Hisfaceflushedalloverinaninstant。"Ithinkitaninspiration！"hecried。"Notadayistobelostincarryingoutourplan。Thepolicearenottobetrustedwithit。Imuststartmyselfto—morrowmorning；andyou——"
　　Hestopped；hisfacegrewsuddenlypale；hesighedheavily；hiseyeswanderedoncemoreintothefixedlookatvacancy；andtherigid，deathlyexpressionfastenedagainuponallhisfeatures。
　　"ImusttellyoumysecretbeforeItalkofto—morrow，"heproceeded，faintly。"IfIhesitatedanylongeratconfessingeverything，Ishouldbeunworthyofyourpastkindness，unworthyofthehelpwhichitismylasthopethatyouwillgladlygivemewhenyouhaveheardall。"
　　Ibeggedhimtowaituntilhewasmorecomposed，untilhewasbetterabletospeak；buthedidnotappeartonoticewhatI
　　said。Slowly，andstrugglingasitseemedagainsthimself，heturnedalittleawayfromme，and，bendinghisheadoverthetable，supporteditonhishand。ThepacketofletterswithwhichIhadseenhimoccupiedwhenIcameinlayjustbeneathhiseyes。
　　Helookeddownonitsteadfastlywhenhenextspoketome。
　　CHAPTERIV。
　　"Youwereborn，Ibelieve，inourcounty，"hesaid；"perhaps，therefore，youmayhaveheardatsometimeofacuriousoldprophecyaboutourfamily，whichisstillpreservedamongthetraditionsofWincotAbbey？"
　　"Ihaveheardofsuchaprophecy，"Ianswered，"butIneverknewinwhattermsitwasexpressed。Itprofessedtopredicttheextinctionofyourfamily，orsomethingofthatsort，diditnot？"
　　"Noinquiries，"hewenton，"havetracedbackthatprophecytothetimewhenitwasfirstmade；noneofourfamilyrecordstellusanythingofitsorigin。Oldservantsandoldtenantsofoursremembertohavehearditfromtheirfathersandgrandfathers。
　　Themonks，whomwesucceededintheAbbeyinHenrytheEighth’stime，gotknowledgeofitinsomeway，forImyselfdiscoveredtherhymes，inwhichweknowtheprophecytohavebeenpreservedfromaveryremoteperiod，writtenonablankleafofoneoftheAbbeymanuscripts。Thesearetheverses，ifversestheydeservetobecalled：
　　WheninWincotvaultaplaceWaitsforoneofMonkton’srace——
　　WhenthatoneforlornshalllieGravelessunderopensky，Beggaredofsixfeetofearth，Thoughlordofacresfromhisbirth——ThatshallbeacertainsignOftheendofMonkton’sline。Dwindlingeverfaster，faster，Dwindlingtothelast—leftmaster；Frommortalken，fromlightofday，Monkton’sraceshallpassaway。"
　　"Thepredictionseemsalmostvagueenoughtohavebeenutteredbyanancientoracle，"saidI，observingthathewaited，afterrepeatingtheverses，asifexpectingmetosaysomething。
　　"Vagueornot，itisbeingaccomplished，"hereturned。"Iamnowthe’last—leftmaster’——thelastofthatelderlineofourfamilyatwhichthepredictionpoints；andthecorpseofStephenMonktonisnotinthevaultsofWincotAbbey。Waitbeforeyouexclaimagainstme。Ihavemoretosayaboutthis。LongbeforetheAbbeywasours，whenwelivedintheancientmanor—housenearit（theveryruinsofwhichhavelongsincedisappeared），thefamilyburying—placewasinthevaultundertheAbbeychapel。Whetherinthoseremotetimesthepredictionagainstuswasknownanddreadedornot，thismuchiscertain：everyoneoftheMonktons（whetherlivingattheAbbeyoronthesmallerestateinScotland）wasburiedinWincotvault，nomatteratwhatriskorwhatsacrifice。Inthefiercefightingdaysoftheoldentime，thebodiesofmyancestorswhofellinforeignplaceswererecoveredandbroughtbacktoWincot，thoughitoftencostnotheavyransomonly，butdesperatebloodshedaswell，toobtainthem。Thissuperstition，ifyoupleasetocallitso，hasneverdiedoutofthefamilyfromthattimetothepresentday；forcenturiesthesuccessionofthedeadinthevaultattheAbbeyhasbeenunbroken——absolutelyunbroken——untilnow。TheplacementionedinthepredictionaswaitingtobefilledisStephenMonkton’splace；thevoicethatcriesvainlytotheearthforshelteristhespirit—voiceofthedead。AssurelyasifIsawit，Iknowthattheyhavelefthimunburiedonthegroundwherehefell！"
