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lest discovery should be made； he was forced to live in it。 He
hired two old people； man and wife； for his servants； and dwelt in
it； and dreaded it。 His great difficulty； for a long time； was the
garden。 Whether he should keep it trim； whether he should suffer
it to fall into its former state of neglect； what would be the
least likely way of attracting attention to it？
'He took the middle course of gardening； himself； in his evening
leisure； and of then calling the old serving…man to help him； but；
of never letting him work there alone。 And he made himself an
arbour over against the tree； where he could sit and see that it
was safe。
'As the seasons changed； and the tree changed； his mind perceived
dangers that were always changing。 In the leafy time； he perceived
that the upper boughs were growing into the form of the young man …
that they made the shape of him exactly； sitting in a forked branch
swinging in the wind。 In the time of the falling leaves； he
perceived that they came down from the tree； forming tell…tale
letters on the path； or that they had a tendency to heap themselves
into a churchyard mound above the grave。 In the winter； when the
tree was bare； he perceived that the boughs swung at him the ghost
of the blow the young man had given； and that they threatened him
openly。 In the spring； when the sap was mounting in the trunk； he
asked himself； were the dried…up particles of blood mounting with
it： to make out more obviously this year than last； the leaf…
screened figure of the young man； swinging in the wind？
'However； he turned his Money over and over； and still over。 He
was in the dark trade； the gold…dust trade； and most secret trades
that yielded great returns。 In ten years； he had turned his Money
over； so many times； that the traders and shippers who had dealings
with him； absolutely did not lie … for once … when they declared
that he had increased his fortune； Twelve Hundred Per Cent。
'He possessed his riches one hundred years ago； when people could
be lost easily。 He had heard who the youth was； from hearing of
the search that was made after him； but； it died away； and the
youth was forgotten。
'The annual round of changes in the tree had been repeated ten
times since the night of the burial at its foot； when there was a
great thunder…storm over this place。 It broke at midnight； and
roared until morning。 The first intelligence he heard from his old
serving…man that morning； was； that the tree had been struck by
Lightning。
'It had been riven down the stem； in a very surprising manner； and
the stem lay in two blighted shafts： one resting against the
house； and one against a portion of the old red garden…wall in
which its fall had made a gap。 The fissure went down the tree to a
little above the earth； and there stopped。 There was great
curiosity to see the tree； and； with most of his former fears
revived； he sat in his arbour … grown quite an old man … watching
the people who came to see it。
'They quickly began to come； in such dangerous numbers； that he
closed his garden…gate and refused to admit any more。 But； there
were certain men of science who travelled from a distance to
examine the tree； and； in an evil hour； he let them in！ … Blight
and Murrain on them； let them in！
'They wanted to dig up the ruin by the roots； and closely examine
it； and the earth about it。 Never； while he lived！ They offered
money for it。 They！ Men of science； whom he could have bought by
the gross； with a scratch of his pen！ He showed them the garden…
gate again； and locked and barred it。
'But they were bent on doing what they wanted to do； and they
bribed the old serving…man … a thankless wretch who regularly
complained when he received his wages； of being underpaid … and
they stole into the garden by night with their lanterns； picks； and
shovels； and fell to at the tree。 He was lying in a turret…room on
the other side of the house （the Bride's Chamber had been
unoccupied ever since）； but he soon dreamed of picks and shovels；
and got up。
'He came to an upper window on that side； whence he could see their
lanterns； and them； and the loose earth in a heap which he had
himself disturbed and put back； when it was last turned to the air。
It was found！ They had that minute lighted on it。 They were all
bending over it。 One of them said； 〃The skull is fractured；〃 and
another； 〃See here the bones；〃 and another； 〃See here the clothes；〃
and then the first struck in again； and said； 〃A rusty bill…hook！〃
'He became sensible； next day； that he was already put under a
strict watch； and that he could go nowhere without being followed。
Before a week was out； he was taken and laid in hold。 The
circumstances were gradually pieced together against him； with a
desperate malignity； and an appalling ingenuity。 But； see the
justice of men； and how it was extended to him！ He was further
accused of having poisoned that girl in the Bride's Chamber。 He；
who had carefully and expressly avoided imperilling a hair of his
head for her； and who had seen her die of her own incapacity！
'There was doubt for which of the two murders he should be first
tried； but； the real one was chosen； and he was found Guilty； and
cast for death。 Bloodthirsty wretches！ They would have made him
Guilty of anything； so set they were upon having his life。
'His money could do nothing to save him； and he was hanged。 I am
He； and I was hanged at Lancaster Castle with my face to the wall；
a hundred years ago！'
At this terrific announcement； Mr。 Goodchild tried to rise and cry
out。 But； the two fiery lines extending from the old man's eyes to
his own； kept him down； and he could not utter a sound。 His sense
of hearing； however； was acute； and he could hear the clock strike
Two。 No sooner had he heard the clock strike Two； than he saw
before him Two old men！
TWO。
The eyes of each； connected with his eyes by two films of fire：
each； exactly like the other： each； addressing him at precisely
one and the same instant： each； gnashing the same teeth in the
same head； with the same twitched nostril above them； and the same
suffused expression around it。 Two old men。 Differing in nothing；
equally distinct to the sight； the copy no fainter than the
original； the second as real as the first。
'At what time；' said the Two old men； 'did you arrive at the door
below？'
'At Six。'
'And there were Six old men upon the stairs！'
Mr。 Goodchild having wiped the perspiration from his brow； or tried
to do it； the Two old men proceeded in one voice； and in the
singular number：
'I had been anatomised； but had not yet had my skeleton put
together and re…hung on an iron hook； when it began to be whispered
that the Bride's Chamber was haunted。 It WAS haunted； and I was
there。
'WE were there。 She and I were there。 I； in the chair upon the
hearth；