"Half—pastthree。
　　"Oh，myhusband，Ihavedonethedeedwhichwillrelieveyouofthewifewhomyouhate！Ihavetakenthepoison——allofitthatwasleftinthepaperpacket，whichwasthefirstthatIfound。
　　Ifthisisnotenoughtokillme，Ihavemoreleftinthebottle。
　　"Tenminutespastfive。
　　"Youhavejustgone，aftergivingmemycomposingdraught。Mycouragefailedmeatthesightofyou。Ithoughttomyself，’Ifhelookatmekindly，IwillconfesswhatIhavedone，andlethimsavemylife。’Youneverlookedatmeatall。Youonlylookedatthemedicine。Iletyougowithoutsayingaword。
　　"Half—pastfive。
　　"Ibegintofeelthefirsteffectsofthepoison。Thenurseisasleepatthefootofmybed。Iwon’tcallforassistance；I
　　won’twakeher。Iwilldie。
　　"Half—pastnine。
　　"Theagonywasbeyondmyendurance——Iawokethenurse。Ihaveseenthedoctor。
　　"Nobodysuspectsanything。Strangetosay，thepainhasleftme；
　　Ihaveevidentlytakentoolittleofthepoison。Imustopenthebottlewhichcontainsthelargerquantity。Fortunately，youarenotnearme——myresolutiontodie，or，rather，myloathingoflife，remainsasbitterlyunalteredasever。Tomakesureofmycourage，Ihaveforbiddenthenursetosendforyou。Shehasjustgonedownstairsbymyorders。Iamfreetogetthepoisonoutofmydressing—case。
　　"Tenminutestoten。
　　"Ihadjusttimetohidethebottle（afterthenursehadleftme）
　　whenyoucameintomyroom。
　　"IhadanothermomentofweaknesswhenIsawyou。Ideterminedtogivemyselfalastchanceoflife。Thatistosay，Ideterminedtoofferyoualastopportunityoftreatingmekindly。Iaskedyoutogetmeacupoftea。If，inpayingmethislittleattention，youonlyencouragedmebyonefondwordoronefondlook，Iresolvednottotaketheseconddoseofpoison。
　　"Youobeyedmywishes，butyouwerenotkind。Yougavememytea，Eustace，asifyouweregivingadrinktoyourdog。Andthenyouwonderedinalanguidway（thinking，Isuppose，ofMrs。Beaulyallthetime），atmydroppingthecupinhandingitbacktoyou。
　　Ireallycouldnothelpit；myhand_would_tremble。Inmyplace，yourhandmighthavetrembledtoo——withthearsenicunderthebedclothes。Youpolitelyhoped，beforeyouwentaway？thattheteawoulddomegood——and，ohGod，youcouldnotevenlookatmewhenyousaidthat！Youlookedatthebrokenbitsofthetea—cup。
　　"TheinstantyouwereoutoftheroomItookthepoison——adoubledosethistime。
　　"Ihavealittlerequesttomakehere，whileIthinkofit。
　　"Afterremovingthelabelfromthebottle，andputtingitback，clean，inmydressing—case，itstruckmethatIhadfailedtotakethesameprecaution（intheearlymorning）withtheemptypaper—packet，bearingonitthenameoftheotherchemist。I
　　threwitasideonthecounterpaneofthebed，amongsomeotherloosepapers。myill—temperednursecomplainedofthelitter，andcrumpledthemallupandputthemawaysomewhere。Ihopethechemistwillnotsufferthroughmycarelessness。Praybearitinmindtosaythatheisnottoblame。
　　"Dexter——somethingremindsmeofMiserrimusDexter。HehasputyourDiarybackagaininthedrawer，andhepressesmeforananswertohisproposals。Hasthisfalsewretchanyconscience？Ifhehas，evenhewillsuffer——whenmydeathanswershim。
　　"Thenursehasbeeninmyroomagain。Ihavesentheraway。I
　　havetoldherIwanttobealone。
　　"Howisthetimegoing？Icannotfindmywatch。Isthepaincomingbackagainandparalyzingme？Idon’tfeelitkeenlyyet。
　　"Itmaycomeback，though，atanymoment。Ihavestilltoclosemyletterandtoaddressittoyou。And，besides，Imustsaveupmystrengthtohideitunderthepillow，sothatnobodymayfindituntilaftermydeath。
