Titlefirst。Ashorttitle，atakingtitle：’MistressandMaid。’
　　Scene，thelandofromance——Italy。Time，theageofromance——thefifteenthcentury。Ha！lookatAriel。Sheknowsnomoreaboutthefifteenthcenturythanthecatinthekitchen，andyetsheisinterestedalready。HappyAriel！"
　　Ariellookedatmeagain，inthedoubleintoxicationofthewineandthetriumph。
　　"Iknownomorethanthecatinthekitchen，"sherepeated，withabroadgrinofgratifiedvanity。"Iam’happyAriel！’Whatareyou？"
　　MiserrimusDexterlaugheduproariously。
　　"Didn’tItellyou？"hesaid。"Isn’tshefun？——PersonsoftheDrama。"heresumed："threeinnumber。Womenonly。Angelica，anoblelady；noblealikeinspiritandinbirth。Cunegonda，abeautifuldevilinwoman’sform。Damoride，herunfortunatemaid。
　　Firstscene：adarkvaultedchamberinacastle。Time，evening。
　　Theowlsarehootinginthewood；thefrogsarecroakinginthemarsh。——LookatAriel！Herfleshcreeps；sheshuddersaudibly。
　　AdmirableAriel！"
　　MyrivalintheMaster’sfavoreyedmedefiantly。"AdmirableAriel！"sherepeated，indrowsyaccents。MiserrimusDexterpausedtotakeuphisgobletofBurgundy——placedcloseathandonalittleslidingtableattachedtohischair。Iwatchedhimnarrowlyashesippedthewine。Theflushwasstillmountinginhisface；thelightwasstillbrighteninginhiseyes。Hesetdownhisglassagain，withajovialsmackofhislips——andwenton：
　　"Personspresentinthevaultedchamber：CunegondaandDamoride。
　　Cunegondaspeaks。’Damoride！’’Madam？’’Wholiesillinthechamberaboveus？’’Madam，thenobleladyAngelica。’（Apause。
　　Cunegondaspeaksagain。）’Damoride！’’Madam？’’HowdoesAngelicalikeyou？’’Madam，thenoblelady，sweetandgoodtoallwhoapproachher，issweetandgoodtome。’’Haveyouattendedonher，Damoride？’’Sometimes，madam，whenthenursewasweary。’
　　’Hasshetakenherhealingmedicinefromyourhand’’Onceortwice，madam，whenIhappenedtobeby。’’Damoride，takethiskeyandopenthecasketonthetablethere。’（Damorideobeys。）’Doyouseeagreenvialinthecasket？’’Iseeit，madam。’’Takeitout。’（Damorideobeys。）’Doyouseealiquidinthegreenvial？
　　canyouguesswhatitis？’’No，madam。’’ShallItellyou？’
　　（Damoridebowsrespectfully）’Poisonisinthevial。’（Damoridestarts；sheshrinksfromthepoison；shewouldfainputitaside。
　　Hermistresssignstohertokeepitinherhand；hermistressspeaks。）’Damoride，Ihavetoldyouoneofmysecrets；shallI
　　tellyouanother？’（Damoridewaits，fearingwhatistocome。Hermistressspeaks。）’IhatetheLadyAngelica。Herlifestandsbetweenmeandthejoyofmyheart。Youholdherlifeinyourhand。’（Damoridedropsonherknees；sheisadevoutperson；shecrossesherself，andthenshespeaks。）’Mistress，youterrifyme。
　　Mistress，whatdoIhear？’（Cunegondaadvances，standsoverher，looksdownonherwithterribleeyes，whispersthenextwords。）
　　’Damoride！theLadyAngelicamustdie——andImustnotbesuspected。TheLadyAngelicamustdie——andbyyourhand。’"
　　Hepausedagain。Tosipthewineoncemore？No；todrinkadeepdraughtofitthistime。
　　Wasthestimulantbeginningtofailhimalready？
　　Ilookedathimattentivelyashelaidhimselfbackagaininhischairtoconsiderforamomentbeforehewenton。
