservatoriesformonthstogether；Icarelittleaboutflowers。
Asfortherats，Ileftthekillingofthemtothecookandtheotherservants，justasIshouldhaveleftanyotherpartofthedomesticbusinesstothecookandtheotherservants。
"Mywifenevertoldmeshewantedthearsenictoimprovehercomplexion。SurelyIshouldbethelastpersonadmittedtotheknowledgeofsuchasecretofhertoiletasthat？Iimplicitlybelievedwhatshetoldme；viz。，thatthepoisonwaswantedforthepurposesspecifiedbythegardenerandthecook。
"IassertpositivelythatIlivedonfriendlytermswithmywife，allowing，ofcourse，forthelittleoccasionaldisagreementsandmisunderstandingsofmarriedlife。AnysenseofdisappointmentinconnectionwithmymarriagewhichImighthavefeltprivatelyI
conceivedittobemydutyasahusbandandagentlemantoconcealfrommywife。Iwasnotonlyshockedandgrievedbyheruntimelydeath——IwasfilledwithfearthatIhadnot，withallmycare，behavedaffectionatelyenoughtoherinherlifetime。
"Furthermore，IsolemnlydeclarethatIknownomoreofhowshetookthearsenicfoundinherbodythanthebabeunborn。Iaminnocentevenofthethoughtofharmingthatunhappywoman。I
administeredthecomposingdraughtexactlyasIfounditinthebottle。IafterwardgaveherthecupofteaexactlyasIreceiveditfromtheunder—housemaid’shand。IneverhadaccesstothearsenicafterIplacedthetwopackagesinmywife’spossession。
Iamentirelyignorantofwhatshedidwiththemorofwhereshekeptthem。IdeclarebeforeGodIaminnocentofthehorriblecrimewithwhichIamcharged。"
WiththereadingofthosetrueandtouchingwordstheproceedingsontheseconddayoftheTrialcametoanend。
Sofar，Imustown，theeffectonmeofreadingtheReportwastodepressmyspiritsandtolowermyhopes。Thewholeweightoftheevidenceatthecloseoftheseconddaywasagainstmyunhappyhusband。WomanasIwas，andpartisanasIwas，Icouldplainlyseethat。
ThemercilessLordAdvocate（IconfessIhatedhim！）hadproved（1）thatEustacehadboughtthepoison；（2）thatthereasonwhichhehadgiventothedruggistsforbuyingthepoisonwasnotthetruereason；（3）thathehadhadtwoopportunitiesofsecretlyadministeringthepoisontohiswife。Ontheotherside，whathadtheDeanofFacultyproved？Asyet——nothing。Theassertionsintheprisoner’sDeclarationofhisinnocencewerestill，astheLordAdvocatehadremarked，assertionsnotsupportedbyproof。
Notoneatomofevidencehadbeenproducedtoshowthatitwasthewifewhohadsecretlyusedthearsenic，anduseditforhercomplexion。
MyoneconsolationwasthatthereadingoftheTrialhadalreadyrevealedtomethehelpfulfiguresoftwofriendsonwhosesympathyImightsurelyrely。ThecrippledMr。Dexterhadespeciallyshownhimselftobeathoroughgoodallyofmyhusband’s。Myheartwarmedtothemanwhohadmovedhischairagainstthebedsidetable——themanwhohadstruggledtothelasttodefendEustace’spapersfromthewretcheswhohadseizedthem。
IdecidedthenandtherethatthefirstpersontowhomIwouldconfidemyaspirationsandmyhopesshouldbeMr。Dexter。Ifhefeltanydifficultyaboutadvisingme，Iwouldthenapplynexttotheagent，Mr。Playmore——thesecondgoodfriend，whohadformallyprotestedagainsttheseizureofmyhusband’spapers。
Fortifiedbythisresolution，Iturnedthepage，andreadthehistoryofthethirddayoftheTrial。
CHAPTERXVIII。
THIRDQUESTION——WHATWASHISMOTIVE？
