Greatlytohissurpriseanddelight，however，Iofferedofmyownaccordtotakepassageinthebrig。ThestrangecoincidencesI
　　hadwitnessed，theextraordinarydiscoveryIhadhitonsinceourfirstmeetinginNaples，hadmadehisonegreatinterestinlifemyonegreatinterestforthetimebeingaswell。Isharednoneofhisdelusions，poorfellow；butitishardlyanexaggerationtosaythatmyeagernesstofollowourremarkableadventuretoitsendwasasgreatashisanxietytoseethecoffinlaidinWincotvault。Curiosityinfluencedme，Iamafraid，almostasstronglyasfriendship，whenIofferedmyselfasthecompanionofhisvoyagehome。
　　WesetsailforEnglandonacalmandlovelyafternoon。
　　ForthefirsttimesinceIhadknownhim，Monktonseemedtobeinhighspirits。Hetalkedandjestedonallsortsofsubjects，andlaughedatmeforallowingmycheerfulnesstobeaffectedbythedreadofseasickness。Ihadreallynosuchfear；itwasmyexcusetomyfriendforareturnofthatunaccountabledepressionunderwhichIhadsufferedatFondi。Everythingwasinourfavor；
　　everybodyonboardthebrigwasingoodspirits。Thecaptainwasdelightedwiththevessel；thecrew，ItaliansandMaltese，wereinhighgleeattheprospectofmakingashortvoyageonhighwagesinawell—provisionedship。Ialonefeltheavyatheart。
　　TherewasnovalidreasonthatIcouldassigntomyselfforthemelancholythatoppressedme，andyetIstruggledagainstitinvain。
　　Lateonourfirstnightatsea，Imadeadiscoverywhichwasbynomeanscalculatedtorestoremyspiritstotheirusualequilibrium。Monktonwasinthecabin，onthefloorofwhichhadbeenplacedthepacking—casecontainingthecoffin，andIwasondeck。Thewindhadfallenalmosttoacalm，andIwaslazilywatchingthesailsofthebrigastheyflappedfromtimetotimeagainstthemasts，whenthecaptainapproached，and，drawingmeoutofhearingofthemanatthehelm，whisperedinmyear：
　　"There’ssomethingwrongamongthemenforward。Didyouobservehowsuddenlytheyallbecamesilentjustbeforesunset？"
　　Ihadobservedit，andtoldhimso。
　　"There’saMalteseboyonboard，"pursuedthecaptain，"whoisasmartenoughlad，butabadonetodealwith。Ihavefoundoutthathehasbeentellingthementhereisadeadbodyinsidethatpacking—caseofyourfriend’sinthecabin。"
　　Myheartsankashespoke。Knowingthesuperstitiousirrationalityofsailors——offoreignsailorsespecially——Ihadtakencaretospreadareportonboardthebrig，beforethecoffinwasshipped，thatthepacking—casecontainedavaluablemarblestatuewhichMr。Monktonprizedhighly，andwasunwillingtotrustoutofhisownsight。HowcouldthisMalteseboyhavediscoveredthatthepretendedstatuewasahumancorpse？AsI
　　ponderedoverthequestion，mysuspicionsfixedthemselvesonMonkton’sservant，whospokeItalianfluently，andwhomIknewtobeanincorrigiblegossip。ThemandenieditwhenIchargedhimwithbetrayingus，butIhaveneverbelievedhisdenialtothisday。
　　"Thelittleimpwon’tsaywherehepickedupthisnotionofhisaboutthedeadbody，"continuedthecaptain。"It’snotmyplacetopryintosecrets；butIadviseyoutocallthecrewaft，andcontradicttheboy，whetherhespeaksthetruthornot。Themenareaparceloffoolswhobelieveinghosts，andalltherestofit。Someofthemsaytheywouldneverhavesignedourarticlesiftheyhadknowntheyweregoingtosailwithadeadman；othersonlygrumble；butI’mafraidweshallhavesometroublewiththemall，incaseofroughweather，unlesstheboyiscontradictedbyyouortheothergentleman。ThemensaythatifeitheryouoryourfriendtellthemonyourwordsofhonorthattheMalteseisaliar，theywillhandhimuptoberope’s—endedaccordingly；butthatifyouwon’t，theyhavemadeuptheirmindstobelievetheboy。"
