English
Theinquestwashurriedforcertainlocalreasonswhichweighedwiththecoronerandthetownauthorities.
Itwasheldontheafternoonofthenextday.
Iwasnecessarilyoneamongthewitnessessummonedtoassisttheobjectsoftheinvestigation.
Myfirstproceedinginthemorningwastogotothepost-office,andinquirefortheletterwhichIexpectedfromMarian.
Nochangeofcircumstances,howeverextraordinary,couldaffecttheonegreatanxietywhichweighedonmymindwhileIwasawayfromLondon.
Themorning’sletter,whichwastheonlyassuranceIcouldreceivethatnomisfortunehadhappenedinmyabsence,wasstilltheabsorbinginterestwithwhichmydaybegan.
Tomyrelief,theletterfromMarianwasattheofficewaitingforme.
Nothinghadhappened—theywerebothassafeandaswellaswhenIhadleftthem.
Laurasentherlove,andbeggedthatIwouldletherknowofmyreturnadaybeforehand.
Hersisteradded,inexplanationofthismessage,thatshehadsaved“nearlyasovereign”outofherownprivatepurse,andthatshehadclaimedtheprivilegeoforderingthedinnerandgivingthedinnerwhichwastocelebratethedayofmyreturn.
Ireadtheselittledomesticconfidencesinthebrightmorningwiththeterriblerecollectionofwhathadhappenedtheeveningbeforevividinmymemory.
ThenecessityofsparingLauraanysuddenknowledgeofthetruthwasthefirstconsiderationwhichthelettersuggestedtome.
IwroteatoncetoMariantotellherwhatIhavetoldinthesepages—presentingthetidingsasgraduallyandgentlyasIcould,andwarninghernottoletanysuchthingasanewspaperfallinLaura’swaywhileIwasabsent.
Inthecaseofanyotherwoman,lesscourageousandlessreliable,ImighthavehesitatedbeforeIventuredonunreservedlydisclosingthewholetruth.
ButIowedittoMariantobefaithfultomypastexperienceofher,andtotrustherasItrustedherself.
Myletterwasnecessarilyalongone.Itoccupiedmeuntilthetimecameforproceedingtotheinquest.
Theobjectsofthelegalinquirywerenecessarilybesetbypeculiarcomplicationsanddifficulties.
Besidestheinvestigationintothemannerinwhichthedeceasedhadmethisdeath,therewereseriousquestionstobesettledrelatingtothecauseofthefire,totheabstractionofthekeys,andtothepresenceofastrangerinthevestryatthetimewhentheflamesbrokeout.
Eventheidentificationofthedeadmanhadnotyetbeenaccomplished.
Thehelplessconditionoftheservanthadmadethepolicedistrustfulofhisassertedrecognitionofhismaster.
TheyhadsenttoKnowlesburyover-nighttosecuretheattendanceofwitnesseswhowerewellacquaintedwiththepersonalappearanceofSirPercivalGlyde,andtheyhadcommunicated,thefirstthinginthemorning,withBlackwaterPark.
Theseprecautionsenabledthecoronerandjurytosettlethequestionofidentity,andtoconfirmthecorrectnessoftheservant’sassertion;theevidenceofferedbycompetentwitnesses,andbythediscoveryofcertainfacts,beingsubsequentlystrengthenedbyanexaminationofthedeadman’swatch.
ThecrestandthenameofSirPercivalGlydewereengravedinsideit.
Thenextinquiriesrelatedtothefire.
TheservantandI,andtheboywhohadheardthelightstruckinthevestry,werethefirstwitnessescalled.
Theboygavehisevidenceclearlyenough,buttheservant’smindhadnotyetrecoveredtheshockinflictedonit—hewasplainlyincapableofassistingtheobjectsoftheinquiry,andhewasdesiredtostanddown.
Tomyownrelief,myexaminationwasnotalongone.
Ihadnotknownthedeceased—Ihadneverseenhim—IwasnotawareofhispresenceatOldWelmingham—andIhadnotbeeninthevestryatthefindingofthebody.
AllIcouldprovewasthatIhadstoppedattheclerk’scottagetoaskmyway—thatIhadheardfromhimofthelossofthekeys—thatIhadaccompaniedhimtothechurchtorenderwhathelpIcould—thatIhadseenthefire—thatIhadheardsomepersonunknown,insidethevestry,tryingvainlytounlockthedoor—andthatIhaddonewhatIcould,frommotivesofhumanity,tosavetheman.
