按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
spoken to me。 Before the half hour had quite expired I began to
make my way out through the ballroom。
At the head of the staircase my friend； the _attache；_ met me。
〃What！ going away already？〃 Said he。
〃Yes； and on a very curious expedition。 I am going to Monkton's
rooms； by his own invitation。〃
〃You don't mean it！ Upon my honor； you're a bold fellow to trust
yourself alone with 'Mad Monkton' when the moon is at the full。〃
〃He is ill； poor fellow。 Besides； I don't think him half as mad
as you do。〃
〃We won't dispute about that； but mark my words； he has not asked
you to go where no visitor has ever been admitted before without
a special purpose。 I predict that you will see or hear something
to…night which you will remember for the rest of your life。〃
We parted。 When I knocked at the courtyard gate of the house
where Monkton lived； my friend's last words on the palace
staircase recurred to me； and； though I had laughed at him when
he spoke them； I began to suspect even then that his prediction
would be fulfilled。
CHAPTER III。
THE porter who let me into the house where Monkton lived directed
me to the floor on which his rooms were situated。 On getting
upstairs； I found his door on the landing ajar。 He heard my
footsteps； I suppose； for he called to me to come in before I
could knock。
I entered； and found him sitting by the table； with some loose
letters in his hand； which he was just tying together into a
packet。 I noticed； as he asked me to sit down； that his express
ion looked more composed； though the paleness had not yet left
his face。 He thanked me for coming； repeated that he had
something very important to say to me； and then stopped short；
apparently too much embarrassed to proceed。 I tried to set him at
his ease by assuring him that； if my assistance or advice could
be of any use； I was ready to place myself and my time heartily
and unreservedly at his service。
As I said this I saw his eyes beginning to wander away from my
faceto wander slowly； inch by inch； as it were； until they
stopped at a certain point； with the same fixed stare into
vacancy which had so often startled me on former occasions。 The
whole expression of his face altered as I had never yet seen it
alter； he sat before me looking like a man in a death…trance。
〃You are very kind；〃 he said； slowly and faintly； speaking； not
to me； but in the direction in which his eyes were still fixed。
〃I know you can help me； but〃
He stopped； his face whitened horribly； and the perspiration
broke out all over it。 He tried to continuesaid a word or
twothen stopped again。 Seriously alarmed about him； I rose from
my chair with the intention of getting him some water from a jug
which I saw standing on a side…table。
He sprang up at the same moment。 All the suspicions I had ever
heard whispered against his sanity flashed over my mind in an
instant； and I involuntarily stepped back a pace or two。
〃Stop；〃 he said； seating himself again； 〃don't mind me； and don't
leave your chair。 I wantI wish； if you please； to make a little
alteration； before we say anything more。 Do you mind sitting in a
strong light？〃
〃Not in the least。〃
I had hitherto been seated in the shade of his reading…lamp； the
only light in the room。
As I answered him he rose again； and； going into another
apartment； returned with a large lamp in his hand； then took two
candles from the side…table； and two others from the chimney
piece； placed them all； to my amazement； together； so as to stand
exactly between us； and then tried to light them。 His hand
trembled so that he was obliged to give up the attempt； and allow
me to come to his assistance。 By his direction； I took the shade
off the reading…lamp after I had lit the other lamp and the four
candles。 When we sat down again； with this concentration of light
between us； his better and gentler manner began to return； and
while he now addressed me he spoke without the slightest
hesitation。
〃It is useless to ask whether you have heard the reports about
me；〃 he said； 〃I know that you have。 My purpose to…night is to
give you some reasonable explanation of the conduct which has
produced those reports。 My secret has been hitherto confided to
one person only； I am now about to trust it to your keeping； with
a special object which will appear as I go on。 First； however； I
must begin by telling you exactly what the great difficulty is
which obliges me to be still absent from England。 I want your
advice and your help； and； to conceal nothing from you； I want
also to test your forbearance and your friendly sympathy； before
I can venture on thrusting my miserable secret into your keeping。
Will you pardon this apparent distrust of your frank and open
characterthis apparent ingratitude for your kindness toward me
ever since we first met？〃
I begged him not to speak of these things； but to go on。
〃You know；〃 he proceeded； 〃that I am here to recover the body of
my Uncle Stephen； and to carry it back with me to our family
burial…place in England； and you must also be aware that I have
not yet succeeded in discovering his remains。 Try to pass over；
for the present； whatever may seem extraordinary and
incomprehensible in such a purpose as mine is； and read this
newspaper article where the ink…line is traced。 It is the only
evidence hitherto obtained on the subject of the fatal duel in
which my uncle fell； and I want to hear what course of proceeding
the perusal of it may suggest to you as likely to be best on my
part。〃
He handed me an old French newspaper。 The substance of what I
read there is still so firmly impressed on my memory that I am
certain of being able to repeat correctly at this distance of
time all the facts which it is necessary for me to communicate to
the reader。
The article began； I remember； with editorial remarks on the
great curiosity then felt in regard to the fatal duel between the
Count St。 Lo and Mr。 Stephen Monkton； an English gentleman。 The
writer proceeded to dwell at great length on the extraordinary
secrecy in which the whole affair had been involved from first to
last； and to express a hope that the publication of a certain
manuscript； to which his introductory observations referred；
might lead to the production of fresh evidence from other and
better…informed quarters。 The manuscript had been found among the
papers of Monsieur Foulon； Mr。 Monkton's second； who had died at
Paris of a rapid decline shortly after returning to his home in
that city from the scene of the duel。 The document was
unfinished； having been left incomplete at the very place where
the reader would most wish to find it continued。 No reason could
be discovered for this； and no second manuscript bearing on the
all…important subject had been found； after the strictest search
among the papers left by the deceased。
The document itself then followed。
It purported to be an agreement privately drawn up between Mr。
Monkton's second； Monsieur Foulon； and the Count St。 Lo's second；
Monsieur Dalville； and contained a statement of all the
arrangements for conducting the duel。 The paper was dated
〃Naples； February 22d；〃 and was divid