THEfirstquestion（DidtheWomanDiePoisoned？）hadbeenanswered，positively。Thesecondquestion（WhoPoisonedHer？）hadbeenanswered，apparently。Therenowremainedthethirdandfinalquestion——WhatwasHisMotive？Thefirstevidencecalledinanswertothatinquirywastheevidenceofrelativesandfriendsofthedeadwife。
LadyBrydehaven，widowofRear—AdmiralSirGeorgeBrydehaven，examinedbyMr。Drew（counselfortheCrownwiththeLordAdvocate），gaveevidenceasfollows：
"Thedeceasedlady（Mrs。EustaceMacallan）wasmyniece。Shewastheonlychildofmysister，andshelivedundermyroofafterthetimeofhermother’sdeath。Iobjectedtohermarriage，ongroundswhichwereconsideredpurelyfancifulandsentimentalbyherotherfriends。Itisextremelypainfultometostatethecircumstancesinpublic，butIamreadytomakethesacrificeiftheendsofjusticerequireit。
"Theprisoneratthebar，atthetimeofwhichIamnowspeaking，wasstayingasaguestinmyhouse。Hemetwithanaccidentwhilehewasoutridingwhichcausedaseriousinjurytooneofhislegs。TheleghadbeenpreviouslyhurtwhilehewasservingwiththearmyinIndia。Thiscircumstancetendedgreatlytoaggravatetheinjuryreceivedintheaccident。Hewasconfinedtoarecumbentpositiononasofaformanyweekstogether；andtheladiesinthehousetookitinturnstositwithhim，andwhileawaythewearytimebyreadingtohimandtalkingtohim。Myniecewasforemostamongthesevolunteernurses。Sheplayedadmirablyonthepiano；andthesickmanhappened——mostunfortunately，astheeventproved——tobefondofmusic。
"Theconsequencesoftheperfectlyinnocentintercoursethusbegunweredeplorableconsequencesformyniece。ShebecamepassionatelyattachedtoMr。EustaceMacallan，withoutawakeninganycorrespondingaffectiononhisside。
"Ididmybesttointerfere，delicatelyandusefully，whileitwasstillpossibletointerferewithadvantage。Unhappily，myniecerefusedtoplaceanyconfidenceinme。ShepersistentlydeniedthatshewasactuatedbyanywarmerfeelingtowardMr。
Macallanthanafeelingoffriendlyinterest。Thismadeitimpossibleformetoseparatethemwithoutopenlyacknowledgingmyreasonfordoingso，andthusproducingascandalwhichmighthaveaffectedmyniece’sreputation。Myhusbandwasaliveatthattime；andtheonethingIcoulddounderthecircumstanceswasthethingIdid。IrequestedhimtospeakprivatelytoMr。
Macallan，andtoappealtohishonortohelpusoutofthedifficultywithoutprejudicetomyniece。
"Mr。Macallanbehavedadmirably。Hewasstillhelpless。Buthemadeanexcuseforleavinguswhichitwasimpossibletodispute。
Intwodaysaftermyhusbandhadspokentohimhewasremovedfromthehouse。
"Theremedywaswellintended；butitcametoolate，anditutterlyfailed。Themischiefwasdone。Myniecepinedawayvisibly；neithermedicalhelpnorchangeofairandscenedidanythingforher。Incourseoftime——afterMr。Macallanhadrecoveredfromtheeffectsofhisaccident——Ifoundthatshewascarryingonaclandestinecorrespondencewithhimbymeansofhermaid。Hisletters，Iamboundtosay，weremostconsideratelyandcarefullywritten。Nevertheless，Ifeltitmydutytostopthecorrespondence。
"Myinterference——whatelsecouldIdobutinterfere？——broughtmatterstoacrisis。Onedaymyniecewasmissingatbreakfast—time。ThenextdaywediscoveredthatthepoorinfatuatedcreaturehadgonetoMr。Macallan’schambersinLondon，andhadbeenfoundhiddeninhisbedroombysomebachelorfriendswhocametovisithim。