　　Herethecaptainpausedandawaitedmyanswer。Icouldgivehimnone。Ifelthopelessunderourdesperateemergency。Togettheboypunishedbygivingmywordofhonortosupportadirectfalsehoodwasnottobethoughtofevenforamoment。Whatothermeansofextricationfromthismiserabledilemmaremained？NonethatIcouldthinkof。Ithankedthecaptainforhisattentiontoourinterests，toldhimIwouldtaketimetoconsiderwhatcourseIshouldpursue，andbeggedthathewouldsaynothingtomyfriendaboutthediscoveryhehadmade。Hepromisedtobesilent，sulkilyenough，andwalkedawayfromme。
　　Wehadexpectedthebreezetospringupwiththemorning，butnobreezecame。Asitworeontowardnoontheatmospherebecameinsufferablysultry，andthesealookedassmoothasglass。Isawthecaptain’seyeturnoftenandanxiouslytowindward。Farawayinthatdirection，andaloneintheblueheaven，Iobservedalittleblackcloud，andaskedifitwouldbringusanywind。
　　"Morethanwewant，"thecaptainreplied，shortly；andthen，tomyastonishment，orderedthecrewalofttotakeinsail。Theexecutionofthismaneuvershowedbuttooplainlythetemperofthemen；theydidtheirworksulkilyandslowly，grumblingandmurmuringamongthemselves。Thecaptain’smanner，asheurgedthemonwithoathsandthreats，convincedmewewereindanger。I
　　lookedagaintowindward。Theonelittlecloudhadenlargedtoagreatbankofmurkyvapor，andtheseaatthehorizonhadchangedincolor。
　　"Thesquallwillbeonusbeforeweknowwhereweare，"saidthecaptain。"Gobelow；youwillbeonlyinthewayhere。"
　　Idescendedtothecabin，andpreparedMonktonforwhatwascoming。HewasstillquestioningmeaboutwhatIhadobservedondeckwhenthestormburstonus。Wefeltthelittlebrigstrainforaninstantasifshewouldpartintwo，thensheseemedtobeswingingroundwithus，thentobequitestillforamoment，tremblingineverytimber。Lastcameashockwhichhurledusfromourseats，adeafeningcrash，andafloodofwaterpouringintothecabin。Weclambered，halfdrowned，tothedeck。Thebrighad，inthenauticalphrase，"broachedto，"andshenowlayonherbeam—ends。
　　BeforeIcouldmakeoutanythingdistinctlyinthehorribleconfusionexcepttheonetremendouscertaintythatwewereentirelyatthemercyofthesea，Iheardavoicefromtheforepartoftheshipwhichstilledtheclamoringandshoutingoftherestofthecrewinaninstant。ThewordswereinItalian，butI
　　understoodtheirfatalmeaningonlytooeasily。Wehadsprungaleak，andtheseawaspouringintotheship’sholdliketheraceofamill—stream。Thecaptaindidnotlosehispresenceofmindinthisfreshemergency。Hecalledforhisaxtocutawaytheforemast，and，orderingsomeofthecrewtohelphim，directedtheotherstorigoutthepumps。
　　Thewordshadhardlypassedhislipsbeforethemenbrokeintoopenmutiny。Withasavagelookatme，theirringleaderdeclaredthatthepassengersmightdoastheypleased，butthatheandhismessmatesweredeterminedtotaketotheboat，andleavetheaccursedship，and_thedeadmaninher，_togotothebottomtogether。Ashespoketherewasashoutamongthesailors，andI
　　observedsomeofthempointingderisivelybehindme。Lookinground，IsawMonkton，whohadhithertokeptcloseatmyside，makinghiswaybacktothecabin。Ifollowedhimdirectly，butthewaterandconfusionondeck，andtheimpossibility，fromthepositionofthebrig，ofmovingthefeetwithouttheslowassistanceofthehands，soimpededmyprogressthatitwasimpossibleformetoovertakehim。WhenIhadgotbelowhewascroucheduponthecoffin，withthewateronthecabinfloorwhirlingandsplashingabouthimastheshipheavedandplunged。