　　"Farewell，mydear。IwishIhadbeenaprettierwoman。Amorelovingwoman（towardyou）Icouldnotbe。EvennowIdreadthesightofyourdearface。Evennow，ifIallowedmyselftheluxuryoflookingatyou，Idon’tknowthatyoumightnotcharmmeintoconfessingwhatIhavedone——beforeitistoolatetosaveme。
　　"Butyouarenothere。Betterasitis！betterasitis！
　　"Oncemore，farewell！Behappierthanyouhavebeenwithme。I
　　loveyou，Eustace——Iforgiveyou。Whenyouhavenothingelsetothinkabout，thinksometimes，askindlyasyoucan，ofyourpoor，ugly"SARAMACALLAN。"*
　　NotebyMr。Playmore：
　　Thelostwordsandphrasessuppliedinthisconcludingportionoftheletteraresofewinnumberthatitisneedlesstomentionthem。Thefragmentswhichwerefoundaccidentallystucktogetherbythegum，andwhichrepresentthepartoftheletterfirstcompletelyreconstructed，beginatthephrase，"Ispokeofyoushamefully，Eustace；"andendwiththebrokensentence，"Ifinpayingmethislittleattention，youonlyencouragedmebyonefondwordoronefondlook，Iresolvednottotake——"Withtheassistancethusaffordedtous，thelaborofputtingtogethertheconcludinghalfoftheletter（dated"October20"）wastrifling，comparedwiththealmostinsurmountabledifficultieswhichweencounteredindealingwiththescatteredwreckoftheprecedingpages。
　　CHAPTERXLVIII。
　　WHATELSECOULDIDO？
　　AssoonasIcoulddrymyeyesandcomposemyspiritsafterreadingthewife’spitiableanddreadfulfarewell，myfirstthoughtwasofEustace——myfirstanxietywastopreventhimfromeverreadingwhatIhadread。
　　Yes！tothisendithadcome。Ihaddevotedmylifetotheattainmentofoneobject；andthatobjectIhadgained。There，onthetablebeforeme，laythetriumphantvindicationofmyhusband’sinnocence；and，inmercytohim，inmercytothememoryofhisdeadwife，myonehopewasthathemightneverseeit！myonedesirewastohideitfromthepublicview！
　　Ilookedbackatthestrangecircumstancesunderwhichtheletterhadbeendiscovered。
　　Itwasallmydoing——asthelawyerhadsaid。Andyet，whatIhaddone，Ihad，sotospeak，doneblindfold。Themerestaccidentmighthavealteredthewholecourseoflaterevents。IhadoverandoveragaininterferedtocheckArielwhensheentreatedtheMasterto"tellherastory。"Ifshehadnotsucceeded，inspiteofmyopposition，MiserrimusDexter’slasteffortofmemorymightneverhavebeendirectedtothetragedyatGleninch。And，again，ifIhadonlyrememberedtomovemychair，andsotogiveBenjaminthesignaltoleaveoff，hewouldneverhavewrittendowntheapparentlysenselesswordswhichhaveledustothediscoveryofthetruth。
　　Lookingbackateventsinthisframeofmind，theverysightofthelettersickenedandhorrifiedme。Icursedthedaywhichhaddisinterredthefragmentsofitfromtheirfoultomb。JustatthetimewhenEustacehadfoundhiswearywaybacktohealthandstrength；justatthetimewhenwewereunitedagainandhappyagain——whenamonthortwomoremightmakeusfatherandmother，aswellashusbandandwife——thatfrightfulrecordofsufferingandsinhadrisenagainstuslikeanavengingspirit。Thereitfacedmeonthetable，threateningmyhusband’stranquillity；
　　nay，forallIknew（ifhereaditatthepresentcriticalstageofhisrecovery）eventhreateninghislife！
