Playmorefound？Forme，thetrueinterestofthenarrativewasthere——andtothatportionofitIeagerlyturnednext。
　　Theyhadproceededmethodically，ofcourse，withoneeyeonthepounds，shillings，andpence，andtheotherontheobjectinview。InBenjamin，thelawyerhadfoundwhathehadnotmetwithinme——asympatheticmind，alivetothevalueof"anabstractoftheexpenses，"andconsciousofthatmostremunerativeofhumanvirtues，thevirtueofeconomy。
　　Atsomuchaweek，theyhadengagedmentodigintothemoundandtosifttheashes。Atsomuchaweek，theyhadhiredatenttosheltertheopendust—heapfromwindandweather。Atsomuchaweek，theyhadengagedtheservicesofayoungman（personallyknowntoBenjamin），whowasemployedinalaboratoryunderaprofessorofchemistry，andwhohaddistinguishedhimselfbyhisskillfulmanipulationofpaperinarecentcaseofforgeryonawell—knownLondonfirm。Armedwiththesepreparations，theyhadbegunthework；BenjaminandtheyoungchemistlivingatGleninch，andtakingitinturnstosuperintendtheproceedings。
　　Threedaysoflaborwiththespadeandthesieveproducednoresultsoftheslightestimportance。However，thematterwasinthehandsoftwoquietlydeterminedmen。Theydeclinedtobediscouraged。Theywenton。
　　Onthefourthdaythefirstmorselsofpaperwerefound。
　　Uponexamination，theyprovedtobethefragmentsofatradesman’sprospectus。Nothingdismayed，Benjaminandtheyoungchemiststillpersevered。Attheendoftheday’sworkmorepiecesofpaperwereturnedup。Theseprovedtobecoveredwithwrittencharacters。Mr。Playmore（arrivingatGleninch，asusual，everyeveningontheconclusionofhislaborsinthelaw）wasconsultedastothehandwriting。Aftercarefulexamination，hedeclaredthatthemutilatedportionsofsentencessubmittedtohimhadbeenwritten，beyondalldoubt，byEustaceMacallan’sfirstwife！
　　Thisdiscoveryarousedtheenthusiasmofthesearcherstofeverheight。
　　Spadesandsieveswerefromthatmomentforbiddenutensils。
　　Howeverunpleasantthetaskmightbe，handsalonewereusedinthefurtherexaminationofthemound。Thefirstandforemostnecessitywastoplacethemorselsofpaper（inflatcardboardboxespreparedforthepurpose）intheirorderastheywerefound。Nightcame；thelaborersweredismissed；Benjaminandhistwocolleaguesworkedonbylamplight。Themorselsofpaperwerenowturnedupbydozens，insteadofbyonesandtwos。Forawhilethesearchprosperedinthisway；andthenthemorselsappearednomore。Hadtheyallbeenrecovered？orwouldrenewedhand—diggingyieldmoreyet？Thenextlightlayersofrubbishwerecarefullyremoved——andthegranddiscoveryofthedayfollowed。There（upsidedown）wasthegum—bottlewhichthelodge—keeper’sdaughterhadspokenof。And，morepreciousstill，there，underit，weremorefragmentsofwrittenpaper，allstucktogetherinalittlelump，bythelastdrippingsfromthegum—bottledroppinguponthemastheylayonthedust—heap！
　　Thescenenowshiftedtotheinteriorofthehouse。WhenthesearchersnextassembledtheymetatthegreattableinthelibraryatGleninch。
　　Benjamin’sexperiencewiththe"Puzzles"whichhehadputtogetherinthedaysofhisboyhoodprovedtobeofsomeusetohiscompanions。Thefragmentsaccidentallystucktogetherwould，inallprobability，befoundtofiteachother，andwouldcertainly（inanycase）betheeasiestfragmentstoreconstructasacentertostartfrom。