　　HestoppedmebeforeIcouldutterawordinremonstrancebyslowlyrisingtohisfeet，andpointinginthesamedirectiontowardwhichhiseyeshadwanderedashorttimesince。
　　"Icanguesswhatyouwanttoaskme，"heexclaimed，sternlyandloudly；"youwanttoaskmehowIcanbemadenoughtobelieveinadoggerelprophecyutteredinanageofsuperstitiontoawethemostignoranthearers。Ianswer"（atthosewordshisvoicesanksuddenlytoawhisper），"Ianswer，because_StephenMonktonhimselfstandsthereatthismomentconfirmingmeinmybelief_。"
　　Whetheritwastheaweandhorrorthatlookedoutghastlyfromhisfaceasheconfrontedme，whetheritwasthatIhadneverhithertofairlybelievedinthereportsabouthismadness，andthattheconvictionoftheirtruthnowforceditselfuponmeonasudden，Iknownot，butIfeltmybloodcurdlingashespoke，andIknewinmyownheart，asIsattherespeechless，thatIdarenotturnroundandlookwherehewasstillpointingcloseatmyside。
　　"Iseethere，"hewenton，inthesamewhisperingvoice，"thefigureofadark—complexionedmanstandingupwithhisheaduncovered。Oneofhishands，stillclutchingapistol，hasfallentohisside；theotherpressesabloodyhandkerchiefoverhismouth。Thespasmofmortalagonyconvulseshisfeatures；butI
　　knowthemforthefeaturesofaswarthymanwhotwicefrightenedmebytakingmeupinhisarmswhenIwasachildatWincotAbbey。Iaskedthenursesatthetimewhothatmanwas，andtheytoldmeitwasmyuncle，StephenMonkton。Plainly，asifhestoodthereliving，Iseehimnowatyourside，withthedeath—glareinhisgreatblackeyes；andsohaveIeverseenhim，sincethemomentwhenhewasshot；athomeandabroad，wakingorsleeping，dayandnight，wearealwaystogether，whereverIgo！"
　　Hiswhisperingtonessankintoalmostinaudiblemurmuringashepronouncedtheselastwords。Fromthedirectionandexpressionofhiseyes，Isuspectedthathewasspeakingtotheapparition。IfIhadbehelditmyselfatthatmoment，itwouldhavebeen，I
　　think，alesshorriblesighttowitnessthantoseehim，asIsawhimnow，mutteringinarticulatelyatvacancy。MyownnervesweremoreshakenthanIcouldhavethoughtpossiblebywhathadpassed。Avaguedreadofbeingnearhiminhispresentmoodcameoverme，andImovedbackasteportwo。
　　Henoticedtheactioninstantly。
　　"Don’tgo！pray——praydon’tgo！HaveIalarmedyou？Don’tyoubelieveme？Dothelightsmakeyoureyesache？IonlyaskedyoutositintheglareofthecandlesbecauseIcouldnotbeartoseethelightthatalwaysshinesfromthephantomthereatduskshiningoveryouasyousatintheshadow。Don’tgo——don’tleavemeyet！"
　　Therewasanutterforlornness，anunspeakablemiseryinhisfaceashespokethesewords，whichgavemebackmyself—possessionbythesimpleprocessoffirstmovingmetopity。Iresumedmychair，andsaidthatIwouldstaywithhimaslongashewished。
