Lydiawas
ever
ringing
in
her
ears
;
—
the
countenance
of
the
murdered
Lydia
was
ever
staring
her
in
the
face
—
ghastly
,
distorted
,
and
livid
in
appearance
;
—
the
form
of
the
murdered
Lydia
was
ever
standing
before
her
!
At
night
the
spectre
placed
itself
between
the
opening
of
the
curtains
,
and
seemed
more
palpable
—
more
horrible
—
more
substantial
in
the
hours
of
darkness
.
No
wonder
,
then
,
that
her
mind
was
restless
—
that
her
manner
was
nervous
—
and
that
her
looks
were
wandering
and
unsettled
!
But
let
us
continue
the
thread
of
our
narrative
,
taking
it
up
at
the
moment
when
the
Honourable
Gilbert
Vernon
entered
the
apartment
where
Lady
Ravensworth
rose
to
receive
him
.
Extending
her
hand
towards
him
,
she
said
,
"
Welcome
to
this
mansion
:
it
is
kind
of
you
to
answer
so
speedily
in
person
the
letters
which
it
was
my
painful
duty
to
address
to
you
at
Beyrout
.
"
These
words
reassured
Vernon
on
one
important
point
:
they
proved
that
letters
had
been
sent
,
conveying
the
intelligence
of
his
brother
's
death
.
"
Accept
my
gratitude
for
the
cordiality
with
which
you
receive
me
,
sister
—
for
such
you
will
permit
me
to
call
you
,
"
answered
Vernon
;
"
and
believe
me
—
—
.
But
,
good
God
!
what
ails
you
?
what
is
the
matter
,
Lady
Ravensworth
?
You
are
ill
—
you
—
—
"
"
That
voice
—
that
voice
!
"
shrieked
Adeline
,
staggering
towards
a
chair
,
on
which
she
sank
helplessly
.
"
Oh
!
Mr.
Vernon
—
—
"
Gilbert
was
astounded
at
the
affrighted
manner
and
strange
ejaculations
of
his
sister-in-law
;
—
but
,
seeing
that
she
was
on
the
point
of
fainting
,
he
snatched
from
the
table
a
small
bottle
of
powerful
scent
,
and
handed
it
to
her
.
She
inhaled
the
perfume
,
which
acted
as
a
slight
restorative
;
but
it
was
chiefly
to
the
natural
vigour
of
her
mind
,
and
to
the
imperious
necessity
in
which
dread
circumstances
had
placed
her
of
constantly
maintaining
as
much
command
over
herself
as
possible
,
that
she
was
indebted
for
her
almost
immediate
recovery
from
the
state
into
which
sudden
surprise
and
profound
alarm
had
thrown
her
.
"
Perhaps
your
ladyship
is
desirous
that
I
should
withdraw
?
"
said
Vernon
.
"
There
may
be
something
in
my
countenance
—
my
manner
—
or
my
voice
that
recalls
to
your
mind
painful
reminiscences
of
my
lately-departed
brother
:
—
it
is
natural
that
you
should
experience
these
feelings
;
—
and
I
will
leave
you
for
the
present
.
"
"
No
,
Mr.
Vernon
—
stay
!
"
exclaimed
Adeline
,
in
a
tone
which
denoted
the
most
painful
excitement
and
agitation
.
"
Compose
yourself
,
then
:
attempt
not
to
pursue
the
conversation
immediately
,
"
said
Gilbert
;
"
for
as
—
with
your
permission
—
it
is
my
intention
to
become
your
guest
for
a
few
weeks
—
—
"
"
My
guest
!
"
repeated
Adeline
,
with
a
shudder
.
"
Really
,
my
dear
sister
,
"
exclaimed
Vernon
,
somewhat
impatiently
;
"
I
am
at
a
loss
to
understand
the
meaning
of
this
excitement
on
your
part
.
It
is
not
caused
by
those
reminiscences
to
which
I
ere
now
alluded
:
it
begins
to
assume
the
aspect
of
aversion
towards
myself
.
Pardon
me
if
I
speak
thus
plainly
;
but
if
I
be
indeed
hateful
to
you
—
if
slanderous
tongues
have
wronged
me
in
your
estimation
—
if
even
my
own
brother
were
cruel
enough
to
malign
me
to
his
wife
—
—
"
"
Mr.
Vernon
,
"
interrupted
Adeline
,
with
a
kind
of
feverish
haste
,
"
your
conjectures
will
never
lead
you
to
discover
the
true
cause
of
that
agitation
which
I
could
not
conquer
,
and
which
has
offended
you
.
The
moment
you
addressed
me
,
I
was
seized
with
a
strange
surprise
—
a
wild
alarm
;
and
those
feelings
still
influence
me
to
some
extent
,
—
for
methinks
that
I
have
heard
your
voice
before
!
"
And
she
fixed
her
eyes
in
a
penetrating
manner
upon
his
countenance
.
"
It
may
be
,
"
answered
Vernon
,
quailing
not
beneath
that
look
—
for
he
had
so
desperate
a
part
to
play
at
Ravensworth
Hall
,
that
he
knew
how
much
depended
upon
a
self-command
and
a
collectedness
of
ideas
that
might
avert
suspicion
,
—
"
it
may
be
,
sister
,
that
some
years
ago
—
ere
I
left
England
—
we
met
in
those
circles
in
which
we
both
move
by
right
of
birth
and
social
position
;
and
,
although
I
do
not
remember
that
I
ever
had
the
pleasure
of
seeing
you
until
now
,
still
such
a
meeting
may
have
occurred
,
and
your
mind
may
have
retained
certain
impressions
—
—
"
"
No
,
Mr.
Vernon
,
"
again
interrupted
Adeline
;
"
that
surmise
—
even
if
correct
—
will
not
account
for
the
cause
of
my
agitation
.
To
speak
candidly
,
my
impression
was
—
and
still
is
,
—
and
yet
,
"
she
added
,
suddenly
recollecting
herself
,
"
if
that
impression
should
be
indeed
erroneous
,
I
should
insult
you
—
insult
you
grossly
by
explaining
it
—
—
"
"
Proceed
,
dear
sister
,
"
said
Vernon
,
gaining
additional
assurance
,
in
proportion
as
Lady
Ravensworth
hesitated
.
"
State
to
me
candidly
the
impression
which
you
received
;
and
I
will
as
candidly
answer
you
.
"
"
Yes
—
I
will
tell
you
the
reason
of
that
excitement
which
nearly
overcame
me
,
"
cried
Adeline
,
whose
suspicions
were
robbed
of
much
of
their
strength
by
the
calm
and
apparently
open
manner
of
her
brother-in-law
.
"
And
believe
me
when
I
declare
that
I
shall
readily
pardon
you
,
however
injurious
to
myself
may
be
the
impression
my
voice
has
unfortunately
made
upon
you
.
I
can
make
ample
allowances
for
one
who
has
lately
lost
a
beloved
husband
,
and
whose
anxieties
have
been
increased
by
the
duties
of
maternity
,
"
added
Gilbert
.
"
In
one
word
,
then
,
Mr.
Vernon
,
"
continued
Adeline
,
"
it
struck
me
that
on
a
certain
evening
—
in
the
month
of
February
—
I
heard
your
voice
,
—
yes
,
your
voice
in
conversation
with
another
person
,
in
a
ruined
cottage
which
stands
on
the
verge
of
the
Ravensworth
estate
.
"
And
,
as
she
spoke
,
she
again
studied
his
countenance
with
the
most
earnest
attention
.
Desperate
was
the
effort
which
the
guilty
man
exerted
over
the
painful
excitement
of
feeling
which
this
declaration
produced
within
him
:
—
in
a
moment
he
recalled
to
mind
all
the
particulars
of
his
meeting
with
the
Resurrection
Man
at
the
ruined
lodge
;
and
he
also
remembered
that
he
had
lost
on
the
same
occasion
the
scrap
of
paper
on
which
was
written
the
address
of
his
terrible
agent
in
crime
.