　　Thedelicatebusinessofseparatingthesepiecesofpaper，andofpreservingthemintheorderinwhichtheyhadadheredtoeachother，wasassignedtothepracticedfingersofthechemist。Butthedifficultiesofhistaskdidnotendhere。Thewritingwas（asusualinletters）tracedonbothsidesofthepaper，anditcouldonlybepreservedforthepurposeofreconstructionbysplittingeachmorselintotwo——soasartificiallytomakeablankside，onwhichcouldbespreadthefinecementusedforreunitingthefragmentsintheiroriginalform。
　　ToMr。PlaymoreandBenjamintheprospectofsuccessfullyputtingthelettertogether，underthesedisadvantages，seemedtobealmosthopeless。Theirskilledcolleaguesoonsatisfiedthemthattheywerewrong。
　　Hedrewtheirattentiontothethicknessofthepaper——note—paperofthestrongestandbestquality——onwhichthewritingwastraced。Itwasofmorethantwicethesubstanceofthelastpaperonwhichhehadoperated，whenhewasengagedintheforgeryease；anditwas，onthataccount，comparativelyeasyforhim（aidedbythemechanicalapplianceswhichhehadbroughtfromLondon）tosplitthemorselsofthetornpaper，withinagivenspaceoftimewhichmightpermitthemtobeginthereconstructionoftheletterthatnight。
　　Withtheseexplanations，hequietlydevotedhimselftohiswork。
　　WhileBenjaminandthelawyerwerestillporingoverthescatteredmorselsoftheletterwhichhadbeenfirstdiscovered，andtryingtopiecethemtogetheragain，thechemisthaddividedthegreaterpartofthefragmentsspeciallyconfidedtohimintotwohalveseach；andhadcorrectlyputtogethersomefiveorsixsentencesoftheletteronthesmoothsheetofcardboardpreparedforthatpurpose。
　　Theylookedeagerlyatthereconstructedwritingsofar。
　　Itwascorrectlydone：thesensewasperfect。Thefirstresultgainedbyexaminationwasremarkableenoughtorewardthemforalltheirexertions。ThelanguageusedplainlyidentifiedthepersontowhomthelateMrs。Eustacehadaddressedherletter。
　　Thatpersonwas——myhusband。
　　Andtheletterthusaddressed——iftheplainestcircumstantialevidencecouldbetrusted——wasidenticalwiththeletterwhichMiserrimusDexterhadsuppresseduntiltheTrialwasover，andhadthendestroyedbytearingitup。
　　ThesewerethediscoveriesthathadbeenmadeatthetimewhenBenjaminwrotetome。Hehadbeenonthepointofpostinghisletter，whenMr。Playmorehadsuggestedthatheshouldkeepitbyhimforafewdayslonger，onthechanceofhavingmorestilltotellme。
　　"Weareindebtedtoherfortheseresults，"thelawyerhadsaid。
　　"Butforherresolution；andherinfluenceoverMiserrimusDexter，weshouldneverhavediscoveredwhatthedust—heapwashidingfromus——weshouldneverhaveseensomuchasaglimmeringofthetruth。Shehasthefirstclaimtothefullestinformation。
　　Letherhaveit。"
　　Theletterhadbeenaccordinglykeptbackforthreedays。Thatintervalbeingatanend，itwashurriedlyresumedandconcludedintermswhichindescribablyalarmedme。
　　"Thechemistisadvancingrapidlywithhispartofthework"
　　（Benjaminwrote）；"andIhavesucceededinputtingtogetheraseparateportionofthetornwritingwhichmakessense。
　　ComparisonofwhathehasaccomplishedwithwhatIhaveaccomplishedhasledtostartlingconclusions。UnlessMr。
　　PlaymoreandIareentirelywrong（andGodgrantwemaybeso！），thereisaseriousnecessityforyourkeepingthereconstructionoftheletterstrictlysecretfromeverybodyaboutyou。ThedisclosuressuggestedbywhathascometolightaresoheartrendingandsodreadfulthatIcannotbringmyselftowriteaboutthemuntilIamabsolutelyobligedtodoso。Pleaseforgivemefordisturbingyouwiththisnews。Wearebound，soonerorlater，toconsultwithyouinthematter；andwethinkitrighttoprepareyourmindforwhatmaybetocome。"