　　Theflushonhisfacewasasdeepasever；butthebrightnessinhiseyeswasbeginningtofadealready。Ihadnoticedthathespokemoreandmoreslowlyasheadvancedtothelaterdialogueofthescene。Washefeelingtheeffortofinventionalready？Hadthetimecomewhenthewinehaddoneallthatthewinecoulddoforhim？
　　Wewaited。Arielsatwatchinghimwithvacantlystaringeyesandvacantlyopenmouth。Benjamin，impenetrablyexpectingthesignal，kepthisopennote—bookonhisknee，coveredbyhishand。
　　MiserrimusDexterwenton：
　　"Damoridehearsthoseterriblewords；Damorideclaspsherhandsinentreaty。’Oh，madam！madam！howcanIkillthedearandnoblelady？WhatmotivehaveIforharmingher？’Cunegondaanswers，’YouhavethemotiveofobeyingMe。’（Damoridefallswithherfaceonthefloorathermistress’sfeet。）’Madam，Icannotdoit！Madam，Idarenotdoit！’Cunegondaanswers，’Yourunnorisk：Ihavemyplanfordivertingdiscoveryfrommyself，andmyplanfordivertingdiscoveryfromyou。’Damoriderepeats，’I
　　cannotdoit！Idarenotdoit！’Cunegonda’seyesflashlightningsofrage。Shetakesfromitsplaceofconcealmentinherbosom——"
　　Hestoppedinthemiddleofthesentence，andputhishandtohishead——notlikeamaninpain，butlikeamanwhohadlosthisidea。
　　WoulditbewellifItriedtohelphimtorecoverhisidea？orwoulditbewiser（ifIcouldonlydoit）tokeepsilence？
　　Icouldseethedriftofhisstoryplainlyenough。Hisobject，underthethindisguiseoftheItalianromance，wastomeetmyunanswerableobjectiontosuspectingMrs。Beauly’smaid——theobjectionthatthewomanhadnomotiveforcommittingherselftoanactofmurder。Ifhecouldpracticallycontradictthis，bydiscoveringamotivewhichIshouldbeobligedtoadmit，hisendwouldbegained。ThoseinquirieswhichIhadpledgedmyselftopursue——thoseinquirieswhichmight，atanymoment，takeaturnthatdirectlyconcernedhim——would，inthatcase，besuccessfullydivertedfromtherighttothewrongperson。Theinnocentmaidwouldsetmystrictestscrutinyatdefiance；andDexterwouldbesafelyshieldedbehindher。
　　Ideterminedtogivehimtime。Notawordpassedmylips。
　　Theminutesfollowedeachother。Iwaitedinthedeepestanxiety。
　　Itwasatryingandacriticalmoment。Ifhesucceededininventingaprobablemotive，andinshapingitneatlytosuitthepurposeofhisstory，hewouldprove，bythatactalone，thattherewerereservesofmentalpowerstillleftinhimwhichthepracticedeyeoftheScotchdoctorhadfailedtosee。Butthequestionwas——wouldhedoit？
　　Hedidit！Notinanewway；notinaconvincingway；notwithoutapainfullyevidenteffort。Still，welldoneorilldone，hefoundamotiveforthemaid。
　　"Cunegonda，"heresumed，"takesfromitsplaceofconcealmentinherbosomawrittenpaper，andunfoldsit。’Lookatthis，’shesays。Damoridelooksatthepaper，andsinksagainathermistress’sfeetinaparoxysmofhorroranddespair。Cunegondaisinpossessionofashamefulsecretinthemaid’spastlife。
