Itwasnowconsiderablypastthree；myeyes，intheirinvoluntarywanderings，happenedtoalightuponthelargemirrorwhichwas，asIhavesaid，fixedinthewalloppositethefootofthebed。AviewofitwascommandedfromwhereIlay，throughthecurtains。AsIgazedfixedlyuponit，IthoughtIperceivedthebroadsheetofglassshiftingitspositioninrelationtothebed；Irivetedmyeyesuponitwithintensescrutiny；itwasnodeception，themirror，asifactingofitsownimpulse，movedslowlyaside，anddisclosedadarkapertureinthewall，nearlyaslargeasanordinarydoor；afigureevidentlystoodinthis，butthelightwastoodimtodefineitaccurately。
Itsteppedcautiouslyintothechamber，andwithsolittlenoise，thathadInotactuallyseenit，IdonotthinkIshouldhavebeenawareofitspresence。Itwasarrayedinakindofwoollennight-dress，andawhitehandkerchieforclothwasboundtightlyaboutthehead；Ihadnodifficulty，spiteofthestrangenessoftheattire，inrecognisingtheblindwomanwhomIsomuchdreaded。
Shestoopeddown，bringingherheadnearlytotheground，andinthatattitudesheremainedmotionlessforsomemoments，nodoubtinordertoascertainifanysuspicioussoundwerestirring。
Shewasapparentlysatisfiedbyherobservations，forsheimmediatelyrecommencedhersilentprogresstowardsaponderousmahoganydressing-tableofmyhusband’s。Whenshehadreachedit，shepausedagain，andappearedtolistenattentivelyforsomeminutes；shethennoiselesslyopenedoneofthedrawers，fromwhich，havinggropedforsometime，shetooksomething，whichIsoonperceivedtobeacaseofrazors。Sheopenedit，andtriedtheedgeofeachofthetwoinstrumentsupontheskinofherhand；shequicklyselectedone，whichshefixedfirmlyinhergrasp。Shenowstoopeddownasbefore，andhavinglistenedforatime，she，withthehandthatwasdisengaged，gropedherwayintothedressing-roomwhereLordGlenfallenlayfastasleep。
Iwasfixedasifinthetremendousspellofanightmare。Icouldnotstirevenafinger；Icouldnotliftmyvoice；Icouldnotevenbreathe；andthoughIexpectedeverymomenttoseethesleepingmanmurdered，Icouldnotevenclosemyeyestoshutoutthehorriblespectacle，whichI
hadnotthepowertoavert。
Isawthewomanapproachthesleepingfigure，shelaidtheunoccupiedhandlightlyalonghisclothes，andhavingthusascertainedhisidentity，she，afterabriefinterval，turnedbackandagainenteredmychamber；hereshebentdownagaintolisten。
Ihadnownotadoubtbutthattherazorwasintendedformythroat；yettheterrificfascinationwhichhadlockedallmypowerssolong，stillcontinuedtobindmefast。
Ifeltthatmylifedependedupontheslightestordinaryexertion，andyetI
couldnotstironejointfromthepositioninwhichIlay，norevenmakenoiseenoughtowakenLordGlenfallen。
Themurderouswomannow，withlong，silentsteps，approachedthebed；myveryheartseemedturningtoice；herlefthand，thatwhichwasdisengaged，wasuponthepillow；shegraduallysliditforwardtowardsmyhead，andinaninstant，withthespeedoflightning，itwasclutchedinmyhair，while，withtheotherhand，shedashedtherazoratmythroat。
Aslightinaccuracysavedmefrominstantdeath；theblowfellshort，thepointoftherazorgrazingmythroat。
Inamoment，Iknownothow，Ifoundmyselfattheothersideofthebed，utteringshriekaftershriek；thewretchwas，however，determinedifpossibletomurderme。
Scramblingalongbythecurtains，sherushedroundthebedtowardsme；I