But
he
did
succeed
in
maintaining
a
calm
exterior
:
—
steadily
he
met
the
searching
glance
fixed
upon
him
;
—
and
though
his
heart
beat
with
fearful
emotions
,
not
a
muscle
of
his
countenance
betrayed
the
agitation
that
raged
within
his
breast
.
"
My
dear
sister
,
"
said
Vernon
,
in
a
cool
and
collected
tone
,
"
you
are
labouring
under
a
most
extraordinary
delusion
.
Think
you
that
there
is
not
another
voice
in
the
world
like
mine
?
Believe
me
,
had
I
been
in
this
country
at
the
time
to
which
you
allude
,
I
should
have
only
felt
too
much
rejoiced
to
have
paid
my
respects
to
you
at
an
earlier
period
than
the
present
.
"
Adeline
listened
to
the
deep
tones
of
that
voice
which
now
rolled
upon
her
ear
like
a
perpetuation
of
the
echoes
of
the
one
which
she
had
heard
in
the
ruins
;
—
and
she
was
still
staggered
at
the
resemblance
!
She
also
remembered
that
,
in
spite
of
the
darkness
of
the
night
,
she
had
on
that
occasion
caught
a
glimpse
of
the
tall
and
somewhat
stout
form
which
had
passed
near
her
,
and
which
she
knew
not
to
have
been
that
of
the
Resurrection
Man
,
whom
she
had
since
seen
:
—
and
she
was
bewildered
more
and
more
.
But
the
calmness
with
which
Vernon
denied
the
circumstance
of
being
in
England
at
that
time
,
—
the
steady
,
honest
manner
with
which
he
declared
that
she
was
labouring
under
a
delusion
in
identifying
his
voice
with
the
one
she
had
heard
in
the
ruined
lodge
,
—
and
the
absence
of
any
motive
which
she
could
conjecture
for
his
maintaining
his
presence
in
this
country
(
even
were
he
really
here
at
the
period
alluded
to
)
so
profoundly
secret
,
—
these
arguments
staggered
her
still
more
than
even
her
contrary
suspicions
.
On
his
side
,
Vernon
was
congratulating
himself
on
the
evident
embarrassment
of
his
sister-in-law
;
and
he
felt
convinced
that
the
sound
of
his
voice
alone
—
and
nothing
that
had
passed
between
him
and
Tidkins
in
the
ruined
cottage
—
had
produced
an
impression
upon
her
.
"
You
will
then
forgive
me
for
a
momentary
suspicion
that
was
injurious
to
you
?
"
said
Adeline
,
after
a
short
pause
,
and
now
adopting
the
only
course
open
to
her
in
the
matter
.
"
I
have
come
to
England
to
form
your
acquaintance
—
your
friendship
,
—
to
see
if
I
can
be
of
service
to
you
in
the
position
in
which
my
brother
's
death
and
the
birth
of
a
son
have
placed
you
,
—
to
aid
you
in
the
settlement
of
any
affairs
which
may
require
the
interference
of
a
relative
,
"
answered
Vernon
;
"
for
these
purposes
have
I
come
—
and
not
to
vex
you
by
taking
umbrage
at
impressions
which
,
however
painful
to
me
,
are
pardonable
on
the
side
of
one
in
your
situation
.
"
"
Then
let
us
banish
from
our
conversation
the
disagreeable
topic
which
has
hitherto
engrossed
it
,
"
exclaimed
Adeline
.
"
It
is
my
duty
to
give
you
some
information
in
respect
to
certain
matters
;
and
the
family
solicitor
will
,
when
you
may
choose
to
call
upon
him
,
enter
into
more
elaborate
details
.
You
are
aware
that
your
poor
brother
died
ere
his
child
was
born
.
But
so
far
back
as
last
November
his
lordship
made
a
will
the
provisions
of
which
were
so
prudentially
arranged
as
to
apply
to
the
welfare
of
either
male
or
female
progeny
,
whichever
might
be
accorded
by
Providence
.
Two
distinguished
noblemen
are
now
my
son
's
guardians
,
under
that
will
,
and
consequently
the
trustees
of
the
entailed
estate
.
"
Vernon
bit
his
lip
with
vexation
.
"
In
reference
to
his
personal
property
,
"
continued
Adeline
,
"
my
lamented
husband
has
left
me
sole
executrix
.
"
A
dark
cloud
passed
over
the
countenance
of
the
brother-in-law
.
"
But
,
by
a
special
clause
in
his
will
,
"
added
Lady
Ravensworth
,
who
did
not
observe
those
manifestations
of
feeling
on
the
part
of
Gilbert
Vernon
,
"
your
deceased
brother
has
ensured
in
your
behalf
double
the
amount
of
that
pension
which
has
hitherto
been
paid
to
you
.
"
"
Thus
my
brother
deemed
me
unworthy
to
be
the
guardian
of
his
child
;
—
he
also
considered
it
prudent
to
exclude
me
from
any
share
in
the
duty
of
carrying
his
wishes
into
effect
;
—
and
he
has
provided
me
with
a
pittance
of
one
thousand
pounds
a-year
.
"
In
spite
of
the
necessity
of
maintaining
the
most
complete
self-command
over
himself
,
in
order
to
carry
out
his
plans
successfully
,
Gilbert
Vernon
could
not
avoid
those
bitter
observations
which
showed
how
deeply
he
was
galled
at
the
total
want
of
confidence
displayed
in
respect
to
him
by
his
deceased
brother
.
Adeline
felt
that
the
point
was
a
delicate
one
,
and
made
no
reply
.
Fortunately
for
them
both
,
each
being
much
embarrassed
by
the
present
topic
of
discourse
,
a
servant
now
entered
to
announce
that
dinner
was
served
up
.
Gilbert
Vernon
and
Lady
Ravensworth
accordingly
repaired
to
the
dining-room
.
We
may
here
observe
that
Lord
Dunstable
and
Mr.
Graham
had
left
the
mansion
some
weeks
previously
,
the
young
nobleman
having
recovered
from
the
wound
which
he
had
received
in
the
duel
.
When
dinner
was
over
,
Vernon
and
his
sister-in-law
returned
to
the
drawing-room
,
where
coffee
was
served
up
.
Adeline
directed
that
the
infant
heir
—
then
scarcely
more
than
a
month
old
—
should
be
brought
in
,
Gilbert
having
hypocritically
expressed
a
desire
to
see
his
newly-born
nephew
.
The
request
was
granted
:
—
the
nurse
made
her
appearance
with
the
babe
;
and
Vernon
passed
upon
it
the
usual
flattering
encomiums
which
are
so
welcome
to
a
mother
's
ears
.
But
there
was
no
falsehood
in
those
praises
,
—
however
insincere
might
be
the
manner
in
which
they
were
uttered
:
—
for
the
infant
was
a
remarkably
fine
one
,
and
appeared
sweetly
interesting
as
it
slept
in
the
nurse
's
arms
.
Vernon
flattered
the
mother
's
vanity
so
adroitly
,
by
distant
but
by
no
means
unintelligible
allusions
to
her
own
good
looks
,
as
he
spoke
of
the
child
,
that
she
began
to
consider
him
a
far
more
agreeable
man
than
she
had
at
first
supposed
he
could
possibly
prove
to
be
.
Shortly
after
the
nurse
had
retired
with
the
child
,
Quentin
entered
the
drawing-room
,
and
,
addressing
himself
to
Vernon
,
said
,
"
Your
valet
has
just
arrived
,
sir
,
with
your
baggage
.
"
"
If
her
ladyship
will
permit
me
,
"
returned
Gilbert
,
"
I
will
withdraw
for
a
few
moments
to
give
my
servant
some
instructions
.
"
"
I
am
about
to
retire
to
my
own
chamber
,
Mr.
Vernon
,
"
observed
Adeline
,
"
and
shall
leave
you
in
undisturbed
possession
of
this
apartment
.
Your
valet
can
therefore
wait
upon
you
here
.
"
Quentin
withdrew
for
the
purpose
of
sending
Mr.