　　Cunegondacansaytoher，’Chooseyouralternative。Eithersubmittoanexposurewhichdisgracesyouand——disgracesyourparentsforever——ormakeupyourmindtoobeyMe。’Damoridemightsubmittothedisgraceifitonlyaffectedherself。Butherparentsarehonestpeople；shecannotdisgraceherparents。Sheisdriventoherlastrefuge——thereisnohopeofmeltingthehardheartofCunegonda。Heronlyresourceistoraisedifficulties；shetriestoshowthatthereareobstaclesbetweenherandthecrime。
　　’Madam！madam！’shecries；’howcanIdoit，whenthenurseistheretoseeme？’Cunegondaanswers，’Sometimesthenursesleeps；
　　sometimesthenurseisaway。’Damoridestillpersists。’Madam！
　　madam！thedooriskeptlocked，andthenursehasgotthekey。’"
　　Thekey！IinstantlythoughtofthemissingkeyatGleninch。Hadhethoughtofittoo？Hecertainlycheckedhimselfasthewordescapedhim。Iresolvedtomakethesignal。Irestedmyelbowonthearmofmychair，andplayedwithmyearring。Benjamintookouthispencilandarrangedhisnote—booksothatArielcouldnotseewhathewasaboutifshehappenedtolookhisway。
　　WewaiteduntilitpleasedMiserrimusDextertoproceed。Theintervalwasalongone。Hishandwentupagaintohisforehead。
　　Adulleranddullerlookwaspalpablystealingoverhiseyes。
　　Whenhedidspeak，itwasnottogoonwiththenarrative，buttoputaquestion。
　　"WheredidIleaveoff？"heasked。
　　Myhopessankagainasrapidlyastheyhadrisen。Imanagedtoanswerhim，however，withoutshowinganychangeinmy，manner。
　　"Youleftoff，"Isaid，"whereDamoridewasspeakingtoCunegonda——"
　　"Yes，yes！"heinterposed。"Andwhatdidshesay？"
　　"Shesaid，’Thedooriskeptlocked，andthenursehasgotthekey。’"
　　Heinstantlyleanedforwardinhischair。
　　"No！"heanswered，vehemently。"You’rewrong。’Key？’Nonsense！I
　　neversaid’Key。’"
　　"Ithoughtyoudid，Mr。Dexter。"
　　"Ineverdid！Isaidsomethingelse，andyouhaveforgottenit。"
　　Irefrainedfromdisputingwithhim，infearofwhatmightfollow。Wewaitedagain。Benjamin，sullenlysubmittingtomycaprices，hadtakendownthequestionsandanswersthathadpassedbetweenDexterandmyself。Hestillmechanicallykepthispageopen，andstillheldhispencilinreadinesstogoon。
　　Ariel，quietlysubmittingtothedrowsyinfluenceofthewinewhileDexter’svoicewasinherears，feltuneasilythechangetosilence。Sheglancedroundherrestlessly；sheliftedhereyesto"theMaster。"
　　Therehesat，silent，withhishandtohishead，stillstrugglingtomarshalhiswanderingthoughts，stilltryingtoseelightthroughthedarknessthatwasclosingroundhim。
　　"Master！"criedAriel，piteously。"What’sbecomeofthestory？"
　　Hestartedasifshehadawakenedhimoutofasleep；heshookhisheadimpatiently，asthoughhewantedtothrowoffsomeoppressionthatweigheduponit。
　　"Patience，patience，"hesaid。"Thestoryisgoingonagain。"
　　Hedashedatitdesperately；hepickedupthefirstlostthreadthatfellinhisway，recklesswhetheritweretherightthreadorthewrongone：
　　"Damoridefellonherknees。Sheburstintotears。Shesaid——"
　　Hestopped，andlookedabouthimwithvacanteyes。
　　"WhatnamedidIgivetheotherwoman？"heasked，notputtingthequestiontome，ortoeitherofmycompanions：askingitofhimself，oraskingitoftheemptyair。
　　"YoucalledtheotherwomanCunegonda，"Isaid。