seizedthehandleofthedoortomakemyescape。Itwas，however，fastened。Atallevents，Icouldnotopenit。Fromthemereinstinctofrecoilingterror，Ishrunkbackintoacorner。Shewasnowwithinayardofme。Herhandwasuponmyface。
Iclosedmyeyesfast，expectingnevertoopenthemagain，whenablow，inflictedfrombehindbyastrongarm，stretchedthemonstersenselessatmyfeet。Atthesamemomentthedooropened，andseveraldomestics，alarmedbymycries，enteredtheapartment。
Idonotrecollectwhatfollowed，forI
fainted。Oneswoonsucceededanother，solonganddeath-like，thatmylifewasconsideredverydoubtful。
Ataboutteno’clock，however，Isunkintoadeepandrefreshingsleep，fromwhichIwasawakenedatabouttwo，thatImightswearmydepositionbeforeamagistrate，whoattendedforthatpurpose。
Iaccordinglydidso，asdidalsoLordGlenfallen，andthewomanwasfullycommittedtostandhertrialattheensuingassizes。
Ishallneverforgetthescenewhichtheexaminationoftheblindwomanandoftheotherpartiesafforded。
Shewasbroughtintotheroominthecustodyoftwoservants。Sheworeakindofflannelwrapperwhichhadnotbeenchangedsincethenightbefore。Itwastornandsoiled，andhereandtheresmearedwithblood，whichhadflowedinlargequantitiesfromawoundinherhead。Thewhitehandkerchiefhadfallenoffinthescuffle，andhergrizzledhairfellinmassesaboutherwildanddeadlypalecountenance。
Sheappearedperfectlycomposed，however，andtheonlyregretsheexpressedthroughout，wasatnothavingsucceededinherattempt，theobjectofwhichshedidnotpretendtoconceal。
Onbeingaskedhername，shecalledherselftheCountessGlenfallen，andrefusedtogiveanyothertitle。
’Thewoman’snameisFloraVan-
Kemp，’saidLordGlenfallen。
’ItWAS，itWAS，youperjuredtraitorandcheat!’screamedthewoman；andthentherefollowedavolleyofwordsinsomeforeignlanguage。’Isthereamagistratehere？’sheresumed；’IamLordGlenfallen’swife——I’llproveit——
writedownmywords。Iamwillingtobehangedorburned，soHEmeetshisdeserts。Ididtrytokillthatdollofhis；butitwashewhoputitintomyheadtodoit——twowivesweretoomany；
Iwastomurderher，orshewastohangme；listentoallIhavetosay。’
HereLordGlenfalleninterrupted。
’Ithink，sir，’saidhe，addressingthemagistrate，’thatwehadbetterproceedtobusiness；thisunhappywoman’sfuriousrecriminationsbutwasteourtime。Ifsherefusestoansweryourquestions，youhadbetter，Ipresume，takemydepositions。’
’Andareyougoingtoswearawaymylife，youblack-perjuredmurderer？’
shriekedthewoman。’Sir，sir，sir，youmusthearme，’shecontinued，addressingthemagistrate；’Icanconvicthim——hebidmemurderthatgirl，andthen，whenIfailed，hecamebehindme，andstruckmedown，andnowhewantstoswearawaymylife。TakedownallIsay。’
’Ifitisyourintention，’saidthemagistrate，’toconfessthecrimewithwhichyoustandcharged，youmay，uponproducingsufficientevidence，criminatewhomyouplease。’
’Evidence!——Ihavenoevidencebutmyself，’saidthewoman。’Iwillswearitall——writedownmytestimony——writeitdown，Isay——weshallhangsidebyside，mybravelord——allyourownhandy-work，mygentlehusband。’
Thiswasfollowedbyalow，insolent，andsneeringlaugh，which，fromoneinhersituation，wassufficientlyhorrible。
’Iwillnotatpresenthearanything，’
repliedhe，’butdistinctanswerstothequestionswhichIshallputtoyouuponthismatter。’
’Thenyoushallhearnothing，’repliedshesullenly，andnoinducementorintimidationcouldbringhertospeakagain。