Otherwitnesses,whohadbeenacquaintedwiththedeceased,wereaskediftheycouldexplainthemysteryofhispresumedabstractionofthekeys,andhispresenceintheburningroom.
Butthecoronerseemedtotakeitforgranted,naturallyenough,thatI,asatotalstrangerintheneighbourhood,andatotalstrangertoSirPercivalGlyde,couldnotbeinapositiontoofferanyevidenceonthesetwopoints.
ThecoursethatIwasmyselfboundtotake,whenmyformalexaminationhadclosed,seemedcleartome.
Ididnotfeelcalledontovolunteeranystatementofmyownprivateconvictions,inthefirstplace,becausemydoingsocouldservenopracticalpurpose,nowthatallproofinsupportofanysurmisesofminewasburntwiththeburntregister;inthesecondplace,becauseIcouldnothaveintelligiblystatedmyopinion—myunsupportedopinion—withoutdisclosingthewholestoryoftheconspiracy,andproducingbeyondadoubtthesameunsatisfactoryeffectanthemindofthecoronerandthejury,whichIhadalreadyproducedonthemindofMr.Kyrle.
Inthesepages,however,andafterthetimethathasnowelapsed,nosuchcautionsandrestraintsasareheredescribedneedfetterthefreeexpressionofmyopinion.
Iwillstatebriefly,beforemypenoccupiesitselfwithotherevents,howmyownconvictionsleadmetoaccountfortheabstractionofthekeys,fortheoutbreakofthefire,andforthedeathoftheman.
ThenewsofmybeingfreeonbaildroveSirPercival,asIbelieve,tohislastresources.
Theattemptedattackontheroadwasoneofthoseresources,andthesuppressionofallpracticalproofofhiscrime,bydestroyingthepageoftheregisteronwhichtheforgeryhadbeencommitted,wastheother,andthesurestofthetwo.
IfIcouldproducenoextractfromtheoriginalbooktocomparewiththecertifiedcopyatKnowlesbury,Icouldproducenopositiveevidence,andcouldthreatenhimwithnofatalexposure.
Allthatwasnecessarytotheattainmentofhisendwas,thatheshouldgetintothevestryunperceived,thatheshouldtearoutthepageintheregister,andthatheshouldleavethevestryagainasprivatelyashehadenteredit.
Onthissupposition,itiseasytounderstandwhyhewaiteduntilnightfallbeforehemadetheattempt,andwhyhetookadvantageoftheclerk’sabsencetopossesshimselfofthekeys.
Necessitywouldobligehimtostrikealighttofindhiswaytotherightregister,andcommoncautionwouldsuggesthislockingthedoorontheinsideincaseofintrusiononthepartofanyinquisitivestranger,oronmypart,ifIhappenedtobeintheneighbourhoodatthetime.
Icannotbelievethatitwasanypartofhisintentiontomakethedestructionoftheregisterappeartobetheresultofaccident,bypurposelysettingthevestryonfire.
Thebarechancethatpromptassistancemightarrive,andthatthebooksmight,bytheremotestpossibility,besaved,wouldhavebeenenough,onamoment’sconsideration,todismissanyideaofthissortfromhismind.
Rememberingthequantityofcombustibleobjectsinthevestry—thestraw,thepapers,thepacking-cases,thedrywood,theoldworm-eatenpresses—alltheprobabilities,inmyestimation,pointtothefireastheresultofanaccidentwithhismatchesorhislight.
Hisfirstimpulse,underthesecircumstances,wasdoubtlesstotrytoextinguishtheflames,andfailinginthat,hissecondimpulse(ignorantashewasofthestateofthelock)hadbeentoattempttoescapebythedoorwhichhadgivenhimentrance.
WhenIhadcalledtohim,theflamesmusthavereachedacrossthedoorleadingintothechurch,oneithersideofwhichthepressesextended,andclosetowhichtheothercombustibleobjectswereplaced.
Inallprobability,thesmokeandflame(confinedastheyweretotheroom)hadbeentoomuchforhimwhenhetriedtoescapebytheinnerdoor.
Hemusthavedroppedinhisdeath-swoon,hemusthavesunkintheplacewherehewasfound,justasIgotontherooftobreaktheskylightwindow.
Evenifwehadbeenable,afterwards,togetintothechurch,andtoburstopenthedoorfromthatside,thedelaymusthavebeenfatal.
Hewouldhavebeenpastsaving,longpastsaving,bythattime.