　　"Thankyouathousandtimes。Youarepatienceandkindnessitself，"hesaid，goingbacktohisformerplaceandresuminghisformergentlenessofmanner。"NowthatIhavegotovermyfirstconfessionofthemiserythatfollowsmeinsecretwhereverIgo，IthinkIcantellyoucalmlyallthatremainstobetold。Yousee，asIsaid，myUncleStephen"heturnedawayhisheadquickly，andlookeddownatthetableasthenamepassedhislips——"myUncleStephencametwicetoWincotwhileIwasachild，andonbothoccasionsfrightenedmedreadfully。Heonlytookmeupinhisarmsandspoketome——verykindly，asIafterwardheard，for_him_——butheterrifiedme，nevertheless。PerhapsIwasfrightenedathisgreatstature，hisswarthycomplexion，andhisthickblackhairandmustache，asotherchildrenmighthavebeen；perhapsthemeresightofhimhadsomestrangeinfluenceonmewhichIcouldnotthenunderstandandcannotnowexplain。Howeveritwas，Iusedtodreamofhimlongafterhehadgoneaway，andtofancythathewasstealingonmetocatchmeupinhisarmswheneverIwasleftinthedark。
　　Theservantswhotookcareofmefoundthisout，andusedtothreatenmewithmyUncleStephenwheneverIwasperverseanddifficulttomanage。AsIgrewup，Istillretainedmyvaguedreadandabhorrenceofourabsentrelative。Ialwayslistenedintently，yetwithoutknowingwhy，wheneverhisnamewasmentionedbymyfatherormymother——listenedwithanunaccountablepresentimentthatsomethingterriblehadhappenedtohim，orwasabouttohappentome。ThisfeelingonlychangedwhenIwasleftaloneintheAbbey；andthenitseemedtomergeintotheeagercuriositywhichhadbeguntogrowonme，ratherbeforethattime，abouttheoriginoftheancientprophecypredictingtheextinctionofourrace。Areyoufollowingme？"
　　"Ifolloweverywordwiththeclosestattention。"
　　"Youmustknow，then，thatIhadfirstfoundoutsomefragmentsoftheoldrhymeinwhichtheprophecyoccursquotedasacuriosityinanantiquarianbookinthelibrary。Onthepageoppositethisquotationhadbeenpastedarudeoldwood—cut，representingadark—hairedman，whosefacewassostrangelylikewhatIrememberedofmyUncleStephenthattheportraitabsolutelystartledme。WhenIaskedmyfatheraboutthis——itwasthenjustbeforehisdeath——heeitherknew，orpretendedtoknow，nothingofit；andwhenIafterwardmentionedthepredictionhefretfullychangedthesubject。ItwasjustthesamewithourchaplainwhenIspoketohim。Hesaidtheportraithadbeendonecenturiesbeforemyunclewasborn，andcalledtheprophecydoggerelandnonsense。Iusedtoarguewithhimonthelatterpoint，askingwhyweCatholics，whobelievedthatthegiftofworkingmiracleshadneverdepartedfromcertainfavoredpersons，mightnotjustaswellbelievethatthegiftofprophecyhadneverdeparted，either？Hewouldnotdisputewithme；hewouldonlysaythatImustnotwastetimeinthinkingofsuchtrifles；
　　thatIhadmoreimaginationthanwasgoodforme，andmustsuppressinsteadofexcitingit。Suchadviceasthisonlyirritatedmycuriosity。IdeterminedsecretlytosearchthroughouttheoldestuninhabitedpartoftheAbbey，andtotryifIcouldnotfindoutfromforgottenfamilyrecordswhattheportraitwas，andwhentheprophecyhadbeenfirstwrittenoruttered。Didyoueverpassadayaloneinthelong—desertedchambersofanancienthouse？"
　　"Never！suchsolitudeasthatisnotatalltomytaste。"
　　"Ah！whatalifeitwaswhenIbeganmysearch。Ishouldliketoliveitoveragain。Suchtemptingsuspense，suchstrangediscoveries，suchwildfancies，suchinthrallingterrors，allbelongedtothatlife。Onlythinkofbreakingopenthedoorofaroomwhichnolivingsoulhadenteredbeforeyoufornearlyahundredyears；thinkofthefirststepforwardintoaregionofairless，awfulstillness，wherethelightfallsfaintandsicklythroughclosedwindowsandrottingcurtains；thinkoftheghostlycreakingoftheoldfloorthatcriesoutonyoufortreadingonit，stepassoftlyasyouwill；thinkofarms，helmets，weirdtapestriesofby—gonedays，thatseemtobemovingoutonyoufromthewallsasyoufirstwalkuptotheminthedimlight；
