"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。