Vernon
's
domestic
to
the
drawing-room
;
and
Lady
Ravensworth
,
having
remained
for
a
few
moments
to
finish
her
coffee
,
also
retired
.
On
the
landing
she
heard
hasty
steps
approaching
and
almost
immediately
afterwards
Quentin
appeared
,
followed
by
the
Honourable
Gilbert
Vernon
's
valet
.
They
passed
Lady
Ravensworth
as
she
was
about
to
ascend
the
stairs
leading
from
the
brilliantly
lighted
landing
to
the
floor
above
.
But
—
O
horror
!
—
was
it
possible
?
—
did
her
eyes
deceive
her
?
—
was
she
the
sport
of
a
terrible
illusion
?
No
:
—
a
second
glance
at
the
countenance
of
the
false
valet
was
sufficient
to
confirm
the
appalling
suspicion
which
the
first
look
in
that
direction
had
suddenly
excited
within
her
.
For
his
was
a
countenance
which
,
once
seen
—
if
only
for
a
moment
—
could
never
be
forgotten
;
—
and
in
spite
of
the
new
suit
of
complete
black
which
he
wore
,
—
in
spite
of
the
care
that
had
been
bestowed
upon
his
person
,
—
in
spite
of
the
pains
which
a
Globe
Town
barber
had
devoted
to
his
usually
matted
hair
—
it
was
impossible
not
to
recognise
in
this
individual
so
disguised
,
the
instrument
of
Adeline
's
own
crime
—
the
terrible
Resurrection
Man
!
CHAPTER
CCXXXIII
.
A
WELCOME
FRIEND
.
As
if
struck
by
a
flash
of
lightning
,
Adeline
fell
insensible
upon
the
stairs
.
When
she
awoke
,
she
found
herself
in
bed
,
—
not
in
the
chamber
where
the
murder
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
had
been
perpetrated
:
no
—
never
since
that
fatal
night
had
Lady
Ravensworth
dared
to
sleep
in
her
boudoir
;
—
but
she
had
adopted
as
her
own
apartment
,
one
quite
at
the
opposite
end
of
the
building
.
Yet
,
vain
—
oh
!
passing
vain
were
the
endeavours
of
the
murderess
to
escape
from
the
phantom
of
her
victim
:
—
had
she
fled
to
the
uttermost
parts
of
the
earth
—
had
she
buried
herself
amidst
the
pathless
forests
of
America
,
or
made
her
abode
on
the
eternal
ice
of
the
northern
pole
,
—
even
thither
would
the
spectre
have
pursued
her
!
It
was
midnight
when
Lady
Ravensworth
awoke
in
her
chamber
,
after
having
fainted
upon
the
stairs
.
An
ejaculation
of
terror
escaped
her
lips
—
for
she
instantly
recollected
all
that
had
passed
.
The
curtains
were
immediately
drawn
aside
;
and
a
charming
female
countenance
,
but
totally
unknown
to
Adeline
,
beamed
upon
her
.
"
Tranquillise
yourself
,
lady
,
"
said
the
stranger
:
"
it
is
a
friend
who
watches
by
your
side
.
"
"
A
friend
!
"
repeated
Adeline
,
with
a
profound
sigh
:
"
have
I
indeed
a
friend
?
Oh
!
no
—
no
:
I
am
surrounded
by
enemies
!
"
And
covering
her
face
with
her
hands
,
she
burst
into
an
agony
of
tears
.
"
Pray
compose
yourself
,
Lady
Ravensworth
,
"
said
the
stranger
,
in
so
sweet
and
musical
a
tone
that
it
carried
to
the
heart
conviction
of
friendly
intentions
.
"
And
who
are
you
that
thus
feel
an
interest
in
one
so
woe-begone
as
I
?
"
asked
Adeline
,
relieved
by
her
tears
.
Then
she
turned
her
still
streaming
eyes
towards
the
stranger
who
spoke
in
so
kind
,
so
soothing
,
so
convincing
a
manner
;
and
she
beheld
,
by
the
mellowed
light
of
the
lamps
that
burnt
in
the
chamber
,
a
female
of
lovely
person
,
but
clad
in
deep
black
,
and
wearing
the
peculiar
cap
which
bespeaks
the
widow
.
The
respectability
of
this
garb
combined
with
the
softness
of
the
lady
's
tone
and
manner
,
and
the
sweet
amiability
of
her
fine
countenance
,
to
produce
the
most
favourable
impression
upon
the
wretched
Adeline
,
—
wretched
alike
through
her
own
misdeeds
and
those
of
others
!
"
You
ask
me
who
I
am
,
"
answered
the
stranger
:
—
"
rather
seek
to
know
wherefore
I
am
here
!
Compose
yourself
,
and
I
will
explain
the
latter
mystery
in
a
few
words
.
This
evening
I
received
tidings
—
from
an
authority
which
I
cannot
doubt
,
but
which
I
dare
not
name
—
of
a
fearful
conspiracy
that
is
in
progress
against
you
,
—
not
only
against
you
,
but
I
fear
also
against
your
child
.
"
"
Oh
!
heavens
—
I
begin
to
understand
it
all
!
"
shrieked
Lady
Ravensworth
,
the
presence
of
Gilbert
Vernon
and
Anthony
Tidkins
in
that
mansion
,
and
evidently
leagued
together
,
recurring
to
her
mind
.
"
But
how
did
you
hear
this
!
how
did
you
learn
the
terrible
tidings
which
other
circumstances
proclaim
so
fatally
to
be
,
alas
!
too
true
?
"
"
Lady
,
ask
me
not
for
my
authority
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
Were
I
to
reveal
it
,
I
should
incur
the
chance
of
ruining
a
source
of
intelligence
which
may
enable
me
to
frustrate
other
diabolical
schemes
that
might
be
conceived
,
even
as
I
hope
to
baffle
the
one
that
is
now
in
progress
against
yourself
.
You
are
no
doubt
watched
by
enemies
of
a
desperate
character
—
one
of
whom
has
every
thing
to
gain
by
the
death
of
your
child
.
"
"
Oh
!
you
allude
to
Gilbert
Vernon
—
my
brother-in-law
!
"
exclaimed
Adeline
.
"
He
is
already
in
this
house
—
accompanied
by
his
valet
,
who
—
—
"
She
checked
herself
ere
she
uttered
another
word
that
might
have
led
her
new
friend
to
marvel
how
she
could
possibly
have
obtained
any
previous
insight
into
the
character
of
that
attendant
upon
her
brother-in-law
.
"
And
that
valet
,
by
all
I
have
heard
,
"
said
the
strange
lady
,
"
is
a
man
of
the
most
fiend-like
soul
—
the
most
remorseless
disposition
,
—
a
man
capable
of
every
atrocity
—
every
crime
,
—
and
who
is
so
ready
to
accomplish
any
enormity
for
gain
,
that
were
there
another
Saviour
to
betray
,
he
would
become
another
Judas
.
"
"
Oh
!
what
a
picture
you
are
drawing
!
"
cried
Lady
Ravensworth
,
with
a
cold
shudder
—
for
she
knew
how
much
of
that
appalling
description
was
true
!
"
It
is
not
to
intimidate
you
,
that
I
am
thus
candid
,
"
was
the
reply
;
"
but
simply
to
convince
you
in
what
danger
you
are
placed
,
and
how
deeply
you
need
the
assistance
of
a
sincere
friend
.
"
"
And
that
friend
—
"
said
Adeline
.
"
Is
myself
,
"
answered
the
stranger
.
"
It
is
true
,
I
am
but
a
woman
—
a
poor
,
weak
woman
,
as
the
lords
of
the
creation
style
our
sex
;
—
but
I
possess
the
heart
to
aid
you
—
the
spirit
to
defend
you
—
and
the
courage
to
dare
every
peril
in
your
behalf
!
"
"
Excellent
woman
!
—
heaven
must
have
sent
you
to
me
!
"
cried
Adeline
,
reassured
by
these
words
;
and
,
as
she
spoke
,
she
caught
her
new
friend
's
hand
and
pressed
it
enthusiastically
to
her
lips
.
"
But
,
your
name
!