　　TothistherewasaddedapostscriptinMr。Playmore’shandwriting：
　　"PrayobservestrictlythecautionwhichMr。Benjaminimpressesonyou。Andbearthisinmind，asawarningfrom_me：_Ifwesucceedinreconstructingtheentireletter，thelastpersonlivingwhoought（inmyopinion）tobeallowedtoseeitis——yourhusband。"
　　CHAPTERXLVI。
　　THECRISISDEFERRED。
　　"TAKEcare，Valeria！"saidMrs。Macallan。"Iaskyounoquestions；Ionlycautionyouforyourownsake。EustacehasnoticedwhatIhavenoticed——Eustacehasseenachangeinyou。
　　Takecare！"
　　Somymother—in—lawspoketomelaterintheday，whenwehappenedtobealone。IhaddonemybesttoconcealalltracesoftheeffectproducedonmebythestrangeandterriblenewsfromGleninch。ButwhocouldreadwhatIhadread，whocouldfeelwhatInowfelt，andstillmaintainanundisturbedserenityoflookandmanner？IfIhadbeenthevilesthypocriteliving，IdoubteventhenifmyfacecouldhavekeptmysecretwhilemymindwasfullofBenjamin’sletter。
　　Havingspokenherwordofcaution，Mrs。Macallanmadenofurtheradvancetome。Idaresayshewasright。Still，itseemedhardtobeleft，withoutawordofadviceorofsympathy，todecideformyselfwhatitwasmydutytomyhusbandtodonext。
　　ToshowhimBenjamin’snarrative，inhisstateofhealth，andinthefaceofthewarningaddressedtome，wassimplyoutofthequestion。Atthesametime，itwasequallyimpossible，afterI
　　hadalreadybetrayedmyself，tokeephimentirelyinthedark。I
　　thoughtoveritanxiouslyinthenight。Whenthemorningcame，I
　　decidedtoappealtomyhusband’sconfidenceinme。
　　Iwentstraighttothepointintheseterms：
　　"Eustace，yourmothersaidyesterdaythatyounoticedachangeinmewhenIcamebackfrommydrive。Issheright？"
　　"Quiteright，Valeria，"heanswered——speakinginlowertonesthanusual，andnotlookingatme。
　　"Wehavenoconcealmentsfromeachothernow，"Ianswered。"I
　　oughttotellyou，anddotellyou，thatIfoundaletterfromEnglandwaitingatthebanker’swhichhascausedmesomeagitationandalarm。Willyouleaveittometochoosemyowntimeforspeakingmoreplainly？Andwillyoubelieve，love，thatIamreallydoingmydutytowardyou，asagoodwife，inmakingthisrequest？"
　　Ipaused。Hemadenoanswer：Icouldseethathewassecretlystrugglingwithhimself。HadIventuredtoofar？HadI
　　overestimatedthestrengthofmyinfluence？Myheartbeatfast，myvoicefaltered——butIsummonedcourageenoughtotakehishand，andtomakealastappealtohim。"Eustace，"Isaid；"don’tyouknowmeyetwellenoughtotrustme？"
　　Heturnedtowardmeforthefirsttime。Isawalastvanishingtraceofdoubtinhiseyesastheylookedintomine。
　　"Youpromise，soonerorlater，totellmethewholetruth？"hesaid"Ipromisewithallmyheart！"
　　"Itrustyou，Valeria！"
　　Hisbrighteningeyestoldmethathereallymeantwhathesaid。
　　Wesealedourcompactwithakiss。Pardonmeformentioningthesetrifles——Iamstillwriting（ifyouwillkindlyrememberit）ofournewhoneymoon。
　　Bythatday’spostIansweredBenjamin’sletter，tellinghimwhatIhaddone，andentreatinghim，ifheandMr。Playmoreapprovedofmyconduct，tokeepmeinformedofanyfuturediscoverieswhichtheymightmakeatGleninch。
　　Afteraninterval———anendlessinterval，asitseemedtome——oftendaysmore，Ireceivedasecondletterfrommyoldfriend，withanotherpostscriptaddedbyMr。Playmore。