"ForthisdisasterMr。Macallanwasinnorespecttoblame。
Hearingfootstepsoutside，hehadonlytimetotakemeasuresforsavinghercharacterbyconcealingherinthenearestroom——andthenearestroomhappenedtobehisbedchamber。Thematterwastalkedabout，ofcourse，andmotivesweremisinterpretedinthevilestmanner。MyhusbandhadanotherprivateconversationwithMr。Macallan。Heagainbehavedadmirably。Hepubliclydeclaredthatmyniecehadvisitedhimashisbetrothedwife。Inafortnightfromthattimehesilencedscandalintheonewaythatwaspossible——hemarriedher。
"Iwasaloneinopposingthemarriage。Ithoughtitatthetimewhatithasprovedtobesince——afatalmistake。
"ItwouldhavebeensadenoughifMr。Macallanhadonlymarriedherwithoutaparticleofloveonhisside。Buttomaketheprospectmorehopelessstill，hewasatthatverytimethevictimofamisplacedattachmenttoaladywhowasengagedtoanotherman。Iamwellawarethathecompassionatelydeniedthis，justashecompassionatelyaffectedtobeinlovewithmyniecewhenhemarriedher。ButhishopelessadmirationoftheladywhomIhavementionedwasamatteroffactnotoriousamonghisfriends。Itmaynotbeamisstoaddthat_her_marriagepreceded_his_
marriage。Hehadirretrievablylostthewomanhereallyloved——hewaswithoutahopeoranaspirationinlife——whenhetookpityonmyniece。
"Inconclusion，Icanonlyrepeatthatnoevilwhichcouldhavehappened（ifshehadremainedasinglewoman）wouldhavebeencomparable，inmyopinion，totheevilofsuchamarriageasthis。Never，Isincerelybelieve，weretwomoreill—assortedpersonsunitedinthebondsofmatrimonythantheprisoneratthebarandhisdeceasedwife。"
Theevidenceofthiswitnessproducedastrongsensationamongtheaudience，andhadamarkedeffectonthemindsofthejury。
Cross—examinationforcedLadyBrydehaventomodifysomeofheropinions，andtoacknowledgethatthehopelessattachmentoftheprisonertoanotherwomanwasamatterofrumoronly。Butthefactsinhernarrativeremainedunshaken，and，forthatonereason，theyinvestedthecrimechargedagainsttheprisonerwithanappearanceofpossibility，whichithadentirelyfailedtoassumeduringtheearlierpartoftheTrial。
Twootherladies（intimatefriendsofMrs。EustaceMacallan）werecallednext。TheydifferedfromLadyBrydehavenintheiropinionsontheproprietyofthemarriagebutonallthematerialpointstheysupportedhertestimony，andconfirmedtheseriousimpressionwhichthefirstwitnesshadproducedoneverypersoninCourt。
ThenextevidencewhichtheprosecutionproposedtoputinwasthesilentevidenceofthelettersandtheDiaryfoundatGleninch。
InanswertoaquestionfromtheBench，theLordAdvocatestatedthattheletterswerewrittenbyfriendsoftheprisonerandhisdeceasedwife，andthatpassagesinthemboredirectlyonthetermsonwhichthetwoassociatedintheirmarriedlife。TheDiarywasstillmorevaluableasevidence。Itcontainedtheprisoner’sdailyrecordofdomesticevents，andofthethoughtsandfeelingswhichtheyarousedinhimatthetime。
Amostpainfulscenefollowedthisexplanation。
Writing，asIdo，longaftertheeventstookplace，IstillcannotprevailuponmyselftodescribeindetailwhatmyunhappyhusbandsaidanddidatthisdistressingperiodoftheTrial。
