“Ahem！”repliedmyfriend，takingoffhiscoat，withadeepsigh，tyingapocket-handkerchiefaroundhiswaist，andproducinganunaccountablealterationinhiscountenancebytwistinguphiseyesandbringingdownthecornersofhismouth“ahem！”And“ahem！”saidheagain，afterapause；andnotanotherwordmorethan“ahem！”didIeverknowhimtosayafterthat。“Aha！”thoughtI，withoutexpressingmyselfaloud“thisisquitearemarkablesilenceonthepartofTobyDammit，andisnodoubtaconsequenceofhisverbosityuponapreviousoccasion。Oneextremeinducesanother。IwonderifhehasforgottenthemanyunanswerablequestionswhichhepropoundedtomesofluentlyonthedaywhenIgavehimmylastlecture？Atallevents，heiscuredofthetranscendentals。”
　　“Ahem！”hererepliedToby，justasifhehadbeenreadingmythoughts，andlookinglikeaveryoldsheepinarevery。
　　Theoldgentlemannowtookhimbythearm，andledhimmoreintotheshadeofthebridgeafewpacesbackfromtheturnstile。“Mygoodfellow。”
　　saidhe，“Imakeitapointofconsciencetoallowyouthismuchrun。Waithere，tillItakemyplacebythestile，sothatImayseewhetheryougooverithandsomely，andtranscendentally，anddon’tomitanyflourishesofthepigeon-wing。Amereform，youknow。Iwillsay’one，two，three，andaway。’Mindyou，startattheword’away’“Herehetookhispositionbythestile，pausedamomentasifinprofoundreflection，thenlookedupand，Ithought，smiledveryslightly，thentightenedthestringsofhisapron，thentookalonglookatDammit，andfinallygavethewordasagreedupon-
　　_Onetwothreeandaway！_
　　Punctuallyattheword“away。”mypoorfriendsetoffinastronggallop。
　　Thestilewasnotveryhigh，likeMr。Lord’snoryetverylow，likethatofMr。Lord’sreviewers，butuponthewholeImadesurethathewouldclearit。Andthenwhatifhedidnot？ah，thatwasthequestion
　　whatifhedidnot？“Whatright。”saidI，“hadtheoldgentlemantomakeanyothergentlemanjump？Thelittleolddot-and-carry-one！whoishe？Ifheasksmetojump，Iwon’tdoit，that’sflat，andIdon’tcarewhothedevilheis。”Thebridge，asIsay，wasarchedandcoveredin，inaveryridiculousmanner，andtherewasamostuncomfortableechoaboutitatalltimesanechowhichIneverbeforesoparticularlyobservedaswhenI
　　utteredthefourlastwordsofmyremark。
　　ButwhatIsaid，orwhatIthought，orwhatIheard，occupiedonlyaninstant。Inlessthanfivesecondsfromhisstarting，mypoorTobyhadtakentheleap。Isawhimrunnimbly，andspringgrandlyfromthefloorofthebridge，cuttingthemostawfulflourisheswithhislegsashewentup。
　　Isawhimhighintheair，pigeon-wingingittoadmirationjustoverthetopofthestile；andofcourseIthoughtitanunusuallysingularthingthathedidnotcontinuetogoover。Butthewholeleapwastheaffairofamoment，and，beforeIhadachancetomakeanyprofoundreflections，downcameMr。Dammitontheflatofhisback，onthesamesideofthestilefromwhichhehadstarted。AtthesameinstantIsawtheoldgentlemanlimpingoffatthetopofhisspeed，havingcaughtandwraptupinhisapronsomethingthatfellheavilyintoitfromthedarknessofthearchjustovertheturnstile。AtallthisIwasmuchastonished；butIhadnoleisuretothink，forDammitlayparticularlystill，andIconcludedthathisfeelingshadbeenhurt，andthathestoodinneedofmyassistance。Ihurrieduptohimandfoundthathehadreceivedwhatmightbetermedaseriousinjury。Thetruthis，hehadbeendeprivedofhishead，whichafteraclosesearchIcouldnotfindanywhere；soI
　　determinedtotakehimhomeandsendforthehomoeopathists。Inthemeantimeathoughtstruckme，andIthrewopenanadjacentwindowofthebridge，whenthesadtruthflasheduponmeatonce。Aboutfivefeetjustabovethetopoftheturnstile，andcrossingthearchofthefoot-pathsoastoconstituteabrace，thereextendedaflatironbar，lyingwithitsbreadthhorizontally，andformingoneofaseriesthatservedtostrengthenthestructurethroughoutitsextent。Withtheedgeofthisbraceitappearedevidentthattheneckofmyunfortunatefriendhadcomepreciselyincontact。