　　Thehourstruckfromtheclockonthemantelpiece。ItwasEustace’stimeforpayingmehismorningvisitinmyownlittleroom。Hemightcomeinatanymoment；hemightseetheletter；hemightsnatchtheletteroutofmyhand。Inafrenzyofterrorandloathing，Icaughtupthevilesheetsofpaperandthrewthemintothefire。
　　Itwasafortunatethingthatacopyonlyhadbeensenttome。Iftheoriginalletterhadbeeninitsplace，IbelieveIshouldhaveburnedtheoriginalatthatmoment。
　　Thelastmorselofpaperhadbeenbarelyconsumedbytheflameswhenthedooropened，andEustacecamein。
　　Heglancedatthefire。Theblackcindersoftheburnedpaperwerestillfloatingatthebackofthegrate。Hehadseentheletterbroughttomeatthebreakfast—table。DidhesuspectwhatIhaddone？Hesaidnothing——hestoodgravelylookingintothefire。Thenheadvancedandfixedhiseyesonme。IsupposeIwasverypale。ThefirstwordshespokewerewordswhichaskedmeifIfeltill。
　　Iwasdeterminednottodeceivehim，eveninthemeresttrifle。
　　"Iamfeelingalittlenervous，Eustace，"Ianswered；"thatisall。"
　　Helookedatmeagain，asifheexpectedmetosaysomethingmore。Iremainedsilent。Hetookaletteroutofthebreast—pocketofhiscoatandlaiditonthetablebeforeme——justwheretheConfessionhadlainbeforeIdestroyedit！
　　"Ihavehadalettertoothismorning，"hesaid。"And_I，_
　　Valeria，havenosecretsfrom_you。_"
　　Iunderstoodthereproachwhichmyhusband’slastwordsconveyed；
　　butImadenoattempttoanswerhim。
　　"Doyouwishmetoreadit？"wasallIsaidpointingtotheenvelopewhichhehadlaidonthetable。
　　"IhavealreadysaidthatIhavenosecretsfromyou，"herepeated。"Theenvelopeisopen。Seeforyourselfwhatisinclosedinit。"
　　Itookout——notaletter，butaprintedparagraph，cutfromaScotchnewspaper。
　　"Readit，"saidEustace。
　　Ireadasfollows：
　　"STRANGEDOINGSATGLENINCH——AromanceinreallifeseemstobeincourseofprogressatMr。Macallan’scountry—house。Privateexcavationsaretakingplace——ifourreaderswillpardonustheunsavoryallusion——atthedust—heap，ofallplacesintheworld！
　　Somethinghasassuredlybeendiscovered；butnobodyknowswhat。
　　Thisaloneiscertain：ForweekspasttwostrangersfromLondon（superintendedbyourrespectedfellow—citizen，Mr。Playmore）
　　havebeenatworknightanddayinthelibraryatGleninch，withthedoorlocked。Willthesecreteverberevealed？AndwillitthrowanylightonamysteriousandshockingeventwhichourreadershavelearnedtoassociatewiththepasthistoryofGleninch？PerhapswhenMr。Macallanreturns，hemaybeabletoanswerthesequestions。Inthemeantimewecanonlyawaitevents。"
　　Ilaidthenewspapersliponthetable，innoveryChristianframeofmindtowardthepersonsconcernedinproducingit。SomereporterinsearchofnewshadevidentlybeenpryingaboutthegroundsatGleninch，andsomebusy—bodyintheneighborhoodhadinallprobabilitysentthepublishedparagraphtoEustace。
　　Entirelyatalosswhattodo，Iwaitedformyhusbandtospeak。
　　Hedidnotkeepmeinsuspense——hequestionedmeinstantly。
　　"Doyouunderstandwhatitmeans，Valeria？"
　　Iansweredhonestly——IownedthatIunderstoodwhatitmeant。
　　Hewaitedagain，asifheexpectedmetosaymore。Istillkepttheonlyrefugelefttome——therefugeofsilence。
　　"AmItoknownomorethanIknownow？"heproceeded，afteraninterval。"Areyounotboundtotellmewhatisgoingoninmyownhouse？"
　　Itisacommonremarkthatpeople，iftheycanthinkatall，thinkquicklyinemergencies。Therewasbutonewayoutoftheembarrassingpositioninwhichmyhusband’slastwordshadplacedme。Myinstinctsshowedmetheway，Isuppose。Atanyrate，I