　　Isawawarningbrightnessinhiseyes，awarningflushonhischeek，asIapproachedandsaidtohim：
　　"Thereisnothingleftforit，Alfred，buttobowtoourmisfortune，anddothebestwecantosaveourlives。"
　　"Saveyours，"hecried，wavinghishandtome，"for_you_haveafuturebeforeyou。Mineisgonewhenthiscoffingoestothebottom。Iftheshipsinks，Ishallknowthatthefatalityisaccomplished，andshallsinkwithher。"
　　Isawthathewasinnostatetobereasonedwithorpersuaded，andraisedmyselfagaintothedeck。Themenwerecuttingawayallobstaclessoastolaunchthelongboatplacedamidshipsoverthedepressedbulwarkofthebrigasshelayonherside，andthecaptain，afterhavingmadealastvainexertiontorestorehisauthority，waslookingonattheminsilence。Theviolenceofthesquallseemedalreadytobespendingitself，andIaskedwhethertherewasreallynochanceforusifweremainedbytheship。Thecaptainansweredthattheremighthavebeenthebestchanceifthemenhadobeyedhisorders，butthatnowtherewasnone。
　　KnowingthatIcouldplacenodependenceonthepresenceofmindofMonkton’sservant，Iconfidedtothecaptain，inthefewestandplainestwords，theconditionofmyunhappyfriend，andaskedifImightdependonhishelp。Henoddedhishead，andwedescendedtogethertothecabin。EvenatthisdayitcostsmepaintowriteoftheterriblenecessitytowhichthestrengthandobstinacyofMonkton’sdelusionreducedusinthelastresort。Wewerecompelledtosecurehishands，anddraghimbymainforcetothedeck。Themenwereonthepointoflaunchingtheboat，andrefusedatfirsttoreceiveusintoit。
　　"Youcowards！"criedthecaptain，"havewegotthedeadmanwithusthistime？Isn’thegoingtothebottomalongwiththebrig？
　　Whoareyouafraidofwhenwegetintotheboat？"
　　Thissortofappealproducedthedesiredeffect；themenbecameashamedofthemselves，andretractedtheirrefusal。
　　JustaswepushedofffromthesinkingshipAlfredmadeanefforttobreakfromme，butIheldhimfirm，andheneverrepeatedtheattempt。Hesatbymewithdroopinghead，stillandsilent，whilethesailorsrowedawayfromthevessel；stillandsilentwhen，withoneaccord，theypausedatalittledistanceoff，andweallwaitedandwatchedtoseethebrigsink；stillandsilent，evenwhenthatsinkinghappened，whenthelaboringhullplungedslowlyintoahollowofthesea——hesitated，asitseemed，foronemoment，rosealittleagain，thensanktorisenomore。
　　Sankwithherdeadfreight——sank，andsnatchedforeverfromourpowerthecorpsewhichwehaddiscoveredalmostbyamiracle——thosejealously—preservedremains，onthesafe—keepingofwhichrestedsostrangelythehopesandthelove—destiniesoftwolivingbeings！Asthelastsignsoftheshipinthedepthsofthewaters，IfeltMonktontremblingalloverashesatcloseatmyside，andheardhimrepeatingtohimself，sadly，andmanytimesover，thenameof"Ada。"
　　Itriedtoturnhisthoughtstoanothersubject，butitwasuseless。Hepointedovertheseatowherethebrighadoncebeen，andwherenothingwaslefttolookatbuttherollingwaves。
　　"TheemptyplacewillnowremainemptyforeverinWincotvault。"
　　Ashesaidthesewords，hefixedhiseyesforamomentsadlyandearnestlyonmyface，thenlookedaway，leanedhischeekonhishand，andspokenomore。