DeeplyaffectedwhileLadyBrydehavenwasgivingherevidence，hehadwithdifficultyrestrainedhimselffrominterruptingher。Henowlostallcontroloverhisfeelings。Inpiercingtones，whichrangthroughtheCourt，heprotestedagainstthecontemplatedviolationofhisownmostsacredsecretsandhiswife’smostsacredsecrets。"Hangme，innocentasIam！"hecried，"butspareme_that！_"Theeffectofthisterribleoutbreakontheaudienceisreportedtohavebeenindescribable。Someofthewomenpresentwereinhysterics。TheJudgesinterferedfromtheBench，butwithnogoodresult。QuietwasatlengthrestoredbytheDeanofFaculty，whosucceededinsoothingtheprisoner，andwhothenaddressedtheJudges，pleadingforindulgencetohisunhappyclientinmosttouchingandeloquentlanguage。Thespeech，amasterpieceofimpromptuoratory，concludedwithatemperateyetstronglyurgedprotestagainstthereadingofthepapersdiscoveredatGleninch。
ThethreeJudgesretiredtoconsiderthelegalquestionsubmittedtothem。Thesittingwassuspendedformorethanhalfanhour。
Asusualinsuchcases，theexcitementintheCourtcommunicateditselftothecrowdoutsideinthestreet。Thegeneralopinionhere——led，asitwassupposed，byoneoftheclerksorotherinferiorpersonsconnectedwiththelegalproceedings——wasdecidedlyadversetotheprisoner’schanceofescapingasentenceofdeath。"IfthelettersandtheDiaryareread，"saidthebrutalspokesmanofthemob，"thelettersandtheDiarywillhanghim。"
OnthereturnoftheJudgesintoCourt，itwasannouncedthattheyhaddecided，byamajorityoftwotoone，onpermittingthedocumentsindisputetobeproducedinevidence。EachoftheJudges，inturn，gavehisreasonsforthedecisionatwhichhehadarrived。Thisdone，theTrialproceeded。ThereadingoftheextractsfromthelettersandtheextractsfromtheDiarybegan。
ThefirstlettersproducedwerethelettersfoundintheIndiancabinetinMrs。EustaceMacallan’sroom。Theywereaddressedtothedeceasedladybyintimate（female）friendsofhers，withwhomshewasaccustomedtocorrespond。ThreeseparateextractsfromletterswrittenbythreedifferentcorrespondentswereselectedtobereadinCourt。
FIRSTCORRESPONDENT："Idespair，mydearestSara，ofbeingabletotellyouhowyourlastletterhasdistressedme。PrayforgivemeifIowntothinkingthatyourverysensitivenatureexaggeratesormisinterprets，quiteunconsciously，ofcourse，theneglectthatyouexperienceatthehandsofyourhusband。I
cannotsayanythingabout_his_peculiaritiesofcharacter，becauseIamnotwellenoughacquaintedwithhimtoknowwhattheyare。But，mydear，Iammucholderthanyou，andIhavehadamuchlongerexperiencethanyoursofwhatsomebodycalls’thelightsandshadowsofmarriedlife。’Speakingfromthatexperience，ImusttellyouwhatIhaveobserved。Youngmarriedwomen，likeyou，whoaredevotedlyattachedtotheirhusbands，areapttomakeoneveryseriousmistake。Asarule，theyallexpecttoomuchfromtheirhusbands。Men，mypoorSara，arenotlike_us。_Theirlove，evenwhenitisquitesincere，isnotlikeourlove。Itdoesnotlastasitdoeswithus。Itisnottheonehopeandonethoughtoftheirlives，asitiswithus。Wehavenoalternative，evenwhenwemosttrulyrespectandlovethem，buttomakeallowanceforthisdifferencebetweentheman’snatureandthewoman’s。Idonotforonemomentexcuseyourhusband’scoldness。Heiswrong，forexample，inneverlookingatyouwhenhespeakstoyou，andinnevernoticingtheeffortsthatyoumaketopleasehim。