—
tell
me
your
name
!
—
that
I
may
address
you
in
terms
of
affection
,
and
hereafter
speak
of
you
in
those
of
gratitude
.
"
"
Call
me
by
any
name
you
will
,
"
was
the
reply
;
"
but
ask
me
no
more
concerning
myself
.
In
aiding
you
,
I
must
impose
the
conditions
upon
which
I
offer
to
befriend
you
!
I
have
no
selfish
motive
:
—
my
own
social
position
places
me
above
all
interested
views
.
No
:
—
through
the
purest
feelings
of
humanity
have
I
sought
you
.
Listen
to
me
a
few
moments
in
patience
.
This
evening
I
heard
the
principal
details
of
the
plot
contrived
against
your
peace
:
I
learnt
enough
to
prove
that
you
have
enemies
capable
of
the
very
worst
deeds
to
secure
their
own
ends
.
I
resolved
upon
hastening
to
your
aid
—
of
offering
myself
as
your
companion
,
your
friend
,
until
the
peril
be
averted
.
I
arrived
at
Ravensworth
Hall
at
about
nine
o'clock
this
evening
,
and
requested
an
interview
with
you
.
I
was
told
that
you
had
just
been
seized
with
a
fit
,
and
conveyed
to
your
chamber
.
I
replied
that
I
was
well
known
to
you
—
that
I
had
even
come
in
pursuance
of
an
invitation
received
from
you
—
and
that
my
presence
was
most
opportune
since
you
were
so
suddenly
taken
ill.
Your
lady's-maid
was
summoned
,
and
,
in
consequence
of
my
representations
,
I
was
admitted
to
your
chamber
.
You
had
partially
recovered
,
and
had
sunk
into
a
sound
sleep
.
I
assured
the
maid
that
she
need
not
remain
with
you
,
as
I
would
watch
by
your
side
.
This
is
the
tale
I
have
told
—
an
innocent
falsehood
to
ensure
a
good
aim
.
If
you
wish
me
to
remain
with
you
,
it
will
be
for
you
to
repeat
to
your
servants
the
same
story
of
our
previous
acquaintance
.
This
will
be
necessary
to
account
to
Vernon
for
my
presence
in
the
mansion
,
and
for
the
terms
of
inseparable
friendship
on
which
we
must
appear
to
be
together
.
For
from
this
night
I
shall
not
lose
sight
of
yourself
or
your
child
,
until
the
danger
that
threatens
that
innocent
infant
be
averted
.
As
for
my
name
—
I
dare
not
allow
it
to
be
known
here
;
for
Vernon
is
acquainted
with
a
certain
individual
to
whom
that
name
is
not
strange
,
and
who
,
were
he
to
learn
that
I
am
here
,
would
perhaps
suspect
that
I
had
some
ulterior
motive
.
Indeed
,
it
was
a
conversation
between
your
brother-in-law
and
that
individual
to
whom
I
allude
,
which
was
overheard
by
a
person
devoted
to
my
interests
,
and
which
discourse
betrayed
enough
to
show
that
one
terrible
deed
had
already
been
committed
by
Vernon
,
and
that
he
was
meditating
another
.
"
"
One
terrible
deed
has
already
been
committed
!
"
exclaimed
Adeline
,
in
affright
:
"
to
what
can
you
allude
!
"
"
Alas
!
"
replied
Eliza
Sydney
,
—
for
she
was
the
generous-hearted
unknown
,
—
"
did
the
lamentable
death
of
Lord
Ravensworth
excite
no
suspicions
in
your
mind
?
"
"
Oh
!
now
I
see
it
all
!
"
cried
Adeline
,
clasping
her
hands
together
,
and
speaking
with
hysterical
vehemence
:
"
Gilbert
Vernon
was
in
England
—
it
was
his
voice
that
I
heard
in
the
ruins
;
—
and
it
was
he
who
sent
the
fatal
and
poisoned
weed
which
carried
my
husband
to
the
tomb
!
Monster
—
monster
that
you
are
,
Gilbert
Vernon
!
"
And
she
sank
back
exhausted
upon
the
pillow
,
from
which
she
had
raised
herself
as
she
screamed
forth
that
last
accusation
.
Several
minutes
elapsed
ere
she
grew
calm
enough
to
explain
to
Eliza
the
meaning
of
her
exclamation
relative
to
the
voice
in
the
ruins
.
"
You
see
how
well
arranged
have
been
all
Vernon
's
plans
,
"
observed
Eliza
;
"
for
,
in
the
conversation
with
the
individual
to
whom
I
have
already
alluded
,
he
admitted
that
he
had
been
some
time
in
England
.
Oh
!
there
can
be
no
doubt
that
he
was
awaiting
the
effect
of
the
poisoned
weed
;
—
for
I
read
in
the
newspapers
the
account
of
your
husband
's
strange
and
mysterious
death
after
a
few
months
of
atrophy
,
and
which
fatal
event
was
alleged
to
have
been
hastened
by
his
passionate
attachment
to
a
peculiar
oriental
tobacco
.
It
is
now
for
you
to
remain
retired
and
tranquil
—
to
keep
your
child
constantly
with
you
—
and
to
allow
me
to
act
as
I
shall
think
fit
.
In
a
short
time
I
hope
to
be
enabled
to
collect
a
chain
of
evidence
that
may
establish
Vernon
's
guilt
.
At
present
there
is
strong
suspicion
—
but
no
proof
—
that
he
caused
the
death
of
his
brother
.
"
"
But
I
will
not
stay
here
—
in
this
lonely
house
,
"
cried
Adeline
:
"
I
will
seek
safety
with
my
father
!
"
"
And
think
you
that
change
of
dwelling
will
screen
your
child
from
the
intrigues
—
the
infernal
intrigues
and
plots
of
a
man
who
found
means
,
while
at
a
distance
,
to
murder
his
brother
with
a
fatal
poison
?
"
demanded
Eliza
.
"
No
—
he
would
accomplish
his
purpose
,
wherever
you
might
conceal
the
heir
of
Ravensworth
!
But
if
we
can
obtain
proofs
of
his
past
crime
or
of
his
present
intention
—
if
we
can
so
contrive
that
we
may
place
him
within
the
reach
of
justice
,
—
then
—
and
only
then
will
there
be
safety
for
your
child
.
If
you
seek
refuge
with
your
relatives
,
he
will
see
that
he
is
suspected
;
and
his
schemes
will
only
be
prosecuted
with
the
more
caution
.
"
"
I
am
in
your
hands
—
I
will
follow
your
advice
in
all
things
,
"
said
Adeline
:
"
but
,
in
the
name
of
heaven
!
devise
means
to
bring
these
dangers
and
perplexities
to
a
speedy
issue
.
"
"
Trust
to
me
,
Lady
Ravensworth
,
"
returned
Eliza
.
"
In
the
first
place
,
is
there
still
left
in
the
house
any
of
that
oriental
weed
whose
effects
were
so
fatal
upon
your
husband
?
"
"
There
is
,
"
answered
Adeline
;
"
and
I
think
I
divine
your
motive
for
asking
the
question
.
You
would
have
the
tobacco
analysed
and
tested
by
a
skilful
chemist
?
That
step
was
taken
shortly
after
my
lamented
husband
's
death
,
by
the
desire
of
Mr.
Graham
—
a
medical
gentleman
who
attended
him
in
his
last
moments
.
Not
that
any
suspicion
against
Gilbert
Vernon
had
then
arisen
:
no
—
it
was
curiosity
and
a
love
of
science
which
prompted
Mr.
Graham
thus
to
act
.
"
"
And
the
result
?
"
said
Eliza
,
interrogatively
.
"
No
trace
of
a
deleterious
substance
could
be
discovered
,
"
was
the
answer
.
"
Providence
will
open
another
road
to
the
discovery
of
that
man
's
guilt
,
"
observed
Eliza
.
"
But
you
must
now
compose
yourself
to
sleep
:
the
night
is
far
advanced
—
and
you
need
rest
.
"
"
Rest
!
—
oh
!
not
for
me
!