　　"Weareadvancingsteadilyandsuccessfullywiththeputtingtogetheroftheletter，"Benjaminwrote。"Theonenewdiscoverywhichwehavemadeisofseriousimportancetoyourhusband。Wehavereconstructedcertainsentencesdeclaring，intheplainestwords，thatthearsenicwhichEustaceprocuredwaspurchasedattherequestofhiswife，andwasinherpossessionatGleninch。
　　This，remember，isinthehandwritingofthewife，andissignedbythewife——aswehavealsofoundout。Unfortunately，Iamobligedtoaddthattheobjectiontotakingyourhusbandintoourconfidence，mentionedwhenIlastwrote，stillremainsinforce——ingreaterforce，Imaysay，thanever。Themorewemakeoutoftheletter，themoreinclinedweare（ifweonlystudiedourownfeelings）tothrowitbackintothedust—heap，inmercytothememoryoftheunhappywriter。Ishallkeepthisopenforadayortwo。IfthereismorenewstotellyoubythattimeyouwillhearofitfromMr。Playmore。"
　　Mr。Playmore’spostscriptfollowed，datedthreedayslater。
　　"TheconcludingpartofthelateMrs。Macallan’slettertoherhusband，"thelawyerwrote，"hasprovedaccidentallytobethefirstpartwhichwehavesucceededinpiecingtogether。Withtheexceptionofafewgapsstillleft，hereandthere，thewritingoftheclosingparagraphshasbeenperfectlyreconstructed。I
　　haveneitherthetimenortheinclinationtowritetoyouonthissadsubjectinanydetail。Inafortnightmore，atthelongest，weshall，Ihope，sendyouacopyoftheletter，completefromthefirstlinetothelast。Meanwhile，itismydutytotellyouthatthereisonebrightsidetothisotherwisedeplorableandshockingdocument。Legallyspeaking，aswellasmorallyspeaking，itabsolutelyvindicatesyourhusband’sinnocence。Anditmaybelawfullyusedforthispurpose——ifhecanreconcileittohisconscience，andtothemercyduetothememoryofthedead，topermitthepublicexposureoftheletterinCourt。Understandme，hecannotbetriedagainonwhatwecallthecriminalcharge——forcertaintechnicalreasonswithwhichIneednottroubleyou。But，ifthefactswhichwereinvolvedatthecriminaltrialcanalsobeshowntobeinvolvedinacivilaction（andinthiscasetheycan），theentiremattermaybemadethesubjectofanewlegalinquiry；andtheverdictofasecondjury，completelyvindicatingyourhusband，maythusbeobtained。Keepthisinformationtoyourselfforthepresent。PreservethepositionwhichyouhavesosensiblyadoptedtowardEustaceuntilyouhavereadtherestoredletter。Whenyouhavedonethis，myownideaisthatyouwillshrink，inpityto_him，_fromlettinghimseeit。Howheistobekeptinignoranceofwhatwehavediscoveredisanotherquestion，thediscussionofwhichmustbedeferreduntilwecanconsulttogether。Untilthattimecomes，Icanonlyrepeatmyadvice——waittillthenextnewsreachesyoufromGleninch。"
　　Iwaited。WhatIsuffered，whatEustacethoughtofme，doesnotmatter。Nothingmattersnowbutthefacts。
　　Inlessthanafortnightmorethetaskofrestoringtheletterwascompleted。Exceptingcertaininstances，inwhichthemorselsofthetornpaperhadbeenirretrievablylost——andinwhichithadbeennecessarytocompletethesenseinharmonywiththewriter’sintention——thewholeletterhadbeenputtogether；andthepromisedcopyofitwasforwardedtomeinParis。
　　Beforeyou，too，readthatdreadfulletter，domeonefavor。LetmebrieflyremindyouofthecircumstancesunderwhichEustaceMacallanmarriedhisfirstwife。