　　thinkofpryingintogreatcabinetsandiron—claspedchests，notknowingwhathorrorsmayappearwhenyoutearthemopen；ofporingovertheircontentstilltwilightstoleonyouanddarknessgrewterribleinthelonelyplace；oftryingtoleaveit，andnotbeingabletogo，asifsomethingheldyou；ofwindwailingatyououtside；ofshadowsdarkeningroundyou，andclosingyouupinobscuritywithin——onlythinkofthesethings，andyoumayimaginethefascinationofsuspenseandterrorinsuchalifeasminewasinthosepastdays。"
　　（Ishrankfromimaginingthatlife：itwasbadenoughtoseeitsresults，asIsawthembeforemenow。）
　　"Well，mysearchlastedmonthsandmonths；thenitwassuspendedalittle；thenresumed。InwhateverdirectionIpursueditI
　　alwaysfoundsomethingtoluremeon。Terribleconfessionsofpastcrimes，shockingproofsofsecretwickednessthathadbeenhiddensecurelyfromalleyesbutmine，cametolight。SometimesthesediscoverieswereassociatedwithparticularpartsoftheAbbey，whichhavehadahorribleinterestoftheirownformeeversince；sometimeswithcertainoldportraitsinthepicture—gallery，whichIactuallydreadedtolookatafterwhatI
　　hadfoundout。TherewereperiodswhentheresultsofthissearchofminesohorrifiedmethatIdeterminedtogiveitupentirely；
　　butInevercouldpersevereinmyresolution；thetemptationtogoonseemedatcertainintervalstogettoostrongforme，andthenIyieldedtoitagainandagain。AtlastIfoundthebookthathadbelongedtothemonkswiththewholeoftheprophecywrittenintheblankleaf。Thisfirstsuccessencouragedmetogetbackfurtheryetinthefamilyrecords。Ihaddiscoverednothinghithertooftheidentityofthemysteriousportrait；butthesameintuitiveconvictionwhichhadassuredmeofitsextraordinaryresemblancetomyUncleStephenseemedalsotoassuremethathemustbemorecloselyconnectedwiththeprophecy，andmustknowmoreofitthananyoneelse。Ihadnomeansofholdinganycommunicationwithhim，nomeansofsatisfyingmyselfwhetherthisstrangeideaofminewererightorwrong，untilthedaywhenmydoubtsweresettledforeverbythesameterribleproofwhichisnowpresenttomeinthisveryroom。"
　　Hepausedforamoment，andlookedatmeintentlyandsuspiciously；thenaskedifIbelievedallhehadsaidtomesofar。Myinstantreplyintheaffirmativeseemedtosatisfyhisdoubts，andhewenton。
　　"OnafineeveninginFebruaryIwasstandingaloneinoneofthedesertedroomsofthewesternturretattheAbbey，lookingatthesunset。JustbeforethesunwentdownIfeltasensationstealingovermewhichitisimpossibletoexplain。Isawnothing，heardnothing，knewnothing。Thisutterself—oblivioncamesuddenly；itwasnotfainting，forIdidnotfalltotheground，didnotmoveaninchfrommyplace。Ifsuchathingcouldbe，Ishouldsayitwasthetemporaryseparationofsoulandbodywithoutdeath；butalldescriptionofmysituationatthattimeisimpossible。Callmystatewhatyouwill，tranceorcatalepsy，IknowthatI
　　remainedstandingbythewindowutterlyunconscious——dead，mindandbody——untilthesunhadset。ThenIcametomysensesagain；
　　andthen，whenIopenedmyeyes，therewastheapparitionofStephenMonktonstandingoppositetome，faintlyluminous，justasitstandsoppositemeatthisverymomentbyyourside。"
　　WasthisbeforethenewsoftheduelreachedEngland？"Iasked。
　　"_Twoweeksbefore_thenewsofitreachedusatWincot。Andevenwhenweheardoftheduel，wedidnothearofthedayonwhichitwasfought。IonlyfoundthatoutwhenthedocumentwhichyouhavereadwaspublishedintheFrenchnewspaper。Thedateofthatdocument，youwillremember，isFebruary22d，anditisstatedthattheduelwasfoughttwodaysafterward。Iwrotedowninmypocketbook，ontheeveningwhenIsawthephantom，thedayofthemonthonwhichitfirstappearedtome。Thatdaywasthe24thofFebruary。