"
said
Adeline
,
with
a
dreadful
shudder
,
as
she
thought
of
the
murdered
Lydia
Hutchinson
.
But
Eliza
Sydney
did
not
comprehend
that
Lady
Ravensworth
had
any
source
of
affliction
save
the
machinations
of
her
enemies
.
In
the
morning
,
Eliza
wrote
the
following
letter
to
Filippo
Dorsenni
,
Greenwood
's
valet
:
—
Ravensworth
Hall
,
April
16th
,
1841.
"
You
will
see
by
the
superscription
that
I
am
on
the
spot
where
danger
menaces
an
innocent
babe
of
a
month
old
.
Vernon
and
Anthony
Tidkins
are
both
here
;
but
Lady
Ravensworth
has
placed
herself
entirely
under
my
guidance
.
"
I
wish
you
to
undertake
the
three
following
commissions
as
speedily
as
possible
.
"
The
first
is
to
form
an
acquaintance
with
the
landlady
of
the
house
in
Stamford
Street
where
Gilbert
Vernon
lodged
,
and
endeavour
to
glean
from
her
not
only
how
long
he
lived
in
her
dwelling
,
but
any
other
particulars
concerning
him
she
may
be
willing
to
communicate
.
This
task
you
must
execute
with
great
precaution
,
so
that
in
case
Vernon
should
call
upon
her
she
may
not
inform
him
that
you
have
actually
sought
information
at
her
hands
.
Should
she
be
skilfully
drawn
into
gossiping
discourse
upon
the
subject
,
she
would
not
mention
to
Vernon
that
she
had
breathed
a
word
in
connexion
with
him
or
his
affairs
.
"
In
the
second
place
,
you
must
endeavour
to
discover
the
abode
of
the
beautiful
Georgian
,
Malkhatoun
,
whom
,
as
you
informed
me
some
months
ago
—
shortly
after
my
arrival
in
England
—
Mr.
Greenwood
made
over
to
his
friend
the
Honourable
Major
Dapper
.
"
In
the
third
place
you
must
find
some
trusty
person
who
will
immediately
set
off
for
Beyrout
.
Fortunately
,
an
extra
Overland
Mail
departs
to-morrow
evening
.
The
instructions
of
the
individual
whom
you
may
thus
employ
are
contained
in
the
enclosed
letter
.
Doubtless
,
amongst
the
few
Castelcicalans
who
are
now
resident
in
London
,
you
are
acquainted
with
one
who
will
undertake
this
mission
,
for
the
expenses
of
which
I
forward
you
a
cheque
upon
my
bankers
.
"
You
can
write
to
me
to
report
the
progress
of
these
three
commissions
.
"
CHAPTER
CCXXXIV
.
A
MIDNIGHT
SCENE
OF
MYSTERY
.
"
Well
,
"
said
Quentin
to
his
fellow-domestics
,
as
they
were
sitting
at
breakfast
in
the
servants
'
hall
,
"
the
Honourable
Mr.
Vernon
is
by
no
means
the
most
agreeable
gentleman
that
ever
set
foot
in
this
house
;
but
his
valet
beats
any
thing
I
ever
saw
in
the
same
shape
.
"
"
Did
you
ever
see
such
a
countenance
?
"
exclaimed
one
of
the
maids
.
"
I
am
sure
it
was
not
for
his
good
looks
that
Mr.
Vernon
could
have
chosen
him
.
"
"
He
is
just
the
kind
of
person
that
I
should
not
like
to
meet
in
a
lane
in
a
dark
night
,
"
observed
another
member
of
the
female
branch
of
dependants
.
"
He
certainly
cannot
help
his
looks
,
"
said
Quentin
:
"
but
heaven
knows
they
tell
amazingly
against
him
.
"
"
And
what
I
think
somewhat
extraordinary
,
"
remarked
the
butler
,
"
is
that
just
now
I
found
him
in
my
pantry
,
balancing
the
silver
spoons
at
the
end
of
his
finger
,
as
if
to
tell
the
weight
of
them
.
So
I
quietly
informed
him
that
my
pantry
was
sacred
;
and
he
took
himself
off
with
a
very
ill
grace
.
"
"
Did
you
notice
him
last
night
,
after
supper
,
"
said
the
first
maid
who
had
spoken
,
"
when
we
got
talking
about
the
disappearance
of
Lydia
Hutchinson
with
my
lady
's
casket
of
jewels
,
how
eagerly
he
joined
in
the
conversation
,
and
how
many
questions
he
asked
?
"
"
Yes
,
to
be
sure
I
did
,
"
returned
another
female
servant
:
"
he
was
as
curious
about
the
matter
as
if
Lydia
was
his
own
sister
,
or
daughter
,
or
sweetheart
.
He
wanted
to
learn
how
long
ago
it
happened
—
how
we
knew
that
she
had
run
away
with
the
casket
—
and
all
about
it
;
and
then
,
when
we
told
him
what
we
thought
of
the
matter
,
he
cross-questioned
us
as
if
he
was
a
counsel
and
we
were
witnesses
at
a
trial
.
But
I
wonder
who
this
widow
is
that
came
last
night
,
and
seems
so
intimate
with
my
lady
.
"
"
She
's
a
very
genteel
person
,
"
said
Quentin
;
"
and
seems
to
know
how
to
treat
servants
,
as
if
she
had
a
great
many
of
her
own
.
You
can
always
tell
the
true
breed
of
people
by
the
way
they
behave
to
servants
.
"
"
I
'm
decidedly
of
your
opinion
,
Mr.
Quentin
,
"
observed
a
footman
.
"
A
true
gentleman
or
true
lady
always
says
'
Thank
you
,
'
when
you
hand
them
any
thing
at
table
,
and
so
on
.
But
it
seems
that
my
lady
is
very
unwell
this
morning
;
for
she
and
her
new
friend
had
their
breakfast
in
my
lady
's
own
chamber
.
"
"
And
the
nurse
and
child
are
to
remain
altogether
in
my
lady
's
private
suite
of
apartments
,
"
added
one
of
the
females
.
"
Does
any
one
know
the
name
of
my
lady
's
friend
?
"
"
Mrs.
Beaufort
,
I
think
the
lady's-maid
said
,
"
replied
Quentin
.
"
But
here
comes
James
White
.
"
And
James
White
did
accordingly
enter
the
servants
'
hall
at
that
moment
in
the
person
of
the
Resurrection
Man
;
for
by
the
former
name
was
he
now
pleased
to
pass
at
Ravensworth
Hall
.
"
Been
taking
a
walk
,
Mr.
White
?
"
said
Quentin
,
as
Tidkins
seated
himself
at
the
breakfast-table
.
"
Yes
—
just
looking
about
the
grounds
a
little
,
"
was
the
answer
.
"
Handsome
building
this
—
fine
park
—
beautiful
gardens
.
"
"
It
is
a
handsome
building
,
Mr.
White
,
"
said
Quentin
;
"
and
as
commodious
as
it
is
handsome
.
"
"
Very
commodious
,
"
returned
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
Nice
snug
little
private
door
,
too
,
at
the
southern
end
,
"
he
added
with
a
strange
leer
.
"
Why
,
that
was
the
very
door
that
Lydia
Hutchinson
decamped
by
,
when
she
ran
off
with
my
lady
's
jewels
,
"
exclaimed
one
of
the
maids
.
"
Ah
—
indeed
!
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
,
carelessly
.
"
And
was
n't
her
ladyship
cut
up
at
the
loss
of
the
jewels
?
"
"
Somewhat
so
,
"
was
the
female
servant
's
answer
.
"
But
my
lady
is
too
rich
to
care
very
much
about
that
.
"
"
And
was
there
no
blue-bot
—
police-case
,
I
mean
,
made
of
it
?
"
asked
Tidkins
.
"
None
,
"
replied
the
maid
.
"
My
lady
possesses
too
good
a
heart
to
wish
to
punish
even
those
who
most
wrong
her
.
"
"
A
very
excellent
trait
in
her
character
,
"
observed
the
Resurrection
Man
,
as
he
deliberately
made
terrific
inroads
upon
the
bread
and
butter
and
cold
meat
.