Heisworsethanwrong——heisreallycruel，ifyoulike——inneverreturningyourkisswhenyoukisshim。But，mydear，areyouquitesurethatheisalways_designedly_coldandcruel？Maynothisconductbesometimestheresultoftroublesandanxietieswhichweighonhismind，andwhicharetroublesandanxietiesthatyoucannotshare？Ifyoutrytolookathisbehaviorinthislight，youwillunderstandmanythingswhichpuzzleandpainyounow。Bepatientwithhim，mychild。Makenocomplaints，andneverapproachhimwithyourcaressesattimeswhenhismindispreoccupiedorhistemperruffled。Thismaybehardadvicetofollow，lovinghimasardentlyasyoudo。But，relyonit，thesecretofhappinessforuswomenistobefound（alas！onlytoooften）insuchexerciseofrestraintandresignationasyouroldfriendnowrecommends。Think，mydear，overwhatIhavewritten，andletmehearfromyouagain。"
SECONDCORRESPONDENT："Howcanyoubesofoolish，Sara，astowasteyourloveonsuchacold—bloodedbruteasyourhusbandseemstobe？Tobesure，Iamnotmarriedyet，orperhapsI
shouldnotbesosurprisedatyou。ButIshallbemarriedoneofthesedays，andifmyhusbandevertreatmeasMr。Macallantreatsyou，Ishallinsistonaseparation。Ideclare，IthinkI
wouldratherbeactuallybeaten，likethewomenamongthelowerorders，thanbetreatedwiththepoliteneglectandcontemptwhichyoudescribe。IburnwithindignationwhenIthinkofit。
Itmustbequiteinsufferable。Don’tbearitanylonger，mypoordear。Leavehim，andcomeandstaywithme。Mybrotherisalawyer，asyouknow。Ireadtohimportionsofyourletter，andheisofopinionthatyoumightgetwhathecallsajudicialseparation。Comeandconsulthim。"
THIRDCORRESPONDENT："YOUknow，mydearMrs。Macallan，what_my_
experienceofmenhasbeen。Yourletterdoesnotsurprisemeintheleast。Yourhusband’sconducttoyoupointstooneconclusion。Heisinlovewithsomeotherwoman。ThereisSomebodyinthedark，whogetsfromhimeverythingthathedeniestoyou。Ihavebeenthroughitall——andIknow！Don’tgiveway。
Makeitthebusinessofyourlifetofindoutwhothecreatureis。Perhapstheremaybemorethanoneofthem。Itdoesn’tmatter。Oneormany，ifyoucanonlydiscoverthem，youmaymakehisexistenceasmiserabletohimashemakesyourexistencetoyou。Ifyouwantmyexperiencetohelpyou，saytheword，anditisfreelyatyourservice。IcancomeandstaywithyouatGleninchanytimeafterthefourthofnextmonth。"
Withthoseabominablelinesthereadingsfromthelettersofthewomencametoanend。ThefirstandlongestoftheExtractsproducedthemostvividimpressioninCourt。Evidentlythewriterwasinthiscaseaworthyandsensibleperson。Itwasgenerallyfelt，however，thatallthreeoftheletters，nomatterhowwidelytheymightdifferintone，justifiedthesameconclusion。
Thewife’spositionatGleninch（ifthewife’saccountofitweretobetrusted）wasthepositionofaneglectedandanunhappywoman。
Thecorrespondenceoftheprisoner，whichhadbeenfound，withhisDiary，inthelockedbed—tabledrawer，wasproducednext。Thelettersinthiscasewerewithoneexceptionallwrittenbymen。
Thoughthetoneofthemwasmoderationitselfascomparedwiththesecondandthirdofthewomen’sletters，theconclusionstillpointedthesameway。ThelifeofthehusbandatGleninchappearedtobejustasintolerableasthelifeofthewife。