　　Weweresightedlongbeforenightfallbyatradingvessel，weretakenonboard，andlandedatCartagenainSpain。Alfredneverhelduphishead，andneveroncespoketomeofhisownaccordthewholetimewewereatseainthemerchantman。Iobserved，however，withalarm，thathetalkedoftenandincoherentlytohimself——constantlymutteringthelinesoftheoldprophecy——constantlyreferringtothefatalplacethatwasemptyinWincotvault——constantlyrepeatinginbrokenaccents，whichitaffectedmeinexpressiblytohear，thenameofthepoorgirlwhowasawaitinghisreturntoEngland。NorwerethesetheonlycausesfortheapprehensionthatInowfeltonhisaccount。
　　Towardtheendofourvoyagehebegantosufferfromalternationsoffever—fitsandshivering—fits，whichIignorantlyimaginedtobeattacksofague。Iwassoonundeceived。WehadhardlybeenadayonshorebeforehebecamesomuchworsethatIsecuredthebestmedicalassistanceCartagenacouldafford。Foradayortwothedoctorsdiffered，asusual，aboutthenatureofhiscomplaint，buterelongalarmingsymptomsdisplayedthemselves。
　　Themedicalmendeclaredthathislifewasindanger，andtoldmethathisdiseasewasbrainfever。
　　ShockedandgrievedasIwas，Ihardlyknewhowtoactatfirstunderthefreshresponsibilitynowlaiduponme。UltimatelyI
　　decidedonwritingtotheoldpriestwhohadbeenAlfred’stutor，andwho，asIknew，stillresidedatWincotAbbey。Itoldthisgentlemanallthathadhappened，beggedhimtobreakmymelancholynewsasgentlyaspossibletoMissElmslie，andassuredhimofmyresolutiontoremainwithMonktontothelast。
　　AfterIhaddispatchedmyletter，andhadsenttoGibraltartosecurethebestEnglishmedicaladvicethatcouldbeobtained，I
　　feltthatIhaddonemybest，andthatnothingremainedbuttowaitandhope。
　　ManyasadandanxioushourdidIpassbymypoorfriend’sbedside。ManyatimedidIdoubtwhetherIhaddonerightingivinganyencouragementtohisdelusion。Thereasonsfordoingsowhichhadsuggestedthemselvestomeaftermyfirstinterviewwithhimseemed，however，onreflection，tobevalidreasonsstill。TheonlywayofhasteninghisreturntoEnglandandtoMissElmslie，whowaspiningforthatreturn，wasthewayIhadtaken。Itwasnotmyfaultthatadisasterwhichnomancouldforeseehadoverthrownallhisprojectsandallmine。But，nowthatthecalamityhadhappenedandwasirretrievable，how，intheeventofhisphysicalrecovery，washismoralmaladytobecombated？
　　WhenIreflectedonthehereditarytaintinhismentalorganization，onthatfirstchildishfrightofStephenMonktonfromwhichhehadneverrecovered，ontheperilously—secludedlifethathehadledattheAbbey，andonhisfirmpersuasionoftherealityoftheapparitionbywhichhebelievedhimselftobeconstantlyfollowed，IconfessIdespairedofshakinghissuperstitiousfaithineverywordandlineoftheoldfamilyprophecy。Iftheseriesofstrikingcoincidenceswhichappearedtoattestitstruthhadmadeastrongandlastingimpressionon_me_（andthiswasassuredlythecase），howcouldIwonderthattheyhadproducedtheeffectofabsoluteconvictionon_his_
　　mind，constitutedasitwas？IfIarguedwithhim，andheansweredme，howcouldIrejoin？Ifhesaid，"Theprophecypointsatthelastofthefamily：_I_amthelastofthefamily。TheprophecymentionsanemptyplaceinWincotvault；thereissuchanemptyplacethereatthismoment。OnthefaithoftheprophecyItoldyouthatStephenMonkton’sbodywasunburied，andyoufoundthatitwasunburied"——ifhesaidthis，whatusewoulditbeformetoreply，"Theseareonlystrangecoincidencesafterall？"
　　ThemoreIthoughtofthetaskthatlaybeforeme，ifherecovered，themoreIfeltinclinedtodespond。TheoftenertheEnglishphysicianwhoattendedonhimsaidtome，"Hemaygetthebetterofthefever，buthehasafixedidea，whichneverleaveshimnightorday，whichhasunsettledhisreason，andwhichwillendinkillinghim，unlessyouorsomeofhisfriendscanremoveit"——theoftenerIheardthis，themoreacutelyIfeltmyownpowerlessness，themoreIshrankfromeveryideathatwasconnectedwiththehopelessfuture。