　　Rememberthatthepoorcreaturefellinlovewithhimwithoutawakeninganycorrespondingaffectiononhisside。Rememberthatheseparatedhimselffromher，anddidallhecouldtoavoidher，whenhefoundthisout。RememberthatshepresentedherselfathisresidenceinLondonwithoutawordofwarning；thathedidhisbesttosaveherreputation；thathefailed，throughnofaultofhisown；andthatheended，rashlyendedinamomentofdespair，bymarryingher，tosilencethescandalthatmustotherwisehaveblightedherlifeasawomanfortherestofherdays。Bearallthisinmind（itisthesworntestimonyofrespectablewitnesses）；andpraydonotforget——howeverfoolishlyandblamablyhemayhavewrittenaboutherinthesecretpagesofhisDiary——thathewasprovedtohavedonehisbesttoconcealfromhiswifetheaversionwhichthepoorsoulinspiredinhim；
　　andthathewas（intheopinionofthosewhocouldbestjudgehim）atleastacourteousandaconsideratehusband，ifhecouldbenomore。
　　Andnowtaketheletter。Itasksbutonefavorofyou：itaskstobereadbythelightofChrist’steaching——"Judgenot，thatyebenotjudged。"
　　CHAPTERXLVII。
　　THEWIFE’SCONFESSION。
　　"GLENINCH，October19，18——。
　　"MYHUSBAND——
　　"Ihavesomethingverypainfultotellyouaboutoneofyouroldestfriends。
　　"Youhaveneverencouragedmetocometoyouwithanyconfidencesofmine。Ifyouhadallowedmetobeasfamiliarwithyouassomewivesarewiththeirhusbands，Ishouldhavespokentoyoupersonallyinsteadofwriting。Asitis，Idon’tknowhowyoumightreceivewhatIhavetosaytoyouifIsaiditbywordofmouth。SoIwrite。
　　"ThemanagainstwhomIwarnyouisstillaguestinthishouse——MiserrimusDexter。Nofalserorwickedercreaturewalkstheearth。Don’tthrowmyletteraside！IhavewaitedtosaythisuntilIcouldfindproofthatmightsatisfyyou。Ihavegottheproof。
　　"YoumayrememberthatIventuredtoexpresssomedisapprovalwhenyoufirsttoldmeyouhadaskedthismantovisitus。Ifyouhadallowedmetimetoexplainmyself，ImighthavebeenboldenoughtogiveyouagoodreasonfortheaversionIfelttowardyourfriend。Butyouwouldnotwait。Youhastily（andmostunjustly）accusedmeoffeelingprejudicedagainstthemiserablecreatureonaccountofhisdeformity。Nootherfeelingthancompassionfordeformedpersonshaseverenteredmymind。Ihave，indeed，almostafellow—feelingforthem；beingthatnextworstthingmyselftoadeformity——aplainwoman。IobjectedtoMr。
　　Dexterasyourguestbecausehehadaskedmetobehiswifeinpastdays，andbecauseIhadreasontofearthathestillregardedme（aftermymarriage）withaguiltyandahorriblelove。Wasitnotmyduty，asagoodwife，toobjecttohisbeingyourguestatGleninch？Andwasitnotyourduty，asagoodhusband，toencouragemetosaymore？
　　"Well，Mr。Dexterhasbeenyourguestformanyweeks；andMr。
　　Dexterhasdaredtospeaktomeagainofhislove。Hehasinsultedme，andinsultedyou，bydeclaringthat_he_adoresmeandthat_you_hateme。Hehaspromisedmealifeofunalloyedhappiness，inaforeigncountrywithmylover；andhehasprophesiedformealifeofunendurablemiseryathomewithmyhusband。
　　"WhydidInotmakemycomplainttoyou，andhavethismonsterdismissedfromthehouseatonceandforever？
　　"AreyousureyouwouldhavebelievedmeifIhadcomplained，andifyourbosomfriendhaddeniedallintentionofinsultingme？I
　　heardyouoncesay（whenyouwerenotawarethatIwaswithinhearing）thatthevainestwomenwerealwaystheuglywomen。Youmighthaveaccused_me_ofvanity。Whoknows？
　　"ButIhavenodesiretosheltermyselfunderthisexcuse。Iamajealous，unhappycreature；alwaysdoubtfulofyouraffectionforme；alwaysfearingthatanotherwomanhasgotmyplaceinyourheart。MiserrimusDexterhaspracticedonthisweaknessofmine。
