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But he rather than otherwise avoided meeting her； and for a good
many days they did not so much as see each other。
CHAPTER XLVI。
A HORRIBLE STORY。
The health of the earl remained fluctuating。 Its condition depended
much on the special indulgence。 There was hardly any sort of
narcotic with which he did not at least make experiment； if he did
not indulge in it。 He made no pretence even to himself of seeking
therein the furtherance of knowledge； he wanted solely to find how
this or that； thus or thus modified or combined； would contribute to
his living a life such as he would have it； and other quite than
that ordered for him by a power which least of all powers he chose
to acknowledge。 The power of certain drugs he was eager to
understand： the living source of him and them and their
correlations； he scarcely recognized。 This came of no hostility to
religion other than the worst hostility of allthat of a life
irresponsive to its claims。 He believed neither like saint nor
devil； he believed and did not obey； he believed and did not yet
tremble。
The one day he was better； the other worse； according； as I say； to
the character and degree of his indulgence。 At one time it much
affected his temper； taking from him all mastery of himself； at
another made him so dull and stupid； that he resented nothing except
any attempt to rouse him from his hebetude。 Of these differences he
took unfailing note； but the worst influence of all was a constant
one； and of it he made no account： however the drugs might vary in
their operations upon him； to one thing they all tendedthe
destruction of his moral nature。
Urged more or less all his life by a sort of innate rebellion
against social law； he had done great wrongswhether also committed
what are called crimes； I cannot tell： no repentance had followed
the remorse their consequences had sometimes occasioned。 And now the
possibility of remorse even was gradually forsaking him。 Such a man
belongs rather to the kind demoniacal than the kind human； yet so
long as nothing occurs giving to his possible an occasion to embody
itself in the actual； he may live honoured； and die respected。 There
is always； not the less； the danger of his real nature； or rather
unnature； breaking out in this way or that diabolical。
Although he went so little out of the house； and apparently never
beyond the grounds； he yet learned a good deal at times of things
going on in the neighbourhood： Davie brought him news； so did
Simmons； and now and then he would have an interview with his half
acknowledged relative； the factor。
One morning before he was up； he sent for Donal； and requested him
to give Davie a half…holiday； and do something for him instead。
〃You know； or perhaps you don't know； that I have a house in the
town；〃 he said； 〃the only house； indeed； now belonging to the
earldoma not very attractive house which you must have seenon
the main street； a little before you come to the Morven Arms。〃
〃I believe I know the house； my lord；〃 answered Donal； 〃with strong
iron stanchions to the lower windows； and？〃
〃Yes； that is the house； and I daresay you have heard the story of
itI mean how it fell into its present disgrace！ The thing happened
more than a hundred years ago。 But I have spent some nights in it
myself notwithstanding。〃
〃I should like to hear it； my lord；〃 said Donal。
〃You may as well have it from myself as from another！ It does not
touch any of us； for the family was not then represented by the same
branch as now； I might else be thin…skinned about it。 No mere
legend； mind you； but a very dreadful fact； which resulted in the
abandonment of the house！ I think it time； for my part； that it
should be forgotten and the house let。 It was before the castle and
the title parted company： that is a tale worth telling too！ there
was little fair play in either！ but I will not trouble you with it
now。
〃Into the generation then above ground；〃 the earl began； assuming a
book…tone the instant he began to narrate； 〃by one of those freaks
of nature specially strange and more inexplicable than the rest； had
been born an original savage。 You know that the old type； after so
many modifications have been wrought upon it； will sometimes
reappear in its ancient crudity amidst the latest development of the
race； animal and vegetable too； I suppose！well； so it was now： I
use no figure of speech when I say that the apparition； the
phenomenon； was a savage。 I do not mean that he was an exceptionally
rough man for his position； but for any position in the Scotland of
that age。 No doubt he was regarded as a madman； and used as a
madman； but my opinion is the more philosophicalthat； by an arrest
of development； into the middle of the ladies and gentlemen of the
family came a veritable savage； and one out of no darkest age of
history； but from beyond all recordout of the awful prehistoric
times。〃
His lordship visibly and involuntarily shuddered； as at the memory
of something he had seen： into that region he had probably wandered
in his visions。
〃He was a fierce and furious savageworse than anything you can
imagine。 The only sign of any influence of civilization upon him was
that he was cowed by the eye of his keeper。 Never； except by rarest
chance； was he left alone and awake： no one could tell what he might
not do！
〃He was of gigantic size； with coarse black hairthe brawniest
fellow and the ugliest； they sayfor you may suppose my description
is but legendary： there is no portrait of him on our walls！with a
huge； shapeless； cruel； greedy mouth；〃
As his lordship said the words； Donal； with involuntary insight； saw
both cruelty and greed in the mouth that spoke； though it was
neither huge nor shapeless。
〃lips hideously red and large； with the whitest teeth inside
them。I give you the description；〃 said his lordship； who evidently
lingered not without pleasure on the details of his recital； 〃just
as I used to hear it from my old nurse； who had been all her life in
the family； and had it from her mother who was in it at the
time。His great passion； his keenest delight； was animal food。 He
ate enormouslymore； it was said； than three hearty men。 An hour
after he had gorged himself； he was ready to gorge again。 Roast meat
was his main delight； but he was fond of broth also。He must have
been more like Mrs。 Shelley's creation in Frankenstein than any
other。 All the time I read that story； I had the vision of my
far…off cousin constantly before me； as I saw him in my mind's eye
when my nurse described him； and often I wondered whether Mrs。
Shelley could have heard of him。In an earlier age and more
practical； they would have got rid of him by readier and more
thorough means； if only for shame of having brought such a being
into the world； but they sent him with his keeper； a little man with
a powerful eye； to that same house down in the town there： in an
altogether solitary place they could persuade no man to live with
him。 At night he was always secured to his bed； otherwise his keeper
would not have had courage to sleep； for he was as cunning as he was
hideous。 When he slept during the day； which he did fre