　　IhadonlyexpectedtoreceivemyanswerfromWincotintheshapeofaletter。Itwasconsequentlyagreatsurprise，aswellasagreatrelief，tobeinformedonedaythattwogentlemenwishedtospeakwithme，andtofindthatofthesetwogentlementhefirstwastheoldpriest，andthesecondamalerelativeofMrs。
　　Elmslie。
　　Justbeforetheirarrivalthefeversymptomshaddisappeared，andAlfredhadbeenpronouncedoutofdanger。Boththepriestandhiscompanionwereeagertoknowwhenthesuffererwouldbestrongenoughtotravel。TheyhadcometoCartagenaexpresslytotakehimhomewiththem，andfeltfarmorehopefulthanIdidoftherestorativeeffectsofhisnativeair。AfterallthequestionsconnectedwiththefirstimportantpointofthejourneytoEnglandhadbeenaskedandanswered，IventuredtomakesomeinquiriesafterMissElmslie。HerrelativeinformedmethatshewassufferingbothinbodyandinmindfromexcessofanxietyonAlfred’saccount。TheyhadbeenobligedtodeceiveherastothedangerousnatureofhisillnessinordertodeterherfromaccompanyingthepriestandherrelationontheirmissiontoSpain。
　　Slowlyandimperfectly，astheweeksworeon，Alfredregainedsomethingofhisformerphysicalstrength，butnoalterationappearedinhisillnessasitaffectedhismind。
　　Fromtheveryfirstdayofhisadvancetowardrecovery，ithadbeendiscoveredthatthebrainfeverhadexercisedthestrangestinfluenceoverhisfacultiesofmemory。Allrecollectionofrecenteventswasgonefromhim。EverythingconnectedwithNaples，withme，withhisjourneytoItaly，haddroppedinsomemysteriousmannerentirelyoutofhisremembrance。Socompletelyhadalllatecircumstancespassedfromhismemorythat，thoughherecognizedtheoldpriestandhisownservanteasilyonthefirstdaysofhisconvalescence，heneverrecognizedme，butregardedmewithsuchawistful，doubtingexpression，thatIfeltinexpressiblypainedwhenIapproachedhisbedside。AllhisquestionswereaboutMissElmslieandWincotAbbey，andallhistalkreferredtotheperiodwhenhisfatherwasyetalive。
　　Thedoctorsauguredgoodratherthanillfromthislossofmemoryofrecentincidents，sayingthatitwouldturnouttobetemporary，andthatitansweredthefirstgreathealingpurposeofkeepinghismindatease。Itriedtobelievethem——triedtofeelassanguine，whenthedaycameforhisdeparture，astheoldfriendsfeltwhoweretakinghimhome。Buttheeffortwastoomuchforme。AforebodingthatIshouldneverseehimagainoppressedmyheart，andthetearscameintomyeyesasIsawthewornfigureofmypoorfriendhalfhelped，halfliftedintothetraveling—carriage，andborneawaygentlyontheroadtowardhome。
　　Hehadneverrecognizedme，andthedoctorshadbeggedthatI
　　wouldgivehim，forsometimetocome，asfewopportunitiesaspossibleofdoingso。ButforthisrequestIshouldhaveaccompaniedhimtoEngland。Asitwas，nothingbetterremainedformetodothantochangethescene，andrecruitasIbestcouldmyenergiesofbodyandmind，depressedoflatebymuchwatchingandanxiety。ThefamouscitiesofSpainwerenotnewtome，butIvisitedthemagainandrevivedoldimpressionsoftheAlhambraandMadrid。OnceortwiceIthoughtofmakingapilgrimagetotheEast，butlateeventshadsoberedandalteredme。Thatyearning，unsatisfiedfeelingwhichwecall"homesickness"begantopreyuponmyheart，andIresolvedtoreturntoEngland。