Forexample，oneoftheprisoner’smalefriendswroteinvitinghimtomakeayachtvoyagearoundtheworld。AnothersuggestedanabsenceofsixmonthsontheContinent。Athirdrecommendedfield—sportsandfishing。Theoneobjectaimedatbyallthewriterswasplainlytocounselaseparation，moreorlessplausibleandmoreorlesscomplete，betweenthemarriedpair。
Thelastletterreadwasaddressedtotheprisonerinawoman’shandwriting，andwassignedbyawoman’sChristiannameonly。
"Ah，mypoorEustace，whatacrueldestinyisours！"theletterbegan。"WhenIthinkofyourlife，sacrificedtothatwretchedwoman，myheartbleedsforyou。If_we_hadbeenmanandwife——ifithadbeen_my_unutterablehappinesstoloveandcherishthebest，thedearestofmen——whataparadiseofourownwemighthavelivedin！whatdelicioushourswemighthaveknown！Butregretisvain；weareseparatedinthislife——separatedbytieswhichwebothmourn，andyetwhichwemustbothrespect。MyEustace，thereisaworldbeyondthis。Thereoursoulswillflytomeeteachother，andmingleinonelongheavenlyembrace——inaraptureforbiddentousonearth。Themiserydescribedinyourletter——oh，why，whydidyoumarryher？——haswrungthisconfessionoffeelingfromme。Letitcomfortyou，butletnoothereyesseeit。Burnmyrashlywrittenlines，andlook（asI
look）tothebetterlifewhichyoumayyetsharewithyourownHELENA。"
ThereadingofthisoutrageousletterprovokedaquestionfromtheBench。OneoftheJudgesaskedifthewriterhadattachedanydateoraddresstoherletter。
InanswertothistheLordAdvocatestatedthatneithertheonenortheotherappeared。TheenvelopeshowedthattheletterhadbeenpostedinLondon。"Wepropose，"thelearnedcounselcontinued，"toreadcertainpassagesfromtheprisoner’sDiary，inwhichthenamesignedattheendoftheletteroccursmorethanonce；andwemaypossiblyfindothermeansofidentifyingthewriter，tothesatisfactionofyourlordships，beforetheTrialisover。"
Thepromisedpassagesfrommyhusband’sprivateDiarywerenowread。ThefirstextractrelatedtoaperiodofnearlyayearbeforethedateofMrs。EustaceMacallan’sdeath。Itwasexpressedintheseterms：
"News，bythismorning’spost，whichhasquiteoverwhelmedme。
Helena’shusbanddiedsuddenlytwodayssinceofheart—disease。
Sheisfree——mybelovedHelenaisfree！AndI？
"IamfetteredtoawomanwithwhomIhavenotasinglefeelingincommon。Helenaislosttome，bymyownact。Ah！Icanunderstandnow，asIneverunderstoodbefore，howirresistibletemptationcanbe，andhoweasilysometimescrimemayfollowit。
Ihadbettershutuptheseleavesforthenight。Itmaddensmetonopurposetothinkofmypositionortowriteofit。"
Thenextpassage，datedafewdayslater，dweltonthesamesubject。
"Ofallthefolliesthatamancancommit，thegreatestisactingonimpulse。IactedonimpulsewhenImarriedtheunfortunatecreaturewhoisnowmywife。
"Helenawasthenlosttome，asItoohastilysupposed。Shehadmarriedthemantowhomsherashlyengagedherselfbeforeshemetwithme。HewasyoungerthanI，and，toallappearance，heartierandstrongerthanI。SofarasIcouldsee，myfatewassealedforlife。Helenahadwrittenherfarewellletter，takingleaveofmeinthisworldforgood。Myprospectswereclosed；myhopeshadended。Ihadnotanaspirationleft；Ihadnonecessitytostimulatemetotakerefugeinwork。Achivalrousaction，anexertionofnobleself—denial，seemedtobeallthatwaslefttome，allthatIwasfitfor。