　　Atthesoundofmyvoicehiseyesturnedslowly——turnedonme，andyetfailedtolookatme。Dullandabsent，stillandchangeless，theywereeyesthatseemedtobefixedonsomethingfaraway。Evenhisvoicewasalteredwhenhespokenext。Ithaddroppedtoaquiet，vacant，monotonoustone。IhadheardsomethinglikeitwhileIwaswatchingbymyhusband’sbedside，atthetimeofhisdelirium——whenEustace’smindappearedtobetoowearytofollowhisspeech。Wastheendsonearasthis？
　　"IcalledherCunegonda，"herepeated。"AndIcalledtheother——"
　　Hestoppedoncemore。
　　"AndyoucalledtheotherDamoride，"Isaid。
　　Ariellookedupathimwithabroadstareofbewilderment。Shepulledimpatientlyatthesleeveofhisjackettoattracthisnotice。
　　"Isthisthestory，Master？"sheasked。
　　Heansweredwithoutlookingather，hischangelesseyesstillfixed，asitseemed，onsomethingfaraway。
　　"Thisisthestory，"hesaid，absently。"ButwhyCunegonda？whyDamoride？WhynotMistressandMaid？It’seasiertorememberMistressandMaid——"
　　Hehesitated；heshiveredashetriedtoraisehimselfinhischair。Thenheseemedtorally"WhatdidtheMaidsaytotheMistress？"hemuttered。"What？what？what？"Hehesitatedagain。
　　Thensomethingseemedtodawnuponhimunexpectedly。Wasitsomenewthoughtthathadstruckhim？orsomelostthoughtthathehadrecovered？Impossibletosay。
　　Hewenton，suddenlyandrapidlywenton，inthesestrangewords：
　　"’Theletter，’theMaidsaid；’theletter。Ohmyheart。Everywordadagger。Adaggerinmyheart。Oh，youletter。Horrible，horrible，horribleletter。’"
　　What，inGod’sname，washetalkingabout？Whatdidthosewordsmean？
　　WasheunconsciouslypursuinghisfaintandfragmentaryrecollectionsofapasttimeatGleninch，underthedelusionthathewasgoingonwiththestory？Inthewreckoftheotherfaculties，wasmemorythelasttosink？Wasthetruth，thedreadfultruth，glimmeringonmedimlythroughtheawfulshadowcastbeforeitbytheadvancing，eclipseofthebrain？Mybreathfailedme；anamelesshorrorcreptthroughmywholebeing。
　　Benjamin，withhispencilinhishand，castonewarninglookatme。Arielwasquietandsatisfied。"Goon，Master，"wasallshesaid。"Ilikeit！Ilikeit！Goonwiththestory。"
　　Hewenton——likeamansleepingwithhiseyesopen，andtalkinginhissleep。
　　"TheMaidsaidtotheMistress。No——theMistresssaidtotheMaid。TheMistresssaid，’Showhimtheletter。Must，must，mustdoit。’TheMaidsaid，’No。Mustn’tdoit。Shan’tshowit。Stuff。
　　Nonsense。Lethimsuffer。Wecangethimoff。Showit？No。Lettheworstcometotheworst。Showit，then。’TheMistresssaid——"
　　Hepaused，andwavedhishandrapidlytoandfrobeforehiseyes，asifhewerebrushingawaysomevisionaryconfusionorentanglement。"Whichwasitlast？"hesaid——"MistressorMaid？
　　Mistress？No。Maidspeaks，ofcourse。Loud。Positive。’Youscoundrels。Keepawayfromthattable。TheDiary’sthere。NumberNine，Caldershaws。AskforDandie。Youshan’thavetheDiary。A
　　secretinyourear。TheDiarywillhang，him。Iwon’thavehimhanged。Howdareyoutouchmychair？MychairisMe！HowdareyoutouchMe？’"
　　Thelastwordsburstonmelikeagleamoflight！IhadreadthemintheReportoftheTrial——intheevidenceofthesheriff’sofficer。MiserrimusDexterhadspokeninthoseverytermswhenhehadtriedvainlytopreventthemenfromseizingmyhusband’spapers，andwhenthemenhadpushedhischairoutoftheroom。