　　Hedidnotlongsurvivehisterribleloss。Thehomoeopathistsdidnotgivehimlittleenoughphysic，andwhatlittletheydidgivehimhehesitatedtotake。Sointheendhegrewworse，andatlengthdied，alessontoallriotouslivers。Ibedewedhisgravewithmytears，workedabarsinisteronhisfamilyescutcheon，and，forthegeneralexpensesofhisfuneral，sentinmyverymoderatebilltothetranscendentalists。Thescoundrelsrefusedtopayit，soIhadMr。Dammitdugupatonce，andsoldhimfordog’smeat。
　　IWILLnowplaytheOedipustotheRattleboroughenigma。IwillexpoundtoyouasIalonecanthesecretoftheenginerythateffectedtheRattleboroughmiracletheone，thetrue，theadmitted，theundisputed，theindisputablemiracle，whichputadefiniteendtoinfidelityamongtheRattleburghersandconvertedtotheorthodoxyofthegrandamesallthecarnal-mindedwhohadventuredtobescepticalbefore。
　　ThiseventwhichIshouldbesorrytodiscussinatoneofunsuitablelevityoccurredinthesummerof18。Mr。BarnabasShuttleworthy
　　oneofthewealthiestandmostrespectablecitizensoftheboroughhadbeenmissingforseveraldaysundercircumstanceswhichgaverisetosuspicionoffoulplay。Mr。ShuttleworthyhadsetoutfromRattleboroughveryearlyoneSaturdaymorning，onhorseback，withtheavowedintentionofproceedingtothecityof-，aboutfifteenmilesdistant，andofreturningthenightofthesameday。Twohoursafterhisdeparture，however，hishorsereturnedwithouthim，andwithoutthesaddle-bagswhichhadbeenstrappedonhisbackatstarting。Theanimalwaswounded，too，andcoveredwithmud。Thesecircumstancesnaturallygaverisetomuchalarmamongthefriendsofthemissingman；andwhenitwasfound，onSundaymorning，thathehadnotyetmadehisappearance，thewholeborougharoseenmassetogoandlookforhisbody。
　　TheforemostandmostenergeticininstitutingthissearchwasthebosomfriendofMr。ShuttleworthyaMr。CharlesGoodfellow，or，ashewasuniversallycalled，“CharleyGoodfellow。”or“OldCharleyGoodfellow。”
　　Now，whetheritisamarvellouscoincidence，orwhetheritisthatthenameitselfhasanimperceptibleeffectuponthecharacter，Ihaveneveryetbeenabletoascertain；butthefactisunquestionable，thatthereneveryetwasanypersonnamedCharleswhowasnotanopen，manly，honest，good-natured，andfrank-heartedfellow，witharich，clearvoice，thatdidyougoodtohearit，andaneyethatlookedyoualwaysstraightintheface，asmuchastosay：“Ihaveaclearconsciencemyself，amafraidofnoman，andamaltogetherabovedoingameanaction。”Andthusallthehearty，careless，“walkinggentlemen“ofthestageareverycertaintobecalledCharles。
　　Now，“OldCharleyGoodfellow。”althoughhehadbeeninRattleboroughnotlongerthansixmonthsorthereabouts，andalthoughnobodyknewanythingabouthimbeforehecametosettleintheneighborhood，hadexperiencednodifficultyintheworldinmakingtheacquaintanceofalltherespectablepeopleintheborough。Notamanofthembutwouldhavetakenhisbarewordforathousandatanymoment；andasforthewomen，thereisnosayingwhattheywouldnothavedonetoobligehim。AndallthiscameofhishavingbeenchristenedCharles，andofhispossessing，inconsequence，thatingenuousfacewhichisproverbiallythevery“bestletterofrecommendation。”
　　IhavealreadysaidthatMr。Shuttleworthywasoneofthemostrespectableand，undoubtedly，hewasthemostwealthymaninRattleborough，while“OldCharleyGoodfellow“wasuponasintimatetermswithhimasifhehadbeenhisownbrother。Thetwooldgentlemenwerenext-doorneighbours，and，althoughMr。Shuttleworthyseldom，ifever，visited“OldCharley。”andneverwasknowntotakeamealinhishouse，stillthisdidnotpreventthetwofriendsfrombeingexceedinglyintimate，asIhavejustobserved；
　　for“OldCharley“neverletadaypasswithoutsteppinginthreeorfourtimestoseehowhisneighbourcameon，andveryoftenhewouldstaytobreakfastortea，andalmostalwaystodinner，andthentheamountofwinethatwasmadewaywithbythetwocroniesatasitting，itwouldreallybeadifficultthingtoascertain。“OldCharleys“favoritebeveragewasChateau-Margaux，anditappearedtodoMr。Shuttleworthy’sheartgoodtoseetheoldfellowswallowit，ashedid，quartafterquart；sothat，oneday，whenthewinewasinandthewitasanaturalconsequence，somewhatout，hesaidtohiscrony，asheslappedhimupontheback“Itellyouwhatitis，’OldCharley，’youare，byallodds，theheartiestoldfellowIevercameacrossinallmyborndays；and，sinceyoulovetoguzzlethewineatthatfashion，I’llbedarnedifIdon’thavetomaketheeapresentofabigboxoftheChateau-Margaux。Odrotme。”Mr。
