English
Ofallbaddeedsthat,undercoverofthedarkness,hadbeencommittedwithinwideLondon’sboundssincenighthungoverit,thatwastheworst.
Ofallthehorrorsthatrosewithanillscentuponthemorningair,thatwasthefoulestandmostcruel.
Thesun—thebrightsun,thatbringsback,notlightalone,butnewlife,andhope,andfreshnesstoman—burstuponthecrowdedcityinclearandradiantglory.
Throughcostly-colouredglassandpaper-mendedwindow,throughcathedraldomeandrottencrevice,itsheditsequalray.
Itlighteduptheroomwherethemurderedwomanlay.Itdid.
Hetriedtoshutitout,butitwouldstreamin.
Ifthesighthadbeenaghastlyoneinthedullmorning,whatwasit,now,inallthatbrilliantlight!
Hehadnotmoved;hehadbeenafraidtostir.
Therehadbeenamoanandmotionofthehand;and,withterroraddedtorage,hehadstruckandstruckagain.
Oncehethrewarugoverit;butitwasworsetofancytheeyes,andimaginethemmovingtowardshim,thantoseethemglaringupward,asifwatchingthereflectionofthepoolofgorethatquiveredanddancedinthesunlightontheceiling.Hehadpluckeditoffagain.
Andtherewasthebody—merefleshandblood,nomore—butsuchflesh,andsomuchblood!
Hestruckalight,kindledafire,andthrusttheclubintoit.
Therewashairupontheend,whichblazedandshrunkintoalightcinder,and,caughtbytheair,whirledupthechimney.
Eventhatfrightenedhim,sturdyashewas;butheheldtheweapontillitbroke,andthenpileditonthecoalstoburnaway,andsmoulderintoashes.
Hewashedhimself,andrubbedhisclothes;therewerespotsthatwouldnotberemoved,buthecutthepiecesout,andburntthem.
Howthosestainsweredispersedabouttheroom!Theveryfeetofthedogwerebloody.
Allthistimehehad,neveronce,turnedhisbackuponthecorpse;no,notforamoment.
Suchpreparationscompleted,hemoved,backward,towardsthedoor:draggingthedogwithhim,lestheshouldsoilhisfeetanewandcarryoutnewevidenceofthecrimeintothestreets.
Heshutthedoorsoftly,lockedit,tookthekey,andleftthehouse.
Hecrossedover,andglancedupatthewindow,tobesurethatnothingwasvisiblefromtheoutside.
Therewasthecurtainstilldrawn,whichshewouldhaveopenedtoadmitthelightsheneversawagain.Itlaynearlyunderthere.Heknewthat.
God,howthesunpoureddownupontheveryspot!
Theglancewasinstantaneous.Itwasarelieftohavegotfreeoftheroom.Hewhistledonthedog,andwalkedrapidlyaway.
HewentthroughIslington;strodeupthehillatHighgateonwhichstandsthestoneinhonourofWhittington;turneddowntoHighgateHill,unsteadyofpurpose,anduncertainwheretogo;struckofftotherightagain,almostassoonashebegantodescendit;andtakingthefoot-pathacrossthefields,skirtedCaenWood,andsocameonHampsteadHeath.
TraversingthehollowbytheValeofHeath,hemountedtheoppositebank,andcrossingtheroadwhichjoinsthevillagesofHampsteadandHighgate,madealongtheremainingportionoftheheathtothefieldsatNorthEnd,inoneofwhichhelaidhimselfdownunderahedge,andslept.
Soonhewasupagain,andaway,—notfarintothecountry,butbacktowardsLondonbythehigh-road—thenbackagain—thenoveranotherpartofthesamegroundashealreadytraversed—thenwanderingupanddowninfields,andlyingonditches’brinkstorest,andstartinguptomakeforsomeotherspot,anddothesame,andrambleonagain.
Wherecouldhego,thatwasnearandnottoopublic,togetsomemeatanddrink?Hendon.
Thatwasagoodplace,notfaroff,andoutofmostpeople’sway.
Thitherhedirectedhissteps,—runningsometimes,andsometimes,withastrangeperversity,loiteringatasnail’space,orstoppingaltogetherandidlybreakingthehedgeswithastick.
Butwhenhegotthere,allthepeoplehemet—theverychildrenatthedoors—seemedtoviewhimwithsuspicion.
Backheturnedagain,withoutthecouragetopurchasebitordrop,thoughhehadtastednofoodformanyhours;andoncemorehelingeredontheHeath,uncertainwheretogo.
Hewanderedovermilesandmilesofground,andstillcamebacktotheoldplace.
Morningandnoonhadpassed,andthedaywasonthewane,andstillherambledtoandfro,andupanddown,androundandround,andstilllingeredaboutthesamespot.
Atlasthegotaway,andshapedhiscourseforHatfield.
Itwasnineo’clockatnight,whentheman,quitetiredout,andthedog,limpingandlamefromtheunaccustomedexercise,turneddownthehillbythechurchofthequietvillage,andploddingalongthelittlestreet,creptintoasmallpublic-house,whosescantylighthadguidedthemtothespot.