　　Hehasdeclaredhecanprovetome（ifIwillpermithim）thatI
　　am，inyoursecretheart，anobjectofloathingtoyou；thatyoushrinkfromtouchingme；thatyoucursethehourwhenyouwerefoolishenoughtomakemeyourwife。IhavestruggledaslongasIcouldagainstthetemptationtolethimproducehisproofs。Itwasaterribletemptationtoawomanwhowasfarfromfeelingsureofthesincerityofyouraffectionforher；andithasendedingettingthebetterofmyresistance。Iwickedlyconcealedthedisgustwhichthewretchinspiredinme；Iwickedlygavehimleavetoexplainhimself；Iwickedlypermittedthisenemyofyoursandofminetotakemeintohisconfidence。Andwhy？
　　BecauseIlovedyou，andyouonly；andbecauseMiserrimusDexter’sproposaldid，afterall，echoadoubtofyouthathadlongbeengnawingsecretlyatmyheart。
　　"Forgiveme，Eustace！Thisismyfirstsinagainstyou。Itshallbemylast。
　　"Iwillnotsparemyself；IwillwriteafullconfessionofwhatIsaidtohimandofwhathesaidtome。YoumaymakemesufferforitwhenyouknowwhatIhavedone；butyouwillatleastbewarnedintime；youwillseeyourfalsefriendinhistruelight。
　　"Isaidtohim，’Howcanyouprovetomethatmyhusbandhatesmeinsecret？’
　　"Heanswered，’Icanproveitunderhisownhandwriting；youshallseeitinhisDiary。’
　　"Isaid，’HisDiaryhasalock；andthedrawerinwhichhekeepsithasalock。HowcanyougetattheDiaryandthedrawer？’
　　"Heanswered，’Ihavemyownwayofgettingatbothofthem，withouttheslightestriskofbeingdiscoveredbyyourhusband。
　　Allyouhavetodoistogivemetheopportunityofseeingyouprivately。Iwillengage，inreturn，tobringtheopenDiarywithmetoyourroom。’
　　"Isaid，’HowcanIgiveyoutheopportunity？Whatdoyoumean？’
　　’Hepointedtothekeyinthedoorofcommunicationbetweenmyroomandthelittlestudy。
　　"Hesaid，’Withmyinfirmity，Imaynotbeabletoprofitbythefirstopportunityofvisitingyouhereunobserved。Imustbeabletochoosemyowntimeandmyownwayofgettingtoyousecretly。
　　Letmetakethiskey，leavingthedoorlocked。Whenthekeyismissed，if_you_sayitdoesn’tmatter——if_you_pointoutthatthedoorislocked，andtelltheservantsnottotroublethemselvesaboutfindingthekey——therewillbenodisturbanceinthehouse；andIshallbeinsecurepossessionofameansofcommunicationwithyouwhichnoonewillsuspect。Willyoudothis？’
　　"Ihavedoneit。
　　"Yes！Ihavebecometheaccompliceofthisdouble—facedvillain。
　　IhavedegradedmyselfandoutragedyoubymakinganappointmenttopryintoyourDiary。Iknowhowbasemyconductis。Icanmakenoexcuse。IcanonlyrepeatthatIloveyou，andthatIamsorelyafraidyoudon’tloveme。AndMiserrimusDexterofferstoendmydoubtsbyshowingmethemostsecretthoughtsofyourheart，inyourownwriting。
　　"Heistobewithme，forthispurpose（whileyouareout），sometimeinthecourseofthenexttwohoursIshalldeclinetobesatisfiedwithonlyoncelookingatyourDiary；andIshallmakeanappointmentwithhimtobringittomeagainatthesametimeto—morrow。Beforethenyouwillreceivetheselinesbythehandofmynurse。Gooutasusualafterreadingthem；butreturnprivately，andunlockthetable—drawerinwhichyoukeepyourbook。Youwillfinditgone。Postyourselfquietlyinthelittlestudy；andyouwilldiscovertheDiary（whenMiserrimusDexterleavesme）inthehandsofyourfriend。*
　　*NotebyMr。Playmore：