LordGlenfallen’sdepositionandminewerethengiven，asalsothoseoftheservantswhohadenteredtheroomatthemomentofmyrescue。
Themagistratethenintimatedthatshewascommitted，andmustproceeddirectlytogaol，whithershewasbroughtinacarriage；ofLordGlenfallen’s，forhislordshipwasnaturallybynomeansin-
differenttotheeffectwhichhervehementaccusationsagainsthimselfmightproduce，ifutteredbeforeeverychancehearerwhomshemightmeetwithbetweenCahergillaghandtheplaceofconfinementwhithershewasdespatched。
Duringthetimewhichintervenedbetweenthecommittalandthetrialoftheprisoner，LordGlenfallenseemedtosufferagoniesofmindwhichbafflealldescription；hehardlyeverslept，andwhenhedid，hisslumbersseemedbuttheinstrumentsofnewtortures，andhiswakinghourswere，ifpossible，exceededinintensityofterrorsbythedreamswhichdisturbedhissleep。
LordGlenfallenrested，iftolieinthemereattitudeofreposeweretodoso，inhisdressing-room，andthusIhadanopportunityofwitnessing，faroftenerthanI
wishedit，thefearfulworkingsofhismind。
Hisagonyoftenbrokeoutintosuchfearfulparoxysmsthatdeliriumandtotallossofreasonappearedtobeimpending。Hefrequentlyspokeofflyingfromthecountry，andbringingwithhimallthewitnessesoftheappallingsceneuponwhichtheprosecutionwasfounded；then，again，hewouldfiercelylamentthattheblowwhichhehadinflictedhadnotendedall。
Theassizesarrived，however，anduponthedayappointedLordGlenfallenandI
attendedinordertogiveourevidence。
Thecausewascalledon，andtheprisonerappearedatthebar。
Greatcuriosityandinterestwerefeltrespectingthetrial，sothatthecourtwascrowdedtoexcess。
Theprisoner，however，withoutappearingtotakethetroubleoflisteningtotheindictment，pleadedguilty，andnorepre-
sentationsonthepartofthecourtavailedtoinducehertoretractherplea。
Aftermuchtimehadbeenwastedinafruitlessattempttoprevailuponhertoreconsiderherwords，thecourtproceeded，accordingtotheusualform，topasssentence。
Thishavingbeendone，theprisonerwasabouttoberemoved，whenshesaid，inalow，distinctvoice：
’Aword——aword，mylord!——IsLordGlenfallenhereinthecourt？’
Onbeingtoldthathewas，sheraisedhervoicetoatoneofloudmenace，andcontinued：
’Hardress，EarlofGlenfallen，Iaccuseyouhereinthiscourtofjusticeoftwocrimes，——first，thatyoumarriedasecondwife，whilethefirstwasliving；andagain，thatyoupromptedmetothemurder，forattemptingwhichIamtodie。Securehim——chainhim——bringhimhere。’
Therewasalaughthroughthecourtatthesewords，whichwerenaturallytreatedbythejudgeasaviolentextemporaryrecrimination，andthewomanwasdesiredtobesilent。
’Youwon’ttakehim，then？’shesaid；
’youwon’ttryhim？You’lllethimgofree？’
Itwasintimatedbythecourtthathewouldcertainlybeallowed’togofree，’
andshewasorderedagaintoberemoved。
Before，however，themandatewasexecuted，shethrewherarmswildlyintotheair，andutteredonepiercingshrieksofullofpreternaturalrageanddespair，thatitmightfitlyhaveusheredasoulintothoserealmswherehopecancomenomore。
Thesoundstillranginmyears，monthsafterthevoicethathaduttereditwasforeversilent。
Thewretchedwomanwasexecutedinaccordancewiththesentencewhichhadbeenpronounced。