　　Hepausedagain，asifexpectingmetosaysomething。Afterthewordshehadjustspoken，whatcouldIsay？whatcouldIthink？
　　"Eveninthefirsthorroroffirstseeingtheapparition，"hewenton，"theprophecyagainstourhousecametomymind，andwithittheconvictionthatIbeheldbeforeme，inthatspectralpresence，thewarningofmyowndoom。AssoonasIrecoveredalittle，Idetermined，nevertheless，totesttherealityofwhatI
　　saw；tofindoutwhetherIwasthedupeofmyowndiseasedfancyornot。Ilefttheturret；thephantomleftitwithme。Imadeanexcusetohavethedrawing—roomattheAbbeybrilliantlylightedup；thefigurewasstilloppositeme。Iwalkedoutintothepark；
　　itwasthereintheclearstarlight。Iwentawayfromhome，andtraveledmanymilestothesea—side；stillthetalldarkmaninhisdeathagonywaswithme。AfterthisIstroveagainstthefatalitynomore。IreturnedtotheAbbey，andtriedtoresignmyselftomymisery。Butthiswasnottobe。Ihadahopethatwasdearertomethanmyownlife；IhadonetreasurebelongingtomethatIshudderedattheprospectoflosing；andwhenthephantompresencestoodawarningobstaclebetweenmeandthisonetreasure，thisdearesthope，thenmymiserygrewheavierthanI
　　couldbear。YoumustknowwhatIamalludingto；youmusthaveheardoftenthatIwasengagedtobemarried？"
　　"Yes，often。IhavesomeacquaintancemyselfwithMissElmslie。"
　　"Younevercanknowallthatshehassacrificedforme——nevercanimaginewhatIhavefeltforyearsandyearspast"——hisvoicetrembled，andthetearscameintohiseyes——"butIdarenottrustmyselftospeakofthat；thethoughtoftheoldhappydaysintheAbbeyalmostbreaksmyheartnow。Letmegetbacktotheothersubject。ImusttellyouthatIkeptthefrightfulvisionwhichpursuedme，atalltimesandinallplaces，asecretfromeverybody，knowingthevilereportsaboutmyhavinginheritedmadnessfrommyfamily，andfearingthatanunfairadvantagewouldbetakenofanyconfessionthatImightmake。Thoughthephantomalwaysstoodoppositetome，andthereforealwaysappearedeitherbeforeorbythesideofanypersontowhomI
　　spoke，IsoonschooledmyselftohidefromothersthatIwaslookingatitexceptonrareoccasions，whenIhaveperhapsbetrayedmyselftoyou。Butmyself—possessionavailedmenothingwithAda。Thedayofourmarriagewasapproaching。"
　　Hestoppedandshuddered。Iwaitedinsilencetillhehadcontrolledhimself。
　　"Think，"hewenton，"thinkofwhatImusthavesufferedatlookingalwaysonthathideousvisionwheneverIlookedonmybetrothedwife！Thinkofmytakingherhand，andseemingtotakeitthroughthefigureoftheapparition！Thinkofthecalmangel—faceandthetorturedspecter—facebeingalwaystogetherwhenevermyeyesmethers！Thinkofthis，andyouwillnotwonderthatIbetrayedmysecrettoher。Sheeagerlyentreatedtoknowtheworst——nay，more，sheinsistedonknowingit。AtherbiddingItoldall，andthenleftherfreetobreakourengagement。ThethoughtofdeathwasinmyheartasIspokethepartingwords——deathbymyownact，iflifestillheldoutafterourseparation。Shesuspectedthatthought；sheknewit，andneverleftmetillhergoodinfluencehaddestroyeditforever。ButforherIshouldnothavebeenalivenow；butforherIshouldneverhaveattemptedtheprojectwhichhasbroughtmehere。"
　　"DoyoumeanthatitwasatMissElmslie’ssuggestionthatyoucametoNaples？"Iasked，inamazement。