　　Thegreatestdifficultiesofreconstructionoccurredinthisfirstportionofthetornletter。Inthefourthparagraphfromthebeginningwehavebeenobligedtosupplylostwordsinnolessthanthreeplaces。Intheninth，tenth，andseventeenthparagraphsthesameproceedingwas，inagreaterorlessdegree，foundtobenecessary。Inallthesecasestheutmostpainshavebeentakentosupplythedeficiencyinexactaccordancewithwhatappearedtobethemeaningofthewriter，asindicatedintheexistingpiecesofthemanuscript。
　　"October20。
　　"IhavereadyourDiary。
　　"AtlastIknowwhatyoureallythinkofme。IhavereadwhatMiserrimusDexterpromisedIshouldread——theconfessionofyourloathingforme，inyourownhandwriting。
　　"YouwillnotreceivewhatIwrotetoyouyesterdayatthetimeorinthemannerwhichIhadproposed。Longasmyletteris，I
　　havestill（afterreadingyourDiary）somemorewordstoadd。
　　AfterIhaveclosedandsealedtheenvelope，andaddressedittoyou，Ishallputitundermypillow。ItwillbefoundtherewhenIamlaidoutforthegrave——andthen，Eustace（whenitistoolateforhopeorhelp），myletterwillbegiventoyou。
　　"Yes：Ihavehadenoughofmylife。Yes：Imeantodie。
　　"Ihavealreadysacrificedeverythingbutmylifetomyloveforyou。NowIknowthatmyloveisnotreturned，thelastsacrificeleftiseasy。MydeathwillsetyoufreetomarryMrs。Beauly。
　　"Youdon’tknowwhatitcostmetocontrolmyhatredofher，andtobeghertopayhervisithere，withoutmindingmyillness。I
　　couldneverhavedoneitifIhadnotbeensofondofyou，andsofearfulofirritatingyouagainstmebyshowingmyjealousy。Andhowdidyourewardme？LetyourDiaryanswer：’Itenderlyembracedherthisverymorning；andIhope，poorsoul，shedidnotdiscovertheeffortthatitcostme。’
　　"Well，Ihavediscovereditnow。Iknowthatyouprivatelythinkyourlifewithme’apurgatory。’Iknowthatyouhavecompassionatelyhiddenfrommethe’senseofshrinkingthatcomesoveryouwhenyouareobligedtosubmittomycaresses。’Iamnothingbutanobstacle——an’utterlydistasteful’
　　obstacle——betweenyouandthewomanwhomyoulovesodearlythatyou’adoretheearthwhichshetoucheswithherfoot。’Beitso！
　　Iwillstandinyourwaynolonger。Itisnosacrificeandnomeritonmypart。Lifeisunendurabletome，nowIknowthatthemanwhomIlovewithallmyheartandsoulsecretlyshrinksfrommewheneverItouchhim。
　　"Ihavegotthemeansofdeathcloseathand。
　　"ThearsenicthatItwiceaskedyoutobuyformeisinmydressing—case。IdeceivedyouwhenImentionedsomecommonplacedomesticreasonsforwantingit。MytruereasonwastotryifI
　　couldnotimprovemyuglycomplexion——notfromanyvainfeelingofmine：onlytomakemyselflookbetterandmorelovableinyoureyes。Ihavetakensomeofitforthatpurpose；butIhavegotplentylefttokillmyselfwith。Thepoisonwillhaveitsuseatlast。Itmighthavefailedtoimprovemycomplexion——itwillnotfailtorelieveyouofyouruglywife。
　　"Don’tletmebeexaminedafterdeath。Showthislettertothedoctorwhoattendsme。ItwilltellhimthatIhavecommittedsuicide；itwillpreventanyinnocentpersonsfrombeingsuspectedofpoisoningme。Iwantnobodytobeblamedorpunished。Ishallremovethechemist’slabel，andcarefullyemptythebottlecontainingthepoison，sothathemaynotsufferonmyaccount。
　　"Imustwaithere，andrestalittlewhile——thentakeupmyletteragain。Itisfartoolongalready。Butthesearemyfarewellwords。Imaysurelydwellalittleonmylasttalkwithyou！
　　"October21。Twoo’clockinthemorning。
　　"IsentyououtoftheroomyesterdaywhenyoucameintoaskhowIhadpassedthenight。AndIspokeofyoushamefully，Eustace，afteryouhadgone，tothehirednursewhoattendsonme。Forgiveme。Iamalmostbesidemyselfnow。Youknowwhy。