Forsometimeafterthisevent，LordGlenfallenappeared，ifpossible，tosuffermorethanhehaddonebefore，andaltogetherhislanguage，whichoftenamountedtohalfconfessionsoftheguiltimputedtohim，andallthecircumstancesconnectedwiththelateoccurrences，formedamassofevidencesoconvincingthatIwrotetomyfather，detailingthegroundsofmyfears，andimploringhimtocometoCahergillaghwithoutdelay，inordertoremovemefrommyhusband’scontrol，previouslytotakinglegalstepsforafinalseparation。
CircumstancedasIwas，myexistencewaslittleshortofintolerable，for，besidesthefearfulsuspicionswhichattachedtomyhusband，IplainlyperceivedthatifLordGlenfallenwerenotrelieved，andthatspeedily，insanitymustsupervene。Ithereforeexpectedmyfather’sarrival，oratleastalettertoannounceit，withindescribableimpatience。
Aboutaweekaftertheexecutionhadtakenplace，LordGlenfallenonemorningmetmewithanunusuallysprightlyair。
’Fanny，’saidhe，’Ihaveitnowforthefirsttimeinmypowertoexplaintoyoursatisfactioneverythingwhichhashithertoappearedsuspiciousormysteriousinmyconduct。Afterbreakfastcomewithmetomystudy，andIshall，Ihope，makeallthingsclear。’
ThisinvitationaffordedmemorerealpleasurethanIhadexperiencedformonths。
Somethinghadcertainlyoccurredtotranquillizemyhusband’smindinnoordinarydegree，andIthoughtitbynomeansimpossiblethathewould，intheproposedinterview，provehimselfthemostinjuredandinnocentofmen。
Fullofthishope，Irepairedtohisstudyattheappointedhour。HewaswritingbusilywhenIenteredtheroom，andjustraisinghiseyes，herequestedmetobeseated。
Itookachairashedesired，andremainedsilentlyawaitinghisleisure，whilehefinished，folded，directed，andsealedhisletter。Layingitthenuponthetablewiththeaddressdownward，hesaid，’MydearestFanny，IknowImusthaveappearedverystrangetoyouandveryunkind——oftenevencruel。BeforetheendofthisweekIwillshowyouthenecessityofmyconduct——howimpossibleitwasthatIshouldhaveseemedotherwise。Iamconsciousthatmanyactsofminemusthaveinevitablygivenrisetopainfulsuspicions——suspicionswhich，indeed，upononeoccasion，youveryproperlycommunicatedtome。Ihavegottwolettersfromaquarterwhichcommandsrespect，containinginformationastothecoursebywhichImaybeenabledtoprovethenegativeofallthecrimeswhicheventhemostcreduloussuspicioncouldlaytomycharge。
Iexpectedathirdbythismorning’spost，containingdocumentswhichwillsetthematterforeveratrest，butowing，nodoubt，tosomeneglect，or，perhaps，tosomedifficultyincollectingthepapers，someinevitabledelay，ithasnotcometohandthismorning，accordingtomyexpectation。
Iwasfinishingonetotheverysamequarterwhenyoucamein，andifasoundrousingbeworthanything，IthinkIshallhaveaspecialmessengerbeforetwodayshavepassed。Ihavebeenanxiouslyconsideringwithmyself，astowhetherIhadbetterimperfectlyclearupyourdoubtsbysubmittingtoyourinspectionthetwoletterswhichIhavealreadyreceived，orwaittillIcantriumphantlyvindicatemyselfbytheproductionofthedocumentswhichIhavealreadymentioned，andI
have，Ithink，notunnaturallydecideduponthelattercourse。However，thereisapersoninthenextroomwhosetestimonyisnotwithoutitsvalueexcusemeforonemoment。’
Sosaying，hearoseandwenttothedoorofaclosetwhichopenedfromthestudy；thisheunlocked，andhalfopeningthedoor，hesaid，’ItisonlyI，’andthenslippedintotheroomandcarefullyclosedandlockedthedoorbehindhim。