　　Shuttleworthyhadasadhabitofswearing，althoughheseldomwentbeyond“Odrotme。”or“Bygosh。”or“Bythejollygolly。”“Odrotme。”sayshe，“ifIdon’tsendanordertotownthisveryafternoonforadoubleboxofthebestthatcanbegot，andI’llmakeyeapresentofit，Iwill！
　　yeneedn’tsayawordnowIwill，Itellye，andthere’sanendofit；
　　solookoutforititwillcometohandsomeofthesefinedays，preciselywhenyearelookingforittheleast！”ImentionthislittlebitofliberalityonthepartofMr。Shuttleworthy，justbywayofshowingyouhowveryintimateanunderstandingexistedbetweenthetwofriends。
　　Well，ontheSundaymorninginquestion，whenitcametobefairlyunderstoodthatMr。Shuttleworthyhadmetwithfoulplay，Ineversawanyonesoprofoundlyaffectedas“OldCharleyGoodfellow。”Whenhefirstheardthatthehorsehadcomehomewithouthismaster，andwithouthismaster’ssaddle-bags，andallbloodyfromapistol-shot，thathadgonecleanthroughandthroughthepooranimal’schestwithoutquitekillinghim；whenheheardallthis，heturnedaspaleasifthemissingmanhadbeenhisowndearbrotherorfather，andshiveredandshookalloverasifhehadhadafitoftheague。
　　Atfirsthewastoomuchoverpoweredwithgrieftobeabletodoanythingatall，ortoconcertuponanyplanofaction；sothatforalongtimeheendeavoredtodissuadeMr。Shuttleworthy’sotherfriendsfrommakingastiraboutthematter，thinkingitbesttowaitawhilesayforaweekortwo，oramonth，ortwotoseeifsomethingwouldn’tturnup，orifMr。Shuttleworthywouldn’tcomeinthenaturalway，andexplainhisreasonsforsendinghishorseonbefore。Idaresayyouhaveoftenobservedthisdispositiontotemporize，ortoprocrastinate，inpeoplewhoarelabouringunderanyverypoignantsorrow。Theirpowersofmindseemtoberenderedtorpid，sothattheyhaveahorrorofanythinglikeaction，andlikenothingintheworldsowellastoliequietlyinbedand“nursetheirgrief。”astheoldladiesexpressitthatistosay，ruminateoverthetrouble。
　　ThepeopleofRattleboroughhad，indeed，sohighanopinionofthewisdomanddiscretionof“OldCharley。”thatthegreaterpartofthemfeltdisposedtoagreewithhim，andnotmakeastirinthebusiness“untilsomethingshouldturnup。”asthehonestoldgentlemanwordedit；andI
　　believethat，afterallthiswouldhavebeenthegeneraldetermination，butfortheverysuspiciousinterferenceofMr。Shuttleworthy’snephew，ayoungmanofverydissipatedhabits，andotherwiseofratherbadcharacter。Thisnephew，whosenamewasPennifeather，wouldlistentonothinglikereasoninthematterof“lyingquiet。”butinsisteduponmakingimmediatesearchforthe“corpseofthemurderedman。Thiswastheexpressionheemployed；andMr。Goodfellowacutelyremarkedatthetime，thatitwas“asingularexpression，tosaynomore。”Thisremarkof’OldCharley’s，’too，hadgreateffectuponthecrowd；andoneofthepartywasheardtoask，veryimpressively，“howithappenedthatyoungMr。
　　Pennifeatherwassointimatelycognizantofallthecircumstancesconnectedwithhiswealthyuncle’sdisappearance，astofeelauthorizedtoassert，distinctlyandunequivocally，thathisunclewas’amurderedman。’“Hereuponsomelittlesquibbingandbickeringoccurredamongvariousmembersofthecrowd，andespeciallybetween“OldCharley“andMr。
　　Pennifeatheralthoughthislatteroccurrencewas，indeed，bynomeansanovelty，fornogoodwillhadsubsistedbetweenthepartiesforthelastthreeorfourmonths；andmattershadevengonesofarthatMr。
　　Pennifeatherhadactuallyknockeddownhisunclesfriendforsomeallegedexcessoflibertythatthelatterhadtakenintheuncle’shouse，ofwhichthenephewwasaninmate。Uponthisoccasion“OldCharley“issaidtohavebehavedwithexemplarymoderationandChristiancharity。Hearosefromtheblow，adjustedhisclothes，andmadenoattemptatretaliationatall
　　merelymutteringafewwordsabout“takingsummaryvengeanceatthefirstconvenientopportunity。”anaturalandveryjustifiableebullitionofanger，whichmeantnothing，however，and，beyonddoubt，wasnosoonergivenventtothanforgotten。