　　IwentbackbywayofParis，havingsettledwiththepriestthatheshouldwritetomeatmybanker’sthereassoonashecouldafterAlfredhadreturnedtoWincot。IfIhadgonetotheEast，theletterwouldhavebeenforwardedtome。Iwrotetopreventthis；and，onmyarrivalatParis，stoppedatthebanker’sbeforeIwenttomyhotel。
　　Themomenttheletterwasputintomyhands，theblackborderontheenvelopetoldmetheworst。Hewasdead。
　　Therewasbutoneconsolation——hehaddiedcalmly，almosthappily，withoutoncereferringtothosefatalchanceswhichhadwroughtthefulfillmentoftheancientprophecy。"Mybelovedpupil，"theoldpriestwrote，"seemedtorallyalittlethefirstfewdaysafterhisreturn，buthegainednorealstrength，andsoonsufferedaslightrelapseoffever。Afterthishesankgraduallyandgentlydaybyday，andsodepartedfromusonthelastdreadjourney。MissElmslie（whoknowsthatIamwritingthis）desiresmetoexpressherdeepandlastinggratitudeforallyourkindnesstoAlfred。Shetoldmewhenwebroughthimbackthatshehadwaitedforhimashispromisedwife，andthatshewouldnursehimnowasawifeshould；andsheneverlefthim。hisfacewasturnedtowardher，hishandwasclaspedinherswhenhedied。ItwillconsoleyoutoknowthathenevermentionedeventsatNaples，ortheshipwreckthatfollowedthem，fromthedayofhisreturntothedayofhisdeath。"
　　ThreedaysafterreadingtheletterIwasatWincot，andheardallthedetailsofAlfred’slastmomentsfromthepriest。IfeltashockwhichitwouldnotbeveryeasyformetoanalyzeorexplainwhenIheardthathehadbeenburied，athisowndesire，inthefatalAbbeyvault。
　　Thepriesttookmedowntoseetheplace——agrim，cold，subterraneanbuilding，withalowroof，supportedonheavySaxonarches。Narrowniches，withtheendsonlyofcoffinsvisiblewithinthem，randowneachsideofthevault。Thenailsandsilverornamentsflashedhereandthereasmycompanionmovedpastthemwithalampinhishand。Atthelowerendoftheplacehestopped，pointedtoaniche，andsaid，"Heliesthere，betweenhisfatherandmother。"Ilookedalittlefurtheron，andsawwhatappearedatfirstlikealongdarktunnel。"Thatisonlyanemptyniche，"saidthepriest，followingme。"IfthebodyofMr。
　　StephenMonktonhadbeenbroughttoWincot，hiscoffinwouldhavebeenplacedthere。"
　　Achillcameoverme，andasenseofdreadwhichIamashamedofhavingfeltnow，butwhichIcouldnotcombatthen。Theblessedlightofdaywaspouringdowngaylyattheotherendofthevaultthroughtheopendoor。Iturnedmybackontheemptyniche，andhurriedintothesunlightandthefreshair。
　　AsIwalkedacrossthegrassgladeleadingdowntothevault，I
　　heardtherustleofawoman’sdressbehindme，andturninground，sawayoungladyadvancing，cladindeepmourning。Hersweet，sadface，hermannerassheheldoutherhand，toldmewhoitwasinaninstant。
　　"Iheardthatyouwerehere，"shesaid，"andIwished——"Hervoicefalteredalittle。MyheartachedasIsawhowherliptrembled，butbeforeIcouldsayanythingsherecoveredherselfandwenton："Iwishedtotakeyourhand，andthankyouforyourbrotherlykindnesstoAlfred；andIwantedtotellyouthatIamsureinallyoudidyouactedtenderlyandconsideratelyforthebest。Perhapsyoumaybesoongoingawayfromhomeagain，andwemaynotmeetanymore。Ishallnever，neverforgetthatyouwerekindtohimwhenhewantedafriend，andthatyouhavethegreatestclaimofanyoneonearthtobegratefullyrememberedinmythoughtsaslongasIlive。"
　　Theinexpressibletendernessofhervoice，tremblingalittleallthewhileshespoke，thepalebeautyofherface，theartlesscandorinhersad，quieteyes，soaffectedmethatIcouldnottrustmyselftoanswerheratfirstexceptbygesture。BeforeI
　　recoveredmyvoiceshehadgivenmeherhandoncemoreandhadleftme。