"
Was
her
ladyship
at
the
Hall
when
that
young
woman
bolted
?
"
"
No
:
she
had
gone
to
London
early
in
the
morning
of
the
very
same
day
.
But
there
's
my
lady
's
bell
.
"
And
the
female
servant
who
had
been
thus
conversing
with
the
Resurrection
Man
,
hastened
to
answer
the
summons
.
In
a
few
minutes
she
returned
,
saying
,
"
Mr.
Quentin
,
you
are
wanted
in
the
little
parlour
opposite
my
lady
's
room
.
"
The
valet
repaired
to
the
apartment
named
,
where
Eliza
Sydney
was
waiting
for
him
.
Motioning
him
to
close
the
door
,
she
said
in
a
low
but
earnest
tone
,
"
Lady
Ravensworth
informs
me
that
you
were
devoted
to
your
late
master
:
doubtless
you
are
equally
well
disposed
towards
his
unprotected
and
almost
friendless
wife
?
"
"
If
there
is
any
way
,
madam
,
in
which
my
fidelity
can
be
put
to
the
test
,
I
shall
be
well
pleased
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
In
a
word
,
then
,
"
continued
Eliza
,
"
your
mistress
and
the
infant
heir
are
in
danger
;
and
it
behoves
you
to
aid
me
in
defeating
the
machinations
of
their
enemies
.
After
what
I
have
now
said
,
are
your
suspicions
in
no
way
excited
?
"
"
I
confess
,
madam
,
"
answered
Quentin
,
"
that
the
presence
of
a
certain
person
in
this
house
—
—
"
"
You
allude
to
the
Honourable
Mr.
Vernon
,
"
exclaimed
Eliza
;
"
and
you
are
right
!
He
has
domiciled
himself
here
without
invitation
—
without
apparent
motive
;
and
he
is
attended
by
an
individual
capable
of
any
atrocity
.
"
"
Mr.
Vernon
's
valet
?
"
said
Quentin
,
interrogatively
.
"
The
same
,
"
was
the
reply
.
"
But
I
dare
not
explain
myself
more
fully
at
present
.
What
I
now
require
of
you
is
to
watch
all
the
proceedings
of
Mr.
Vernon
and
his
attendant
,
and
report
to
me
whatever
you
may
think
worthy
of
observation
.
"
"
I
will
not
fail
to
do
so
,
madam
,
"
returned
Quentin
.
"
And
now
I
have
to
request
you
to
give
me
a
small
portion
of
the
tobacco
which
the
late
Lord
Ravensworth
was
accustomed
to
use
,
"
continued
Eliza
;
"
and
the
remainder
you
must
carefully
conceal
in
some
secure
place
,
as
it
may
some
day
be
required
for
inspection
elsewhere
.
"
"
Your
directions
shall
all
be
implicitly
attended
to
,
"
said
Quentin
.
"
But
might
I
be
permitted
to
ask
whether
you
are
aware
,
madam
,
that
the
tobacco
was
sent
to
Lord
Ravensworth
by
Mr.
Vernon
?
"
"
It
is
my
knowledge
of
that
fact
which
induced
me
to
give
those
instructions
concerning
the
weed
—
the
fatal
weed
,
"
replied
Eliza
,
significantly
.
"
Ah
!
madam
—
I
also
have
had
my
suspicions
on
that
head
!
"
exclaimed
Quentin
,
who
perfectly
understood
the
lady
's
meaning
.
"
I
hinted
those
suspicions
to
the
medical
gentleman
who
attended
my
lord
in
his
last
moments
;
and
he
had
the
tobacco
analysed
by
a
skilful
chemist
;
—
but
the
result
did
not
turn
out
as
I
had
expected
.
"
"
Lady
Ravensworth
has
already
mentioned
this
fact
to
me
,
"
said
Eliza
:
"
I
have
,
however
,
conceived
a
means
of
submitting
the
weed
to
a
better
test
.
But
of
this
and
other
subjects
I
will
speak
to
you
more
fully
hereafter
.
"
Quentin
withdrew
to
fetch
a
small
sample
of
the
tobacco
,
with
which
he
shortly
re-appeared
.
Eliza
renewed
her
injunctions
to
watch
the
movements
of
Vernon
and
his
valet
;
and
then
hastened
to
rejoin
Lady
Ravensworth
.
The
day
passed
without
the
occurrence
of
any
thing
worth
relating
;
but
in
the
evening
one
or
two
little
circumstances
in
the
conduct
of
Mr.
Vernon
's
valet
struck
the
now
watchful
Quentin
as
being
somewhat
peculiar
.
In
the
first
place
,
Tidkins
sought
an
excuse
to
lounge
into
the
kitchen
at
a
moment
when
the
servants
belonging
to
that
department
of
the
household
were
temporarily
absent
;
and
Quentin
,
who
followed
him
unperceived
,
was
not
a
little
astonished
when
he
saw
the
Resurrection
Man
hastily
conceal
three
large
meat-hooks
about
his
person
.
There
were
some
silver
forks
and
spoons
lying
on
the
table
;
but
these
Tidkins
did
not
touch
.
It
was
consequently
apparent
to
Quentin
that
Mr.
Vernon
's
valet
did
not
self-appropriate
the
meat-hooks
for
the
sake
of
their
paltry
value
:
it
was
clear
that
he
required
them
for
some
particular
purpose
.
"
What
,
in
the
name
of
common
sense
!
can
he
possibly
want
with
meat-hooks
?
"
was
the
question
which
the
astonished
Quentin
put
to
himself
.
Conjecture
was
vain
;
but
the
incident
determined
him
to
continue
to
watch
Mr.
Vernon
's
valet
very
closely
.
When
the
hour
for
retiring
to
rest
arrived
,
a
female
servant
offered
Tidkins
a
chamber
candlestick
;
but
he
requested
to
be
provided
with
a
lantern
,
saying
with
a
carelessness
which
Quentin
perceived
to
be
affected
,
"
The
truth
is
,
I
'm
fond
of
reading
in
bed
;
and
as
a
candle
is
dangerous
,
I
prefer
a
lantern
.
"
Quentin
alone
suspected
the
truth
of
this
statement
.
He
,
however
,
said
nothing
.
The
lantern
was
given
to
Tidkins
;
and
the
servants
separated
for
the
night
.
It
so
happened
that
the
bed-room
allotted
to
the
Resurrection
Man
was
in
the
same
passage
as
that
tenanted
by
Quentin
.
Suspecting
that
Tidkins
required
the
lantern
for
some
purpose
to
be
executed
that
night
,
Quentin
crept
along
the
passage
,
and
peeped
through
the
key-hole
of
the
other
's
chamber
.
He
was
enabled
to
command
a
good
view
of
the
interior
of
that
room
,
the
key
not
being
in
the
lock
;
and
he
beheld
Tidkins
busily
engaged
in
fastening
the
meat-hooks
to
a
stout
stick
about
a
foot
and
a
half
long
.
The
Resurrection
Man
next
took
the
cord
which
had
secured
his
trunk
,
and
tied
one
end
round
the
middle
of
the
stick
.
He
then
wound
the
cord
round
the
stick
,
apparently
to
render
this
singular
apparatus
more
conveniently
portable
.
This
being
done
,
Tidkins
put
off
his
suit
of
bran
new
black
,
and
dressed
himself
in
a
more
common
garb
,
which
he
took
from
his
trunk
.
When
he
had
thus
changed
his
clothes
,
he
secured
the
stick
,
with
the
cord
and
meat-hooks
,
about
his
person
.
"
This
is
most
extraordinary
!
"
thought
Quentin
to
himself
.
"
He
is
evidently
going
out
.
But
what
is
he
about
to
do
?
what
can
all
this
mean
?
"
The
valet
's
bewilderment
was
increased
when
he
beheld
the
Resurrection
Man
take
a
pair
of
pistols
from
his
trunk
,
deliberately
charge
them
with
powder
and
ball
,
and
then
consign
them
to
his
pocket
.