　　"ImeanthatwhatshesaidsuggestedthedesignwhichhasbroughtmetoNaples，"heanswered。"WhileIbelievedthatthephantomhadappearedtomeasthefatalmessengerofdeath，therewasnocomfort——therewasmisery，rather，inhearinghersaythatnopoweronearthshouldmakeherdesertme，andthatshewouldliveforme，andformeonly，througheverytrial。Butitwasfardifferentwhenweafterwardreasonedtogetheraboutthepurposewhichtheapparitionhadcometofulfill——fardifferentwhensheshowedmethatitsmissionmightbeforgoodinsteadofforevil，andthatthewarningitwassenttogivemightbetomyprofitinsteadoftomyloss。Atthosewords，thenewideawhichgavethenewhopeoflifecametomeinaninstant。Ibelievedthen，whatIbelievenow，thatIhaveasupernaturalwarrantformyerrandhere。InthatfaithIlive；withoutitIshoulddie。_She_
　　neverridiculedit，neverscorneditasinsanity。MarkwhatI
　　say！ThespiritthatappearedtomeintheAbbey——thathasneverleftmesince——thatstandstherenowbyyourside，warnsmetoescapefromthefatalitywhichhangsoverourrace，andcommandsme，ifIwouldavoidit，toburytheunburieddead。Mortallovesandmortalinterestsmustbowtothatawfulbidding。Thespecter—presencewillneverleavemetillIhaveshelteredthecorpsethatcriestotheearthtocoverit！Idarenotreturn——I
　　darenotmarrytillIhavefilledtheplacethatisemptyinWincotvault。"
　　Hiseyesflashedanddilated——hisvoicedeepened——afanaticecstasyshoneinhisexpressionasheutteredthesewords。
　　ShockedandgrievedasIwas，Imadenoattempttoremonstrateortoreasonwithhim。Itwouldhavebeenuselesstohavereferredtoanyoftheusualcommonplacesaboutopticaldelusionsordiseasedimaginations——worsethanuselesstohaveattemptedtoaccountbynaturalcausesforanyoftheextraordinarycoincidencesandeventsofwhichhehadspoken。BrieflyashehadreferredtoMissElmslie，hehadsaidenoughtoshowmethattheonlyhopeofthepoorgirlwholovedhimbestandhadknownhimlongestofanyonewasinhumoringhisdelusionstothelast。Howfaithfullyshestillclungtothebeliefthatshecouldrestorehim！Howresolutelywasshesacrificingherselftohismorbidfancies，inthehopeofahappyfuturethatmightnevercome！
　　LittleasIknewofMissElmslie，themerethoughtofhersituation，asInowreflectedonit，mademefeelsickatheart。
　　"TheycallmeMadMonkton！"heexclaimed，suddenlybreakingthesilencebetweenusduringthelastfewminutes，"HereandinEnglandeverybodybelievesIamoutofmysensesexceptAdaandyou。Shehasbeenmysalvation，andyouwillbemysalvationtoo。
　　SomethingtoldmethatwhenIfirstmetyouwalkingintheVillaPeale。Istruggledagainstthestrongdesirethatwasinmetotrustmysecrettoyou，butIcouldresistitnolongerwhenI
　　sawyouto—nightattheball；thephantomseemedtodrawmeontoyouasyoustoodaloneinthequietroom。Tellmemoreofthatideaofyoursaboutfindingtheplacewheretheduelwasfought。
　　IfIsetoutto—morrowtoseekforitmyself，wheremustIgotofirst？where？"Hestopped；hisstrengthwasevidentlybecomingexhausted，andhismindwasgrowingconfused。"WhatamItodo？I
　　can’tremember。Youknoweverything——willyounothelpme？Mymiseryhasmademeunabletohelpmyself。"
　　Hestopped，murmuredsomethingaboutfailingifhewenttothefrontieralone，andspokeconfusedlyofdelaysthatmightbefatal，thentriedtoutterthenameof"Ada"；but，inpronouncingthefirstletter，hisvoicefaltered，and，turningabruptlyfromme，heburstintotears。
　　Mypityforhimgotthebetterofmyprudenceatthatmoment，andwithoutthinkingofresponsibilities，Ipromisedatoncetodoforhimwhateverheasked。ThewildtriumphinhisexpressionashestartedupandseizedmyhandshowedmethatIhadbetterhavebeenmorecautious；butitwastoolatenowtoretractwhatIhadsaid。ThenextbestthingtodowastotryifIcouldnotinducehimtocomposehimselfalittle，andthentogoawayandthinkcoollyoverthewholeaffairbymyself。