　　Therewasnodoubtnowofwhathismemorywasbusywith。ThemysteryatGleninch！HislastbackwardflightofthoughtcircledfeeblyandmorefeeblynearerandnearertothemysteryatGleninch！
　　Arielarousedhimagain。Shehadnomercyonhim；sheinsistedonhearingthewholestory。
　　"Whydoyoustop，Master？Getalongwithit！getalongwithit！
　　Tellusquick——whatdidtheMissussaytotheMaid？"
　　Helaughedfeebly，andtriedtoimitateher。
　　"’WhatdidtheMissussaytotheMaid？’"herepeated。Hislaughdiedaway。Hewentonspeaking，moreandmorevacantly，moreandmorerapidly。"TheMistresssaidtotheMaid。We’vegothimoff。
　　Whatabouttheletter？Burnitnow。Nofireinthegrate。Nomatchesinthebox。Housetopsy—turvy。Servantsallgone。Tearitup。Shakeitupinthebasket。Alongwiththerest。Shakeitup。
　　Wastepaper。Throwitaway。Goneforever。Oh，Sara，Sara，Sara！
　　Goneforever。’"
　　Arielclappedherhands，andmimickedhiminherturn。
　　"’Oh，Sara，Sara，Sara！’"sherepeated。"’Goneforever。’That’sprime，Master！Tellus——whowasSara？"
　　Hislipsmoved，buthisvoicesanksolowthatIcouldbarelyhearhim。Hebeganagain，withtheoldmelancholyrefrain：
　　"TheMaidsaidtotheMistress。No——theMistresssaidtotheMaid——"Hestoppedabruptly，andraisedhimselferectinthechair；hethrewupbothhishandsabovehishead，andburstintoafrightfulscreaminglaugh。"Aha—ha—ha—ha！Howfunny！Whydon’tyoulaugh？Funny，funny，funny，funny。Aha—ha—ha—ha—ha——"
　　Hefellbackinthechair。Theshrillanddreadfullaughdiedawayintoalowsob。Thentherewasonelong，deep，wearilydrawnbreath。Thennothingbutamute，vacantfaceturneduptotheceiling，witheyesthatlookedblindly，withlipspartedinasenseless，changelessgrin。Nemesisatlast！Theforetolddoomhadfallenonhim。Thenighthadcome。
　　Butonefeelinganimatedmewhenthefirstshockwasover。EventhehorrorofthatfearfulsightseemedonlytoincreasethepitythatIfeltforthestrickenwretch。Istartedimpulsivelytomyfeet。Seeingnothing，thinkingofnothingbutthehelplessfigureinthechair，Isprangforwardtoraisehim，torevivehim，torecallhim（ifsuchathingmightstillbepossible）tohimself。
　　AtthefirststepthatItook，Ifelthandsonme——Iwasviolentlydrawnback。"Areyoublind？"criedBenjamin，draggingmenearerandnearertothedoor。"Lookthere！"
　　Hepointed；andIlooked。
　　Arielhadbeenbeforehandwithme。Shehadraisedhermasterinthechair；shehadgotonearmaroundhim。InherfreehandshebrandishedanIndianclub，tornfroma"trophy"ofOrientalweaponsthatornamentedthewalloverthefire—place。Thecreaturewastransfigured！Herdulleyesglaredliketheeyesofawildanimal。Shegnashedherteethinthefrenzythatpossessedher。"Youhavedonethis！"sheshoutedtome，wavingtheclubfuriouslyaroundandaroundoverherhead。"Comenearhim，andI’lldashyourbrainsout！I’llmashyoutillthere’snotawholeboneleftinyourskin！"Benjamin，stillholdingmewithonehandopenedthedoorwiththeother。Ilethimdowithmeashewould；
　　Arielfascinatedme；IcouldlookatnothingbutAriel。Herfrenzyvanishedasshesawusretreating。Shedroppedtheclub；