Therewasafireinthetap-room,andsomecountry-labourersweredrinkingbeforeit.
Theymaderoomforthestranger,buthesatdowninthefurthestcorner,andateanddrankalone,orratherwithhisdog:towhomhecastamorseloffoodfromtimetotime.
Theconversationofthemenassembledhere,turnedupontheneighbouringland,andfarmers;andwhenthosetopicswereexhausted,upontheageofsomeoldmanwhohadbeenburiedonthepreviousSunday;theyoungmenpresentconsideringhimveryold,andtheoldmenpresentdeclaringhimtohavebeenquiteyoung—notolder,onewhite-hairedgrandfathersaid,thanhewas—withtenorfifteenyearoflifeinhimatleast—ifhehadtakencare;ifhehadtakencare.
Therewasnothingtoattractattention,orexcitealarminthis.
Therobber,afterpayinghisreckoning,satsilentandunnoticedinhiscorner,andhadalmostdroppedasleep,whenhewashalfwakenedbythenoisyentranceofanewcomer.
Thiswasananticfellow,halfpedlarandhalfmountebank,whotravelledaboutthecountryonfoottovendhones,strops,razors,washballs,harness-paste,medicinefordogsandhorses,cheapperfumery,cosmetics,andsuch-likewares,whichhecarriedinacaseslungtohisback.
Hisentrancewasthesignalforvarioushomelyjokeswiththecountrymen,whichslackenednotuntilhehadmadehissupper,andopenedhisboxoftreasures,whenheingeniouslycontrivedtounitebusinesswithamusement.
‘Andwhatbethatstoof?Goodtoeat,Harry?’askedagrinningcountryman,pointingtosomecomposition-cakesinonecorner.
‘This,’saidthefellow,producingone,‘thisistheinfallibleandinvaluablecompositionforremovingallsortsofstain,rust,dirt,mildew,spick,speck,spot,orspatter,fromsilk,satin,linen,cambric,cloth,crape,stuff,carpet,merino,muslin,bombazeen,orwoollenstuff.
Wine-stains,fruit-stains,beer-stains,water-stains,paint-stains,pitch-stains,anystains,allcomeoutatonerubwiththeinfallibleandinvaluablecomposition.
Ifaladystainsherhonour,shehasonlyneedtoswallowonecakeandshe’scuredatonce—forit’spoison.
Ifagentlemanwantstoprovethis,hehasonlyneedtoboltonelittlesquare,andhehasputitbeyondquestion—forit’squiteassatisfactoryasapistol-bullet,andagreatdealnastierintheflavour,consequentlythemorecreditintakingit.Onepennyasquare.
Withallthesevirtues,onepennyasquare!’
Thereweretwobuyersdirectly,andmoreofthelistenersplainlyhesitated.Thevendorobservingthis,increasedinloquacity.
‘It’sallboughtupasfastasitcanbemade,’saidthefellow.
‘Therearefourteenwater-mills,sixsteam-engines,andagalvanicbattery,alwaysa-workinguponit,andtheycan’tmakeitfastenough,thoughthemenworksohardthattheydieoff,andthewidowsispensioneddirectly,withtwentypounda-yearforeachofthechildren,andapremiumoffiftyfortwins.Onepennyasquare!
Twohalf-penceisallthesame,andfourfarthingsisreceivedwithjoy.Onepennyasquare!
Wine-stains,fruit-stains,beer-stains,water-stains,paint-stains,pitch-stains,mud-stains,blood-stains!
Hereisastainuponthehatofagentlemanincompany,thatI’lltakecleanout,beforehecanordermeapintofale.’
‘Hah!’criedSikesstartingup.‘Givethatback.’
‘I’lltakeitcleanout,sir,’repliedtheman,winkingtothecompany,‘beforeyoucancomeacrosstheroomtogetit.
Gentlemenall,observethedarkstainuponthisgentleman’shat,nowiderthanashilling,butthickerthanahalf-crown.
Whetheritisawine-stain,fruit-stain,beer-stain,water-stain,paint-stain,pitch-stain,mud-stain,orblood-stain—’
Themangotnofurther,forSikeswithahideousimprecationoverthrewthetable,andtearingthehatfromhim,burstoutofthehouse.
Withthesameperversityoffeelingandirresolutionthathadfasteneduponhim,despitehimself,allday,themurderer,findingthathewasnotfollowed,andthattheymostprobablyconsideredhimsomedrunkensullenfellow,turnedbackupthetown,andgettingoutoftheglareofthelampsofastage-coachthatwasstandinginthestreet,waswalkingpast,whenherecognisedthemailfromLondon,andsawthatitwasstandingatthelittlepost-office.
Healmostknewwhatwastocome;buthecrossedover,andlistened.
Theguardwasstandingatthedoor,waitingfortheletter-bag.Aman,dressedlikeagame-keeper,cameupatthemoment,andhehandedhimabasketwhichlayreadyonthepavement.