Weshouldonlyhavegiventheflamesfreeingressintothechurch—thechurch,whichwasnowpreserved,butwhich,inthatevent,wouldhavesharedthefateofthevestry.
Thereisnodoubtinmymind,therecanbenodoubtinthemindofanyone,thathewasadeadmanbeforeeverwegottotheemptycottage,andworkedwithmightandmaintoteardownthebeam.
Thisisthenearestapproachthatanytheoryofminecanmaketowardsaccountingforaresultwhichwasvisiblematteroffact.
AsIhavedescribedthem,soeventspassedtousout-side.
AsIhaverelatedit,sohisbodywasfound.
Theinquestwasadjournedoveroneday—noexplanationthattheeyeofthelawcouldrecognisehavingbeendiscoveredthusfartoaccountforthemysteriouscircumstancesofthecase.
Itwasarrangedthatmorewitnessesshouldbesummoned,andthattheLondonsolicitorofthedeceasedshouldbeinvitedtoattend.
Amedicalmanwasalsochargedwiththedutyofreportingonthementalconditionoftheservant,whichappearedatpresenttodebarhimfromgivinganyevidenceoftheleastimportance.
Hecouldonlydeclare,inadazedway,thathehadbeenordered,onthenightofthefire,towaitinthelane,andthatheknewnothingelse,exceptthatthedeceasedwascertainlyhismaster.
Myownimpressionwas,thathehadbeenfirstused(withoutanyguiltyknowledgeonhisownpart)toascertainthefactoftheclerk’sabsencefromhomeonthepreviousday,andthathehadbeenafterwardsorderedtowaitnearthechurch(butoutofsightofthevestry)toassisthismaster,intheeventofmyescapingtheattackontheroad,andofacollisionoccurringbetweenSirPercivalandmyself.
Itisnecessarytoadd,thattheman’sowntestimonywasneverobtainedtoconfirmthisview.
Themedicalreportofhimdeclaredthatwhatlittlementalfacultyhepossessedwasseriouslyshaken;nothingsatisfactorywasextractedfromhimattheadjournedinquest,andforaughtIknowtothecontrary,hemayneverhaverecoveredtothisday.
IreturnedtothehotelatWelminghamsojadedinbodyandmind,soweakenedanddepressedbyallthatIhadgonethrough,astobequiteunfittoendurethelocalgossipabouttheinquest,andtoanswerthetrivialquestionsthatthetalkersaddressedtomeinthecoffee-room.
Iwithdrewfrommyscantydinnertomycheapgarret-chambertosecuremyselfalittlequiet,andtothinkundisturbedofLauraandMarian.
IfIhadbeenarichermanIwouldhavegonebacktoLondon,andwouldhavecomfortedmyselfwithasightofthetwodearfacesagainthatnight.
ButIwasboundtoappear,ifcalledon,attheadjournedinquest,anddoublyboundtoanswermybailbeforethemagistrateatKnowlesbury.
Ourslenderresourceshadsufferedalready,andthedoubtfulfuture—moredoubtfulthanevernow—mademedreaddecreasingourmeansunnecessarilybyallowingmyselfanindulgenceevenatthesmallcostofadoublerailwayjourneyinthecarriagesofthesecondclass.
Thenextday—thedayimmediatelyfollowingtheinquest—wasleftatmyowndisposal.
Ibeganthemorningbyagainapplyingatthepost-officeformyregularreportfromMarian.
Itwaswaitingformeasbefore,anditwaswrittenthroughoutingoodspirits.
Ireadtheletterthankfully,andthensetforthwithmymindateaseforthedaytogotoOldWelmingham,andtoviewthesceneofthefirebythemorninglight.
WhatchangesmetmewhenIgotthere!
Throughallthewaysofourunintelligibleworldthetrivialandtheterriblewalkhandinhandtogether.
Theironyofcircumstancesholdsnomortalcatastropheinrespect.
WhenIreachedthechurch,thetrampledconditionoftheburial-groundwastheonlyserioustracelefttotellofthefireandthedeath.
Aroughhoardingofboardshadbeenknockedupbeforethevestrydoorway.
Rudecaricatureswerescrawledonitalready,andthevillagechildrenwerefightingandshoutingforthepossessionofthebestpeep-holetoseethrough.