　　shethrewbotharmsaroundhim，andnestledherheadonhisbosom，andsobbedandweptoverhim。"Master！master！Theyshan’tvexyouanymore。Lookupagain。Laughatmeasyouusedtodo。
　　Say，’Ariel，you’reafool。’Belikeyourselfagain！"Iwasforcedintothenextroom。Iheardalong，low，wailingcryofmiseryfromthepoorcreaturewholovedhimwithadog’sfidelityandawoman’sdevotion。Theheavydoorwasclosedbetweenus。I
　　wasinthequietantechamber，cryingoverthatpiteoussight；
　　clingingtomykindoldfriendashelplessandasuselessasachild。
　　Benjaminturnedthekeyinthelock。
　　"There’snouseincryingaboutit，"hesaid，quietly。"Itwouldbemoretothepurpose，Valeria，ifyouthankedGodthatyouhavegotoutofthatroomsafeandsound。Comewithme。"
　　Hetookthekeyoutofthelock，andledmedownstairsintothehall。Afteralittleconsideration，heopenedthefrontdoorofthehouse。Thegardenerwasstillquietlyatworkinthegrounds。
　　"Yourmasteristakenill，"Benjaminsaid；"andthewomanwhoattendsuponhimhaslostherhead——ifsheeverhadaheadtolose。Wheredoesthenearestdoctorlive？"
　　Theman’sdevotiontoDextershoweditselfasthewoman’sdevotionhadshownitself——intheman’sroughway。Hethrewdownhisspadewithanoath。
　　"TheMastertakenbad？"hesaid。"I’llfetchthedoctor。Ishallfindhimsoonerthanyouwill。"
　　"Tellthedoctortobringamanwithhim，"Benjaminadded。"Hemaywanthelp。"
　　Thegardenerturnedaroundsternly。
　　"_I’m_theman，"hesaid。"Nobodyshallhelpbutme。"
　　Heleftus。Isatdownononeofthechairsinthehall，anddidmybesttocomposemyself。Benjaminwalkedtoandfro，deepinthought。"Bothofthemfondofhim，"Iheardmyoldfriendsaytohimself。"Halfmonkey，halfman——andbothofthemfondofhim。
　　_That_beatsme。"
　　Thegardenerreturnedwiththedoctor——aquiet，dark，resoluteman。Benjaminadvancedtomeetthem。"Ihavegotthekey，"hesaid。"ShallIgoupstairswithyou？"
　　Withoutanswering，thedoctordrewBenjaminasideintoacornerofthehall。Thetwotalkedtogetherinlowvoices。Attheendofitthedoctorsaid，"Givemethekey。Youcanbeofnouse；youwillonlyirritateher。"
　　Withthosewordshebeckonedtothegardener。HewasabouttoleadthewayupthestairswhenIventuredtostophim。
　　"MayIstayinthehall，sir？"Isaid。"Iamveryanxioustohearhowitends。"
　　Helookedatmeforamomentbeforehereplied。
　　"Youhadbettergohome，madam，"hesaid。"Isthegardeneracquaintedwithyouraddress？"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　"Verywell。Iwillletyouknowhowitendsbymeansofthegardener。Takemyadvice。Gohome。"
　　Benjaminplacedmyarminhis。Ilookedback，andsawthedoctorandthegardenerascendingthestairstogetherontheirwaytothelocked—uproom。
　　"Nevermindthedoctor，"Iwhispered。"Let’swaitinthegarden。"
　　Benjaminwouldnothearofdeceivingthedoctor。"Imeantotakeyouhome，"hesaid。Ilookedathiminamazement。Myoldfriend，whowasallmeeknessandsubmissionsolongastherewasnoemergencytotryhim，nowshowedthedormantreserveofmanlyspiritanddecisioninhisnatureashehadnever（inmyexperience）shownityet。Heledmeintothegarden。Wehadkeptourcab：itwaswaitingforusatthegate。