　　tookit。
　　"Youhavepromisedtotrustme，"Ibegan。
　　Headmittedthathehadpromised。
　　"Imustaskyou，foryourownsake，Eustace，totrustmeforalittlewhilelonger。Iwillsatisfyyou，ifyouwillonlygivemetime。"
　　Hisfacedarkened。"HowmuchlongermustIwait？"heasked。
　　Isawthatthetimehadcomefortryingsomestrongerformofpersuasionthanwords。
　　"Kissme，"Isaid，"beforeItellyou！"
　　Hehesitated（solikeahusband！）。AndIpersisted（solikeawife！）。Therewasnochoiceforhimbuttoyield。Havinggivenmemykiss（notover—graciously），heinsistedoncemoreonknowinghowmuchlongerIwantedhimtowait。
　　"Iwantyoutowait，"Ianswered，"untilourchildisborn。"
　　Hestarted。Myconditiontookhimbysurprise。Igentlypressedhishand，andgavehimalook。Hereturnedthelook（warmlyenough，thistime，tosatisfyme）。"Sayyouconsent，"I
　　whispered。
　　Heconsented。
　　SoIputoffthedayofreckoningoncemore。SoIgainedtimetoconsultagainwithBenjaminandMr。Playmore。
　　WhileEustaceremainedwithmeintheroom，Iwascomposed，andcapableoftalkingtohim。Butwhenheleftme，afteratime，tothinkoverwhathadpassedbetweenus，andtorememberhowkindlyhehadgivenwaytome，myheartturnedpityinglytothoseotherwives（betterwomen，someofthem，thanIam），whosehusbands，undersimilarcircumstances，wouldhavespokenhardwordstothem——wouldperhapsevenhaveactedmorecruellystill。Thecontrastthussuggestedbetweentheirfateandminequiteovercameme。WhathadIdonetodeservemyhappiness？Whathad_they_done，poorsouls，todeservetheirmisery？Mynerveswereoverwrought，IdaresaysafterreadingthedreadfulconfessionofEustace’sfirstwife。Iburstoutcrying——andIwasallthebetterforitafterward！
　　CHAPTERXLIX。
　　PASTANDFUTURE。
　　Iwritefrommemory，unassistedbynotesordiaries；andIhavenodistinctrecollectionofthelengthofourresidenceabroad。
　　Itcertainlyextendedoveraperiodofsomemonths。LongafterEustacewasstrongenoughtotakethejourneytoLondonthedoctorspersistedinkeepinghiminParis。Hehadshownsymptomsofweaknessinoneofhislungs，andhismedicaladvisers，seeingthatheprosperedinthedryatmosphereofFrance，warnedhimtobecarefulofbreathingtoosoonthemoistairofhisowncountry。
　　ThusithappenedthatwewerestillinPariswhenIreceivedmynextnewsfromGleninch。
　　Thistimenoletterspassedoneitherside。Tomysurpriseanddelight，BenjaminquietlymadehisappearanceonemorninginourprettyFrenchdrawing—room。Hewassopreternaturallysmartinhisdress，andsoincomprehensiblyanxious（whilemyhusbandwasintheway）tomakeusunderstandthathisreasonsforvisitingPariswereholidayreasonsonly，thatIatoncesuspectedhimofhavingcrossedtheChannelinadoublecharacter——say，astouristinsearchofpleasure，whenthirdpersonswerepresent；asambassadorfromMr。Playmore，whenheandIhadtheroomtoourselves。
　　LaterinthedayIcontrivedthatweshouldbelefttogether，andIsoonfoundthatmyanticipationshadnotmisledme。BenjaminhadsetoutforParis，atMr。Playmore’sexpressrequest，toconsultwithmeastothefuture，andtoenlightenmeastothepast。Hepresentedmewithhiscredentialsintheshapeofalittlenotefromthelawyer。
　　"Therearesomefewpoints"（Mr。Playmorewrote）"whichtherecoveryoftheletterdoesnotseemtoclearup。Ihavedonemybest，withMr。Benjamin’sassistance，tofindtherightexplanationofthesedebatablematters；andIhavetreatedthesubject，forthesakeofbrevity，intheformofQuestionsandAnswers。Willyouacceptmeasinterpreter，afterthemistakesI