"
What
can
he
mean
?
"
was
the
question
which
Quentin
repeated
to
himself
a
dozen
times
in
a
minute
.
The
bell
on
the
roof
of
the
mansion
now
proclaimed
the
hour
of
midnight
;
and
Tidkins
,
having
suddenly
extinguished
the
candle
in
the
lantern
,
made
a
motion
as
if
he
were
about
to
leave
the
room
.
Quentin
accordingly
retreated
a
few
yards
up
the
passage
,
which
was
quite
dark
.
Almost
immediately
afterwards
,
he
heard
the
door
of
Tidkins
'
room
open
cautiously
:
then
it
was
closed
again
,
and
the
sharp
click
of
a
key
turning
in
a
lock
followed
.
Tidkins
was
now
stealing
noiselessly
down
the
passage
,
little
suspecting
that
any
one
was
occupied
in
dogging
him
.
He
descended
the
stairs
,
gained
the
servants
'
offices
,
and
passed
out
of
the
mansion
by
a
back
door
.
But
Quentin
was
on
his
track
.
The
night
was
almost
as
dark
as
pitch
;
and
the
valet
had
the
greatest
difficulty
in
following
the
steps
of
the
Resurrection
Man
without
approaching
him
so
closely
as
to
risk
the
chance
of
being
overheard
.
From
time
to
time
Tidkins
stopped
—
evidently
to
listen
;
and
then
Quentin
stood
perfectly
still
also
.
So
cautious
indeed
was
the
latter
in
his
task
of
dogging
the
Resurrection
Man
,
that
this
individual
,
keen
as
were
his
ears
,
and
piercing
his
eyes
,
neither
heard
nor
saw
any
thing
to
excite
a
suspicion
that
he
was
watched
.
By
degrees
,
black
as
was
the
night
,
Quentin
's
eyes
became
accustomed
to
that
almost
profound
obscurity
;
and
by
the
time
the
Resurrection
Man
had
traversed
the
gardens
,
and
clambered
over
the
railings
which
separated
those
grounds
from
the
open
fields
,
the
valet
could
distinguish
—
only
just
distinguish
—
a
dark
form
moving
forward
before
him
.
"
If
I
can
thus
obtain
a
glimpse
of
him
,
"
thought
Quentin
,
"
he
can
in
the
same
manner
catch
sight
of
me
the
first
time
he
turns
round
.
"
And
the
valet
was
accordingly
compelled
to
slacken
his
pace
until
he
could
no
longer
distinguish
the
form
of
him
whom
he
was
pursuing
.
But
as
the
Resurrection
Man
,
deeming
himself
quite
secure
,
did
not
take
the
trouble
to
walk
lightly
along
the
hard
path
which
ran
through
the
fields
,
Quentin
was
now
enabled
to
follow
without
difficulty
the
sounds
of
his
footsteps
.
All
of
a
sudden
these
sounds
ceased
;
and
Quentin
stopped
short
.
In
another
minute
,
however
,
he
heard
the
low
rustling
tread
of
feet
walking
rapidly
over
the
grass
;
and
thus
he
recovered
the
trail
which
was
so
abruptly
interrupted
.
The
Resurrection
Man
had
turned
out
of
the
beaten
path
,
and
was
pursuing
his
way
diagonally
across
the
field
.
Quentin
followed
him
with
the
utmost
caution
:
and
in
a
few
moments
there
was
a
bright
flash
in
the
corner
of
the
field
,
the
cause
of
which
the
valet
was
at
no
loss
to
comprehend
.
Tidkins
had
lighted
a
lucifer-match
—
doubtless
to
assure
himself
that
he
was
in
the
particular
spot
which
he
sought
.
Quentin
,
to
whom
every
square
yard
of
the
estate
was
well
known
,
immediately
remembered
that
there
was
a
pond
in
the
corner
of
the
field
where
Tidkins
had
thus
stopped
;
and
close
by
was
a
thick
hedge
.
The
valet
accordingly
made
a
short
and
rapid
circuit
in
order
to
gain
the
stile
leading
into
the
adjacent
field
:
then
,
creeping
carefully
along
the
bushes
,
he
arrived
in
a
few
moments
behind
that
precise
portion
of
the
hedge
which
overlooked
the
pond
.
The
night
was
so
dark
that
he
could
not
follow
with
his
eyes
the
exact
movements
of
the
Resurrection
Man
.
He
was
,
however
,
enabled
to
distinguish
his
form
on
the
opposite
bank
of
the
pond
;
and
not
many
moments
after
he
had
taken
his
post
behind
the
hedge
,
there
was
a
sudden
splash
in
the
water
,
as
of
some
object
thrown
into
it
.
Then
the
Resurrection
Man
moved
slowly
along
the
bank
;
and
it
instantly
struck
Quentin
that
he
was
dragging
the
pond
.
This
idea
explained
the
purpose
of
the
apparatus
formed
by
the
hooks
,
the
stout
stick
,
and
the
cord
:
—
but
for
what
could
he
be
dragging
?
The
valet
shuddered
as
this
question
occurred
to
him
;
—
for
the
nature
of
the
apparatus
,
the
secresy
of
the
whole
proceeding
,
and
the
bad
opinion
which
Eliza
Sydney
's
hints
had
induced
him
to
form
of
him
whom
he
,
however
,
only
knew
as
James
White
,
—
these
circumstances
combined
to
fill
Quentin
's
mind
with
a
terrible
suspicion
that
Tidkins
was
dragging
for
a
dead
body
.
The
Resurrection
Man
drew
up
his
drag
with
a
terrible
oath
,
uttered
aloud
,
and
expressive
of
disappointment
.
"
And
yet
this
must
be
the
spot
!
"
he
added
,
as
he
disentangled
the
hooks
from
the
cord
.
"
I
went
over
the
whole
grounds
this
morning
—
and
I
could
swear
it
was
here
that
—
—
"
The
conclusion
of
the
sentence
was
muttered
to
himself
,
and
therefore
remained
unheard
by
the
valet
.
The
drag
was
thrown
into
the
water
a
second
time
;
and
,
at
the
expiration
of
a
few
moments
,
Tidkins
gave
utterance
to
an
exclamation
expressive
of
satisfaction
.
Then
he
retreated
slowly
from
the
edge
of
the
pond
,
as
if
dragging
a
heavy
object
out
of
the
water
.
From
behind
the
hedge
Quentin
strained
his
eyes
,
with
mingled
feelings
of
curiosity
and
terror
,
to
scrutinise
as
narrowly
as
possible
the
real
meaning
of
this
strange
and
mysterious
proceeding
.
At
length
there
was
a
strong
gurgling
of
the
water
;
and
in
another
moment
a
large
dark
object
was
moving
slowly
and
heavily
up
the
steep
bank
.
A
cold
shudder
crept
over
the
valet
's
frame
;
for
that
object
bore
the
appearance
of
a
corpse
!
He
would
have
taken
to
flight
—
he
would
have
escaped
from
the
contemplation
of
such
a
strange
and
appalling
scene
—
he
would
have
hastened
back
to
the
mansion
to
raise
an
alarm
;
—
but
vague
fears
—
ineffable
horror
bound
him
as
it
were
to
the
spot
—
paralysed
his
limbs
—
and
compelled
him
to
remain
a
spectator
of
the
dark
proceeding
.
The
object
was
safely
landed
upon
the
bank
:
there
was
a
sharp
crack
as
of
a
match
—
a
small
blue
flame
suddenly
appeared
—
and
then
Tidkins
lighted
the
candle
in
his
lantern
.
This
being
done
,
he
approached
the
object
upon
the
bank
;
—
and
in
another
moment
all
Quentin
's
doubts
were
cleared
up
—
for
the
light
of
the
lantern
now
fell
upon
the
body
of
a
female
!
He
closed
his
eyes
instinctively
—
and
his
brain
was
seized
with
a
sudden
dizziness
.
But
,
mastering
his
feelings
,
he
again
looked
towards
the
mysterious
and
fearful
drama
which
was
being
enacted
on
the
opposite
bank
of
the
pond
.