　　Ineversawheragain。Thechancesandchangesoflifekeptusapart。WhenIlastheardofher，yearsandyearsago，shewasfaithfultothememoryofthedead，andwasAdaElmsliestillforAlfredMonkton’ssake。
　　THEFIFTHDAY。
　　STILLcloudy，butnoraintokeepouryoungladyindoors。Thepaper，asusual，withoutinterestto_me_。
　　To—dayOwenactuallyvanquishedhisdifficultiesandfinishedhisstory。InumbereditEight，andthrewthecorrespondingnumber（asIhaddonethedaybeforeinMorgan’scase）intothechinabowl。
　　AlthoughIcoulddiscovernodirectevidenceagainsther，I
　　stronglysuspectedTheQueenofHeartsoftamperingwiththelotsonthefifthevening，toirritateMorganbymakingithisturntoreadagain，aftertheshortestpossibleintervalofrepose。
　　Howeverthatmightbe，thenumberdrawnwascertainlySeven，andthestorytobereadwasconsequentlythestorywhichmybrotherhadfinishedonlytwodaysbefore。
　　IfIhadnotknownthatitwaspartofMorgan’scharacteralwaystodoexactlythereverseofwhatmightbeexpectedfromhim，I
　　shouldhavebeensurprisedattheextraordinarydocilityheexhibitedthemomenthismanuscriptwasplacedinhishands。
　　"Myturnagain？"hesaid。"Howverysatisfactory！Iwasanxioustoescapefromthisabsurdpositionofmineassoonaspossible，andhereistheopportunitymostconsideratelyputintomyhands。
　　Lookout，allofyou！Iwon’twasteanothermoment。Imeantobegininstantly。"
　　"Dotellme，"interposedJessie，mischievously，"shallIbeverymuchinterestedto—night’？’
　　"Notyou！"retortedMorgan。"Youwillbeverymuchfrightenedinstead。Youhairisuncommonlysmoothatthepresentmoment，butitwillbeallstandingonendbeforeI’vedone。Don’tblameme，miss，ifyouareanobjectwhenyougotobedto—night！"
　　Withthiscuriousintroductoryspeechhebegantoread。Iwasobligedtointerrupthimtosaythefewwordsofexplanationwhichthestoryneeded。
　　"Beforemybrotherbegins，"Isaid，"itmaybeaswelltomentionthatheishimselfthedoctorwhoissupposedtorelatethisnarrative。TheeventshappenedatatimeofhislifewhenhehadleftLondon，andhadestablishedhimselfinmedicalpracticeinoneofourlargenortherntowns。"
　　Withthatbriefexplanation，Iapologizedforinterruptingthereader，andMorganbeganoncemore。
　　BROTHERMORGAN’SSTORY
　　ofTHEDEADHAND
　　WHENthispresentnineteenthcenturywasyoungerbyagoodmanyyearsthanitisnow，acertainfriendofmine，namedArthurHolliday，happenedtoarriveinthetownofDoncasterexactlyinthemiddleoftherace—week，or，inotherwords，inthemiddleofthemonthofSeptember。
　　Hewasoneofthosereckless，rattle—pated，open—hearted，andopen—mouthedyounggentlemenwhopossessthegiftoffamiliarityinitshighestperfection，andwhoscramblecarelesslyalongthejourneyoflife，makingfriends，asthephraseis，wherevertheygo。Hisfatherwasarichmanufacturer，andhadboughtlandedpropertyenoughinoneofthemidlandcountiestomakeallthebornsquiresinhisneighborhoodthoroughlyenviousofhim。
　　Arthurwashisonlyson，possessorinprospectofthegreatestateandthegreatbusinessafterhisfather’sdeath；wellsuppliedwithmoney，andnottoorigidlylookedafterduringhisfather’slifetime。Report，orscandal，whicheveryouplease，saidthattheoldgentlemanhadbeenratherwildinhisyouthfuldays，andthat，unlikemostparents，hewasnotdisposedtobeviolentlyindignantwhenhefoundthathissontookafterhim。
　　Thismaybetrueornot。ImyselfonlyknewtheelderMr。
　　Hollidaywhenhewasgettingoninyears，andthenhewasasquietandasrespectableagentlemanaseverImetwith。