　　madewhenyouconsultedmeinEdinburgh？Events，Iadmit，haveprovedthatIwasentirelywrongintryingtopreventyoufromreturningtoDexter——andpartiallywronginsuspectingDexterofbeingdirectly，insteadofindirectly，answerableforthefirstMrs。Eustace’sdeath。Ifranklymakemyconfession，andleaveyoutotellMr。BenjaminwhetheryouthinkmynewCatechismworthyofexaminationornot。"
　　Ithoughthis"newCatechism"（ashecalledit）decidedlyworthyofexamination。Ifyoudon’tagreewiththisview，andifyouaredyingtobedonewithmeandmynarrative，passontothenextchapterbyallmeans！
　　BenjaminproducedtheQuestionsandAnswers；andreadthemtome，atmyrequest，intheseterms：
　　"QuestionssuggestedbytheletterdiscoveredatGleninch。FirstGroup：QuestionsrelatingtotheDiary。FirstQuestion：obtainingaccesstoMr。Macallan’sprivatejournal，wasMiserrimusDexterguidedbyanypreviousknowledgeofitscontents？
　　"Answer：Itisdoubtfulifhehadanysuchknowledge。TheprobabilitiesarethathenoticedhowcarefullyMr。MacallansecuredhisDiaryfromobservation；thatheinferredtherefromtheexistenceofdangerousdomesticsecretsinthelocked—uppages；andthathespeculatedonusingthosesecretsforhisownpurposewhenhecausedthefalsekeystobemade。
　　"SecondQuestion：TowhatmotivearewetoattributeMiserrimusDexter’sinterferencewiththesheriff’sofficers，onthedaywhentheyseizedMr。Macallan’sDiaryalongwithhisotherpapers？
　　"Answer：Inreplyingtothisquestion，wemustfirstdojusticetoDexterhimself。Infamouslyaswenowknowhimtohaveacted，themanwasnotadownrightfiend。ThathesecretlyhatedMr。
　　Macallan，ashissuccessfulrivalintheaffectionsofthewomanheloved——andthathedidallhecouldtoinducetheunhappyladytodesertherhusband——are，inthiscase，factsnottobedenied。
　　Ontheotherhand，itisfairlytobedoubtedwhetherhewereadditionallycapableofpermittingthefriendwhotrustedhimtobetriedformurder，throughhisfault，withoutmakinganefforttosavetheinnocentman。IthadnaturallyneveroccurredtoMr。
　　Macallan（beingguiltlessofhiswife’sdeath）todestroyhisDiaryandhisletters，inthefearthattheymightbeusedagainsthim。UntilthepromptandsecretactionoftheFiscaltookhimbysurprise，theideaofhisbeingchargedwiththemurderofhiswifewasanideawhichweknow，fromhisownstatement，hadneverevenenteredhismind。ButDextermusthavelookedatthematterfromanotherpointofview。Inhislastwanderingwords（spokenwhenhismindbrokedown）hereferstotheDiaryintheseterms，’TheDiarywillhanghim；Iwon’thavehimhanged。’Ifhecouldhavefoundhisopportunityofgettingatitintime——orifthesheriff’sofficershadnotbeentooquickforhim——therecanbenoreasonabledoubtthatDexterwouldhavehimselfdestroyedtheDiary，foreseeingtheconsequencesofitsproductionincourt。Sostronglydoesheappeartohavefelttheseconsiderations，thatheevenresistedtheofficersintheexecutionoftheirduty。HisagitationwhenhesentforMr。
　　Playmoretointerferewaswitnessedbythatgentleman，and（itmaynotbeamisstoadd）wasgenuineagitationbeyonddispute。
　　"QuestionsoftheSecondGroup：relatingtotheWife’sConfession。FirstQuestion：WhatpreventedDexterfromdestroyingtheletter，whenhefirstdiscovereditunderthedeadwoman’spillow？