The
light
was
again
extinguished
;
and
Tidkins
was
stooping
over
the
corpse
.
Suddenly
an
exclamation
of
joy
escaped
his
lips
;
but
Quentin
was
unable
to
divine
the
cause
.
Another
minute
elapsed
;
and
the
Resurrection
Man
rolled
the
body
back
again
into
the
water
.
There
was
a
second
splash
a
moment
afterwards
:
it
was
evidently
the
drag
which
Tidkins
had
thrown
away
,
its
services
being
no
longer
required
by
him
.
Then
he
retreated
with
rapid
step
from
the
bank
of
the
pond
;
and
Quentin
,
scarcely
able
to
subdue
the
terror
which
had
taken
possession
of
him
,
retraced
his
way
along
the
hedge
,
—
determined
,
in
spite
of
his
feelings
,
to
watch
the
Resurrection
Man
to
the
end
—
—
if
more
there
were
of
this
strange
midnight
drama
yet
to
come
.
Having
hastily
performed
the
short
circuit
that
was
necessary
to
bring
him
back
into
the
field
through
which
Tidkins
was
now
proceeding
,
Quentin
shortly
came
within
sight
of
that
individual
's
dark
form
,
moving
rapidly
along
the
beaten
path
.
Near
the
railings
which
bounded
the
gardens
,
there
were
several
groups
of
large
trees
;
and
at
the
foot
of
one
of
them
Tidkins
halted
.
Stooping
down
,
he
appeared
to
be
busily
employed
for
some
minutes
in
digging
up
the
earth
.
Quentin
approached
as
nearly
as
he
could
without
incurring
the
risk
of
discovery
;
and
the
motions
of
the
Resurrection
Man
convinced
him
that
he
was
indeed
engaged
in
burying
something
at
the
foot
of
the
tree
.
This
task
being
accomplished
,
Tidkins
clambered
over
the
palings
,
and
pursued
his
way
through
the
gardens
towards
the
back
gate
of
the
Hall
.
Quentin
remained
behind
—
his
first
impulse
being
to
examine
the
spot
where
the
Resurrection
Man
had
been
digging
.
But
a
second
thought
made
him
hesitate
;
and
,
after
a
few
moments
'
reflection
,
he
determined
to
wait
until
he
had
reported
the
whole
of
this
night
's
mysterious
proceedings
to
the
lady
whom
he
only
knew
as
Mrs.
Beaufort
,
and
at
whose
instance
he
had
been
induced
to
watch
the
proceedings
of
Mr.
Vernon
's
valet
.
He
accordingly
pursued
his
way
back
to
the
mansion
.
But
as
the
Resurrection
Man
had
bolted
the
back
door
inside
,
Quentin
was
compelled
to
gain
an
entry
through
one
of
the
windows
of
the
servants
'
offices
.
This
he
effected
with
safety
,
and
noiselessly
returned
to
his
own
chamber
.
But
he
closed
not
his
eyes
in
slumber
throughout
the
remainder
of
that
night
;
for
all
he
had
seen
haunted
his
imagination
like
a
spectre
.
CHAPTER
CCXXXV
.
PLOTS
AND
COUNTERPLOTS
.
In
the
morning
Eliza
Sydney
received
the
following
letter
from
Filippo
Dorsenni
:
—
"
Your
orders
have
been
punctually
obeyed
.
"
I
have
already
visited
the
landlady
in
Stamford
Street
,
under
pretence
of
being
acquainted
with
a
gentleman
who
wishes
to
take
lodgings
in
that
street
;
and
I
have
ascertained
that
her
last
lodger
—
who
can
be
none
other
than
Mr.
Vernon
—
resided
with
her
three
or
four
months
.
Consequently
he
has
been
in
England
during
that
period
.
"
In
the
second
place
,
I
have
discovered
the
address
of
the
beautiful
Georgian
;
and
can
communicate
with
her
so
soon
as
I
receive
your
instructions
to
that
effect
.
"
Thirdly
,
I
have
despatched
a
faithful
person
to
Beyrout
;
and
he
will
return
to
England
the
moment
he
shall
have
gleaned
the
information
specified
in
your
instructions
.
"
To
this
letter
Eliza
despatched
an
immediate
answer
,
praising
her
faithful
adherent
for
the
skill
and
despatch
with
which
he
had
executed
her
orders
,
and
giving
him
certain
instructions
in
respect
to
Malkhatoun
.
She
then
repaired
to
the
parlour
opposite
Lady
Ravensworth
's
own
apartment
;
for
Quentin
had
already
sent
a
private
message
by
one
of
the
female
servants
,
intimating
that
he
was
anxious
to
speak
to
her
without
delay
.
When
they
met
in
the
parlour
,
Eliza
heard
with
profound
astonishment
the
extraordinary
narrative
which
the
valet
had
to
relate
to
her
.
"
Some
deed
of
mystery
and
crime
has
been
doubtless
perpetrated
,
"
observed
Eliza
;
"
but
it
cannot
possibly
bear
any
reference
to
the
atrocious
plot
which
Gilbert
Vernon
is
meditating
against
the
happiness
of
his
sister-in-law
and
the
life
of
her
child
.
I
will
now
tell
you
that
the
villain
who
passes
in
this
house
as
James
White
is
in
reality
a
certain
Anthony
Tidkins
,
known
amongst
his
associates
in
crime
as
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
"
I
have
heard
of
him
,
madam
,
"
said
Quentin
,
with
a
shudder
.
"
And
,
by
the
by
—
was
it
not
this
same
wretch
who
lately
escaped
in
so
extraordinary
a
manner
from
the
Middlesex
House
of
Correction
?
The
affair
was
in
all
the
newspapers
.
"
"
He
is
the
same
person
,
"
answered
Eliza
.
"
Oh
!
madam
,
"
cried
Quentin
,
somewhat
reproachfully
;
"
it
is
not
for
me
to
dictate
to
you
—
but
since
you
have
discovered
who
this
man
is
,
how
could
you
permit
him
to
remain
for
one
single
day
at
large
?
—
why
should
he
be
allowed
to
take
his
place
at
the
same
table
with
honest
people
?
"
"
I
admit
that
such
society
must
be
abhorrent
in
the
extreme
,
"
answered
Eliza
,
mildly
but
firmly
:
"
I
also
acknowledge
that
for
a
short
space
I
am
depriving
justice
of
its
due
.
Listen
,
however
,
to
my
reasons
.
Gilbert
Vernon
is
a
man
of
so
desperate
a
character
that
he
will
hesitate
at
no
crime
which
will
make
him
master
of
the
lands
and
title
of
Ravensworth
.
I
have
every
reason
to
believe
that
he
caused
the
death
of
his
brother
:
I
have
equally
good
grounds
for
suspecting
him
of
an
intention
to
murder
his
nephew
.
As
speedily
as
circumstances
will
permit
am
I
adopting
measures
to
collect
evidence
that
will
place
his
guilt
beyond
all
doubt
.
But
until
that
evidence
be
obtained
,
we
must
excite
in
his
mind
no
suspicion
that
there
are
counter-schemes
in
progress
.
Were
we
to
do
so
,
it
is
impossible
to
imagine
what
desperate
deed
he
might
immediately
risk
in
furtherance
of
his
aims
.
"
"
But
suspicions
are
already
so
strong
against
him
,
madam
,
"
observed
Quentin
,
"
that
a
magistrate
would
grant
a
warrant
for
his
apprehension
.
"
"
And
if
the
evidence
against
him
were
found
to
be
incomplete
and
vague
,
as
it
indeed
now
is
,
"
answered
Eliza
,
"
he
would
soon
be
at
large
again
to
pursue
his
detestable
machinations
.
No
,
Quentin
:
your
good
sense
must
show
you
that
it
is
better
to
take
no
decisive
step
until
our
evidence
shall
be
so
complete
that
it
will
serve
two
objects
—
namely
,
to
punish
him
for
the
crime
he
has
already
committed
,
and
thereby
release
your
lady
and