　　OnourwayhomeBenjaminproducedhisnote—book。
　　"What’stobedone，mydear，withthegibberishthatIhavewrittenhere？"hesaid。
　　"Haveyouwrittenitalldown？"Iasked，insurprise。
　　"WhenIundertakeaduty，Idoit，"heanswered。"Younevergavemethesignaltoleaveoff——younevermovedyourchair。Ihavewritteneverywordofit。WhatshallIdo？Throwitoutofthecabwindow？"
　　"Giveittome。"
　　"Whatareyougoingtodowithit？"
　　"Idon’tknowyet。IwillaskMr。Playmore。"
　　CHAPTERXLI。
　　MR。PLAYMOREINANEWCHARACTER。
　　BYthatnight’spost——althoughIwasfarfrombeingfittomaketheexertion——IwrotetoMr。Playmore，totellhimwhathadtakenplace，andtobegforhisearliestassistanceandadvice。
　　ThenotesinBenjamin’sbookwerepartlywritteninshorthand，andwere，onthataccount，ofnousetomeintheirexistingcondition。Atmyrequest，hemadetwofaircopies。OneofthecopiesIinclosedinmylettertoMr。Playmore。TheotherIlaidbyme，onmybedsidetable，whenIwenttorest。
　　Overandoveragain，throughthelonghoursofthewakefulnight，Ireadandre—readthelastwordswhichhaddroppedfromMiserrimusDexter’slips。Wasitpossibletointerpretthemtoanyusefulpurpose？Attheveryoutsettheyseemedtosetinterpretationatdefiance。Aftertryingvainlytosolvethehopelessproblem，IdidatlastwhatImightaswellhavedoneatfirst——Ithrewdownthepaperindespair。Whereweremybrightvisionsofdiscoveryandsuccessnow？Scatteredtothewinds！Wastherethefaintestchanceofthestrickenman’sreturntoreason？
　　IrememberedtoowellwhatIhadseentohopeforit。TheclosinglinesofthemedicalreportwhichIhadreadinMr。Playmore’sofficerecurredtomymemoryinthestillnessofthenight——"Whenthecatastrophehashappened，hisfriendscanentertainnohopeofhiscure：thebalanceoncelost，willbelostforlife。"
　　Theconfirmationofthatterriblesentencewasnotlonginreachingme。Onthenextmorningthegardenerbroughtanotecontainingtheinformationwhichthedoctorhadpromisedtogivemeonthepreviousday。
　　MiserrimusDexterandArielwerestillwhereBenjaminandIhadleftthemtogether——inthelongroom。Theywerewatchedbyskilledattendants，waitingthedecisionofDexter’snearestrelative（ayoungerbrother，wholivedinthecountry，andwhohadbeencommunicatedwithbytelegraph。IthadbeenfoundimpossibletopartthefaithfulArielfromhermasterwithoutusingthebodilyrestraintsadoptedincasesofraginginsanity。
　　Thedoctorandthegardener（bothunusuallystrongmen）hadfailedtoholdthepoorcreaturewhentheyfirstattemptedtoremoveheronenteringtheroom。Directlytheypermittedhertoreturntohermasterthefrenzyvanished：shewasperfectlyquietandcontentedsolongastheylethersitathisfeetandlookathim。
　　Sadasthiswas，thereportofMiserrimusDexter’sconditionwasmoremelancholystill。
　　"Mypatientisinastateofabsoluteimbecility"——thosewerethewordsinthedoctor’sletter；andthegardener’ssimplenarrativeconfirmedthemasthetruestwordsthatcouldhavebeenused。HewasutterlyunconsciousofpoorAriel’sdevotiontohim——hedidnotevenappeartoknowthatshewaspresentintheroom。Forhourstogetherheremainedinastateofutterlethargyinhischair。Heshowedananimalinterestinhismeals，andagreedyanimalenjoymentofeatinganddrinkingasmuchashecouldget——andthatwasall。"Thismorning，"thehonestgardenersaidtomeatparting，"wethoughtheseemedtowakeupabit。Lookedabouthim，youknow，andmadequeersignswithhishands。I