　　"Answer：ThesamemotiveswhichledhimtoresisttheseizureoftheDiary，andtogivehisevidenceintheprisoner’sfavorattheTrial，inducedhimtopreservetheletteruntiltheverdictwasknown。Lookingbackoncemoreathislastwords（astakendownbyMr。Benjamin），wemayinferthatiftheverdicthadbeenGuilty，hewouldnothavehesitatedtosavetheinnocenthusbandbyproducingthewife’sconfession。Therearedegreesinallwickedness。Dexterwaswickedenoughtosuppresstheletter，whichwoundedhisvanitybyrevealinghimasanobjectforloathingandcontempt——buthewasnotwickedenoughdeliberatelytoletaninnocentmanperishonthescaffold。Hewascapableofexposingtherivalwhomhehatedtotheinfamyandtortureofapublicaccusationofmurder；but，intheeventofanadverseverdict，heshrankbeforethedirercrueltyoflettinghimbehanged。Reflect，inthisconnection，onwhathemusthavesuffered，villainashewas，whenhefirstreadthewife’sconfession。Hehadcalculatedonunderminingheraffectionforherhusband——andwhitherhadhiscalculationsledhim？Hehaddriventhewomanwhomhelovedtothelastdreadfulrefugeofdeathbysuicide！Givetheseconsiderationstheirdueweight；andyouwillunderstandthatsomelittleredeemingvirtuemightshowitself，astheresultevenof_this_man’sremorse。
　　"SecondQuestion：WhatmotiveinfluencedMiserrimusDexter’sconduct，whenMrs。（Valeria）MacallaninformedhimthatsheproposedreopeningtheinquiryintothepoisoningatGleninch？
　　"Answer：Inallprobability，Dexter’sguiltyfearssuggestedtohimthathemighthavebeenwatchedonthemorningwhenhesecretlyenteredthechamberinwhichthefirstMrs。Eustacelaydead。Feelingnoscrupleshimselftorestrainhimfromlisteningatdoorsandlookingthroughkeyholes，hewouldbeallthemorereadytosuspectotherpeopleofthesamepractices。Withthisdreadinhim，itwouldnaturallyoccurtohismindthatMrs。
　　Valeriamightmeetwiththepersonwhohadwatchedhim，andmighthearallthatthepersonhaddiscovered——unlessheledherastrayattheoutsetofherinvestigations。HerownjealoussuspicionsofMrs。Beaulyofferedhimthechanceofeasilydoingthis。Andhewasallthereadiertoprofitbythechance，beinghimselfanimatedbythemosthostilefeelingtowardthatlady。Heknewherastheenemywhodestroyedthedomesticpeaceofthemistressofthehouse；helovedthemistressofthehouse——andhehatedherenemyaccordingly。Thepreservationofhisguiltysecret，andthepersecutionofMrs。Beauly：thereyouhavethegreaterandthelessermotiveofhisconductinhisrelationswithMrs。
　　Eustacethesecond！"*
　　NotebythewriteroftheNarrative：
　　LookbackforafurtherillustrationofthispointofviewtothesceneatBenjamin’shouse（ChapterXXXV。），whereDexter，inamomentofungovernableagitation，betrayshisownsecrettoValeria。
　　Benjaminlaiddownhisnotes，andtookoffhisspectacles。
　　"Wehavenotthoughtitnecessarytogofurtherthanthis，"hesaid。"Isthereanypointyoucanthinkofthatisstillleftunexplained？"
　　Ireflected。TherewasnopointofanyimportanceleftunexplainedthatIcouldremember。Buttherewasonelittlematter（suggestedbytherecentallusionstoMrs。Beauly）whichI
　　wished（ifpossible）tohavethoroughlyclearedup。
　　"HaveyouandMr。Playmoreeverspokentogetheronthesubjectofmyhusband’sformerattachmenttoMrs。Beauly？"Iasked。"HasMr。
　　PlaymoreevertoldyouwhyEustacedidnotmarryher，aftertheTrial？"
