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so intending； killed a fellow…man。 The knife； turned away from
his own person； had in their fall been plunged into the bosom of
the other； and he now lay quivering in the last throes of death。
As Jonathan gazed he beheld a thin red stream trickle out from
the parted and grinning lips； he beheld the eyes turn inward； he
beheld the eyelids contract； he beheld the figure stretch itself；
he beheld it become still in death。
IV。 The Momentous Adventure with the Stranger with the Silver
Ear…rings
So our hero stood stunned and bedazed； gazing down upon his
victim； like a man turned into a stone。 His brain appeared to him
to expand like a bubble； the blood surged and bummed in his ears
with every gigantic beat of his heart； his vision swam； and his
trembling hands were bedewed with a cold and repugnant sweat。 The
dead figure upon the floor at his feet gazed at him with a wide；
glassy stare； and in the confusion of his mind it appeared to
Jonathan that he was； indeed； a murderer。
What monstrous thing was this that had befallen him who； but a
moment before； had been so entirely innocent of the guilt of
blood？ What was he now to do in such an extremity as this； with
his victim lying dead at his feet； a poniard in his heart？ Who
would believe him to be guiltless of crime with such a dreadful
evidence as this presented against him？ How was he； a stranger in
a foreign land； to totally defend himself against an accusing of
mistaken justice？ At these thoughts a developed terror gripped at
his vitals and a sweat as cold as ice bedewed his entire body。
No； he must tarry for no explanation or defense！ He must
immediately fly from this terrible place； or else； should he be
discovered； his doom would certainly be sealed！
At that moment； and in the very extremity of his apprehensions；
there fell of a sudden a knock upon the door； sounding so loud
and so startling upon the silence of the room that every
shattered nerve in our hero's frame tingled and thrilled in
answer to it。 He stood petrified； scarcely so much as daring to
breathe； and then； observing that his mouth was agape； he
moistened his dry and parching lips； and drew his jaws together
with a snap。
Again there fell the same loud； insistent knock upon the panel；
followed by the imperative words： 〃Open within！〃
The wretched Jonathan flung about him a glance at once of terror
and of despair； but there was for him no possible escape。 He was
shut tight in the room with his dead victim； like a rat in a
trap。 Nothing remained for him but to obey the summons from
without。 Indeed； in the very extremity of his distraction； he
possessed reason enough to perceive that the longer he delayed
opening the door the less innocent he might hope to appear in the
eyes of whoever stood without。
With the uncertain and spasmodic movements of an ill…constructed
automaton； he crossed the room； and stepping very carefully over
the prostrate body upon the floor； and with a hesitating
reluctance that he could in no degree master； he unlocked；
unbolted； and opened the door。
The figure that outlined itself in the light of the candle；
against the blackness of the passageway without was of such a
singular and foreign aspect as to fit extremely well into the
extraordinary tragedy of which Jonathan was at once the victim
and the cause。
It was that of a lean； tall man with a thin； yellow countenance；
embellished with a long； black mustache； and having a pair of
forbidding； deeply set； and extremely restless black eyes。 A
crimson handkerchief beneath a lace cocked hat was tied tightly
around the head； and a pair of silver earrings； which caught the
light of the candle； gleamed and twinkled against the inky
darkness of the passageway beyond。
This extraordinary being； without favoring our hero with any word
of apology for his intrusion； immediately thrust himself forward
into the room； and stretching his long； lean； bird…like neck so
as to direct his gaze over the intervening table； fixed a gaping
and concentrated stare upon the figure lying still and motionless
in the centre of the room。
〃Vat you do dare；〃 said he； with a guttural and foreign accent；
and thereupon； without waiting for a reply； came forward and
knelt down beside the dead man。 After thrusting his hand into the
silent and shrunken bosom； he presently looked up and fixed his
penetrating eyes upon our hero's countenance； who； benumbed and
bedazed with his despair； still stood like one enchained in the
bonds of a nightmare。 〃He vas dead！〃 said the stranger； and
Jonathan nodded his head in reply。
〃Vy you keel ze man？〃 inquired his interlocutor。
〃Indeed；〃 cried Jonathan； finding a voice at last； but one so
hoarse that he could hardly recognize it for his own； 〃I know not
what to make of the affair！ But； indeed； I do assure thee；
friend； that I am entirely innocent of what thou seest。〃
The stranger still kept his piercing gaze fixed upon our hero's
countenance； and Jonathan； feeling that something further was
demanded of him； continued： 〃I am； indeed； a victim of a most
extravagant and extraordinary adventure。 This evening； coming an
entire stranger to this country； I was introduced into the house
of a beautiful female； who bestowed upon me a charge that
appeared to me to be at once insignificant and absurd。 Behold
this little ivory ball；〃 said he； drawing the globe from his
pocket； and displaying it between his thumb and finger。 〃It is
this that appears to have brought all this disaster upon me； for；
coming from the house of the young woman； the man whom thou now
beholdest lying dead upon the floor induced me to come to this
place。 Having inveigled me hither； he demanded of me to give him
at once this insignificant trifle。 Upon my refusing to do so； he
assaulted me with every appearance of a mad and furious
inclination to deprive me of my life！〃
At the sight of the ivory ball the stranger quickly arose from
his kneeling posture and fixed upon our hero a gaze the most
extraordinary that he had ever encountered。 His eyes dilated like
those of a cat； the breath expelled itself from his bosom in so
deep and profound an expiration that it appeared as though it
might never return again。 Nor was it until Jonathan had replaced
the ball in his pocket that he appeared to awaken from the trance
that the sight of the object had sent him into。 But no sooner had
the cause of this strange demeanor disappeared into our hero's
breeches…pocket than he arose as with an electric shock。 In an
instant he became transformed as by the touch of magic。 A sudden
and baleful light flamed into his eyes； his face grew as red as
blood； and he clapped his hand to his pocket with a sudden and
violent motion。 〃Ze ball！〃 he cried； in a hoarse and strident
voice。 〃Ze ball！ Give me ze ball！〃 And upon the next instant our
hero beheld the round and shining nozzle of a pistol pointed
directly against his forehead。
For a moment he stood as though transfixed； then in the mortal
peril that faced him； he uttered a roar that sounded in his own
ears like the outcry of a wild beast； and thereupon flung himself
bodily upon the other