　　couldn’tmakeoutwhathemeant；nomorecouldthedoctor。_She_
　　knew，poorthing——Shedid。Wentandgothimhisharp，andputhishanduptoit。Lordblessyou！nouse。Hecouldn’tplaynomorethanIcan。Twangedatitanyhow，andgrinnedandgabbledtohimself。No：he’llnevercomerightagain。Anypersoncanseethat，withoutthedoctortohelp’em。Enjoyshismeals，asItoldyou；andthat’sall。ItwouldbethebestthingthatcouldhappenifitwouldpleaseGodtotakehim。There’snomoretobesaid。I
　　wishyougood—morning，ma’am。"
　　Hewentawaywiththetearsinhiseyes；andheleftme，Iownit，withthetearsinmine。
　　Anhourlatertherecamesomenewswhichrevivedme。IreceivedatelegramfromMr。Playmore，expressedinthesewelcomewords：
　　"ObligedtogotoLondonbyto—night’smailtrain。Expectmetobreakfastto—morrowmorning。"
　　Theappearanceofthelawyeratourbreakfast—tabledulyfollowedtheappearanceofhistelegram。Hisfirstwordscheeredme。Tomyinfinitesurpriseandrelief，hewasfarfromsharingthedespondentviewwhichItookofmyposition。
　　"Idon’tdeny，"hesaid，"thattherearesomeseriousobstaclesinyourway。ButIshouldneverhavecalledherebeforeattendingtomyprofessionalbusinessinLondonifMr。Benjamin’snoteshadnotproducedaverystrongimpressiononmymind。Forthefirsttime，as_I_think，youreallyhaveaprospectofsuccess。Forthefirsttime，Ifeeljustifiedinoffering（undercertainrestrictions）tohelpyou。Thatmiserablewretch，inthecollapseofhisintelligence，hasdonewhathewouldneverhavedoneinthepossessionofhissenseandhiscunning——hehasletusseethefirstpreciousglimmeringsofthelightoftruth。"
　　"Areyousureit_is_thetruth？"Iasked。
　　"Intwoimportantparticulars，"heanswered，"Iknowittobethetruth。Yourideaabouthimistherightone。Hismemory（asyousuppose）wastheleastinjuredofhisfaculties，andwasthelasttogivewayunderthestrainoftryingtotellthatstory。I
　　believehismemorytohavebeenspeakingtoyou（unconsciouslytohimself）inallthathesaidfromthemomentwhenthefirstreferenceto’theletter’escapedhimtotheend。"
　　"Butwhatdoesthereferencetothelettermean？"Iasked。"Formypart，Iamentirelyinthedarkaboutit。"
　　"SoamI，"heanswered，frankly。"ThechiefoneamongtheobstacleswhichImentionedjustnowistheobstaclepresentedbythatsame’letter。’ThelateMrs。Eustacemusthavebeenconnectedwithitinsomeway，orDexterwouldneverhavespokenofitas’adaggerinhisheart’；Dexterwouldneverhavecoupledhernamewiththewordswhichdescribethetearingupoftheletterandthethrowingofitaway。Icanarrivewithsomecertaintyatthisresult，andIcangetnofurther。Ihavenomoreideathanyouhaveofwhowrotetheletter，orofwhatwaswritteninit。Ifweareevertomakethatdiscovery——probablythemostimportantdiscoveryofall——wemustdispatchourfirstinquiriesadistanceofthreethousandmiles。InplainEnglish，mydearlady，wemustsendtoAmerica。"