OnthespotwhereIhadheardthecryforhelpfromtheburningroom,onthespotwherethepanic-strickenservanthaddroppedonhisknees,afussyflockofpoultrywasnowscramblingforthefirstchoiceofwormsaftertherain;andonthegroundatmyfeet,wherethedooranditsdreadfulburdenhadbeenlaid,aworkman’sdinnerwaswaitingforhim,tiedupinayellowbasin,andhisfaithfulcurinchargewasyelpingatmeforcomingnearthefood.
Theoldclerk,lookingidlyattheslowcommencementoftherepairs,hadonlyoneinterestthathecouldtalkaboutnow—theinterestofescapingallblameforhisownpartonaccountoftheaccidentthathadhappened.
Oneofthevillagewomen,whosewhitewildfaceIrememberedthepictureofterrorwhenwepulleddownthebeam,wasgigglingwithanotherwoman,thepictureofinanity,overanoldwashing-tub.Thereisnothingseriousinmortality!
SolomoninallhisglorywasSolomonwiththeelementsofthecontemptiblelurkingineveryfoldofhisrobesandineverycornerofhispalace.
AsIlefttheplace,mythoughtsturned,notforthefirsttime,tothecompleteoverthrowthatallpresenthopeofestablishingLaura’sidentityhadnowsufferedthroughSirPercival’sdeath.
Hewasgone—andwithhimthechancewasgonewhichhadbeentheoneobjectofallmylaboursandallmyhopes.
CouldIlookatmyfailurefromnotruerpointofviewthanthis?
Supposehehadlived,wouldthatchangeofcircumstancehavealteredtheresult?
CouldIhavemademydiscoveryamarketablecommodity,evenforLaura’ssake,afterIhadfoundoutthatrobberyoftherightsofotherswastheessenceofSirPercival’scrime?
CouldIhaveofferedthepriceofMYsilenceforHISconfessionoftheconspiracy,whentheeffectofthatsilencemusthavebeentokeeptherightheirfromtheestates,andtherightownerfromthename?Impossible!
IfSirPercivalhadlived,thediscovery,fromwhich(InmyignoranceofthetruenatureoftheSecret)Ihadhopedsomuch,couldnothavebeenminetosuppressortomakepublic,asIthoughtbest,forthevindicationofLaura’srights.
IncommonhonestyandcommonhonourImusthavegoneatoncetothestrangerwhosebirthrighthadbeenusurped—Imusthaverenouncedthevictoryatthemomentwhenitwasminebyplacingmydiscoveryunreservedlyinthatstranger’shands—andImusthavefacedafreshallthedifficultieswhichstoodbetweenmeandtheoneobjectofmylife,exactlyasIwasresolvedinmyheartofheartstofacethemnow!
IreturnedtoWelminghamwithmymindcomposed,feelingmoresureofmyselfandmyresolutionthanIhadfeltyet.
OnmywaytothehotelIpassedtheendofthesquareinwhichMrs.Cathericklived.
ShouldIgobacktothehouse,andmakeanotherattempttoseeher.No.
ThatnewsofSirPercival’sdeath,whichwasthelastnewssheeverexpectedtohear,musthavereachedherhourssince.
Alltheproceedingsattheinquesthadbeenreportedinthelocalpaperthatmorning—therewasnothingIcouldtellherwhichshedidnotknowalready.
Myinterestinmakingherspeakhadslackened.
Irememberedthefurtivehatredinherfacewhenshesaid,“ThereisnonewsofSirPercivalthatIdon’texpect—exceptthenewsofhisdeath.”
Irememberedthestealthyinterestinhereyeswhentheysettledonmeatparting,aftershehadspokenthosewords.
Someinstinct,deepinmyheart,whichIfelttobeatrueone,madetheprospectofagainenteringherpresencerepulsivetome—Iturnedawayfromthesquare,andwentstraightbacktothehotel.
Somehourslater,whileIwasrestinginthecoffee-room,aletterwasplacedinmyhandsbythewaiter.
Itwasaddressedtomebyname,andIfoundoninquirythatithadbeenleftatthebarbyawomanjustasitwasneardusk,andjustbeforethegaswaslighted.
Shehadsaidnothing,andshehadgoneawayagainbeforetherewastimetospeaktoher,oreventonoticewhoshewas.
Iopenedtheletter.Itwasneitherdatednorsigned,andthehandwritingwaspalpablydisguised.BeforeIhadreadthefirstsentence,however,Iknewwhomycorrespondentwas—Mrs.Catherick.
Theletterranasfollows—Icopyitexactly,wordforword:—
Share this article to
FINISH