　　"IputthatquestiontoMr。Playmoremyself，"saidBenjamin。"Heanswerediteasilyenough。Beingyourhusband’sconfidentialfriendandadviser，hewasconsultedwhenMr。EustacewrotetoMrs。Beauly，aftertheTrial；andherepeatedthesubstanceoftheletter，atmyrequest。WouldyouliketohearwhatIrememberofit，inmyturn？"
　　IownedthatIshouldliketohearit。WhatBenjaminthereupontoldme，exactlycoincidedwithwhatMiserrimusDexterhadtoldme——asrelatedinthethirtiethchapterofmynarrative。Mrs。
　　Beaulyhadbeenawitnessofthepublicdegradationofmyhusband。Thatwasenoughinitselftopreventhimfrommarryingher：Hebrokeoffwith_her_forthesamereasonwhichhadledhimtoseparatehimselffrom_me。_Existencewithawomanwhoknewthathehadbeentriedforhislifeasamurdererwasanexistencewhichhehadnotresolutionenoughtoface。Thetwoaccountsagreedineveryparticular。Atlastmyjealouscuriositywaspacified；andBenjaminwasfreetodismissthepastfromfurtherconsideration，andtoapproachthemorecriticalandmoreinterestingtopicofthefuture。
　　HisfirstinquiriesrelatedtoEustace。HeaskedifmyhusbandhadanysuspicionoftheproceedingswhichhadtakenplaceatGleninch。
　　Itoldhimwhathadhappened，andhowIhadcontrivedtoputofftheinevitabledisclosureforatime。
　　Myoldfriend’sfaceclearedupashelistenedtome。
　　"ThiswillbegoodnewsforMr。Playmore，"hesaid。"Ourexcellentfriend，thelawyer，issorelyafraidthatourdiscoveriesmaycompromiseyourpositionwithyourhusband。Ontheonehand，heisnaturallyanxioustospareMr。Eustacethedistresswhichhemustcertainlyfeel，ifhereadhisfirstwife’sconfession。Ontheotherhand，itisimpossible，injustice（asMr。Playmoreputsit）totheunbornchildrenofyourmarriage，tosuppressadocumentwhichvindicatesthememoryoftheirfatherfromtheaspersionthattheScotchVerdictmightotherwisecastonit。"
　　Ilistenedattentively。Benjaminhadtouchedonatroublewhichwasstillsecretlypreyingonmymind。
　　"HowdoesMr。Playmoreproposetomeetthedifficulty？"Iasked。
　　"Hecanonlymeetitinoneway，"Benjaminreplied。"Heproposestosealuptheoriginalmanuscriptoftheletter，andtoaddtoitaplainstatementofthecircumstancesunderwhichitwasdiscovered，supportedbyyoursignedattestationandmine，aswitnessestothefact。Thisdone，hemustleaveittoyoutotakeyourhusbandintoyourconfidence，atyourowntime。ItwillthenbeforMr。Eustacetodecidewhetherhewillopentheinclosure——orwhetherhewillleaveit，withthesealunbroken，asanheirloomtohischildren，tobemadepublicornot，attheirdiscretion，whentheyareofanagetothinkforthemselves。Doyouconsenttothis，mydear？OrwouldyoupreferthatMr。Playmoreshouldseeyourhusband，andactforyouinthematter？"
　　Idecided，withouthesitation，totaketheresponsibilityonmyself。WherethequestionofguidingEustace’sdecisionwasconcerned，IconsideredmyinfluencetobedecidedlysuperiortotheinfluenceofMr。Playmore。MychoicemetwithBenjamin’sfullapproval。HearrangedtowritetoEdinburgh，andrelievethelawyer’sanxietiesbythatday’spost。
　　TheonelastthingnowlefttobesettledrelatedtoourplansforreturningtoEngland。Thedoctorsweretheauthoritiesonthissubject。IpromisedtoconsultthemaboutitattheirnextvisittoEustace。
　　"Haveyouanythingmoretosaytome？"Benjamininquired，asheopenedhiswriting—case。
　　IthoughtofMiserrimusDexterandAriel；andIinquiredifhehadheardanynewsofthemlately。Myoldfriendsighed，andwarnedmethatIhadtouchedonapainfulsubject。