‘That’sforyourpeople,’saidtheguard.‘Now,lookaliveinthere,willyou.Damnthat‘erebag,itwarn’treadynightaforelast;thiswon’tdo,youknow!’
‘Anythingnewupintown,Ben?’askedthegame-keeper,drawingbacktothewindow-shutters,thebettertoadmirethehorses.
‘No,nothingthatIknowson,’repliedtheman,pullingonhisgloves.‘Corn’supalittle.Iheerdtalkofamurder,too,downSpitalfieldsway,butIdon’treckonmuchuponit.’
‘Oh,that’squitetrue,’saidagentlemaninside,whowaslookingoutofthewindow.‘Andadreadfulmurderitwas.’
‘Wasit,sir?’rejoinedtheguard,touchinghishat.‘Manorwoman,pray,sir?’
‘Awoman,’repliedthegentleman.‘Itissupposed—’
‘Now,Ben,’repliedthecoachmanimpatiently.
‘Damnthat‘erebag,’saidtheguard;‘areyougonetosleepinthere?’
‘Coming!’criedtheofficekeeper,runningout.
‘Coming,’growledtheguard.‘Ah,andso’stheyoung‘oomanofpropertythat’sgoingtotakeafancytome,butIdon’tknowwhen.Here,givehold.Allri—ight!’
Thehornsoundedafewcheerfulnotes,andthecoachwasgone.
Sikesremainedstandinginthestreet,apparentlyunmovedbywhathehadjustheard,andagitatedbynostrongerfeelingthanadoubtwheretogo.
Atlengthhewentbackagain,andtooktheroadwhichleadsfromHatfieldtoSt.Albans.
Hewentondoggedly;butasheleftthetownbehindhim,andplungedintothesolitudeanddarknessoftheroad,hefeltadreadandawecreepinguponhimwhichshookhimtothecore.
Everyobjectbeforehim,substanceorshadow,stillormoving,tookthesemblanceofsomefearfulthing;butthesefearswerenothingcomparedtothesensethathauntedhimofthatmorning’sghastlyfigurefollowingathisheels.
Hecouldtraceitsshadowinthegloom,supplythesmallestitemoftheoutline,andnotehowstiffandsolemnitseemedtostalkalong.
Hecouldhearitsgarmentsrustlingintheleaves,andeverybreathofwindcameladenwiththatlastlowcry.Ifhestoppeditdidthesame.
Ifheran,itfollowed—notrunningtoo:thatwouldhavebeenarelief:butlikeacorpseendowedwiththemeremachineryoflife,andborneononeslowmelancholywindthatneverroseorfell.
Attimes,heturned,withdesperatedetermination,resolvedtobeatthisphantomoff,thoughitshouldlookhimdead;butthehairroseonhishead,andhisbloodstoodstill,forithadturnedwithhimandwasbehindhimthen.
Hehadkeptitbeforehimthatmorning,butitwasbehindnow—always.
Heleanedhisbackagainstabank,andfeltthatitstoodabovehim,visiblyoutagainstthecoldnight-sky.
Hethrewhimselfupontheroad—onhisbackupontheroad.
Athisheaditstood,silent,erect,andstill—alivinggrave-stone,withitsepitaphinblood.
Letnomantalkofmurderersescapingjustice,andhintthatProvidencemustsleep.Thereweretwentyscoreofviolentdeathsinonelongminuteofthatagonyoffear.
Therewasashedinafieldhepassed,thatofferedshelterforthenight.
Beforethedoor,werethreetallpoplartrees,whichmadeitverydarkwithin;andthewindmoanedthroughthemwithadismalwail.
Hecouldnotwalkon,tilldaylightcameagain;andherehestretchedhimselfclosetothewall—toundergonewtorture.
Fornow,avisioncamebeforehim,asconstantandmoreterriblethanthatfromwhichhehadescaped.
Thosewidelystaringeyes,solustrelessandsoglassy,thathehadbetterbornetoseethemthanthinkuponthem,appearedinthemidstofthedarkness:lightinthemselves,butgivinglighttonothing.
Therewerebuttwo,buttheywereeverywhere.
Ifheshutoutthesight,therecametheroomwitheverywell-knownobject—some,indeed,thathewouldhaveforgotten,ifhehadgoneoveritscontentsfrommemory—eachinitsaccustomedplace.
Thebodywasinitsplace,anditseyeswereashesawthemwhenhestoleaway.
Hegotup,andrushedintothefieldwithout.Thefigurewasbehindhim.
Here-enteredtheshed,andshrunkdownoncemore.
Theeyeswerethere,beforehehadlaidhimselfalong.
Andhereheremainedinsuchterrorasnonebuthecanknow,tremblingineverylimb,andthecoldsweatstartingfromeverypore,whensuddenlytherearoseuponthenight-windthenoiseofdistantshouting,andtheroarofvoicesmingledinalarmandwonder.
Anysoundofmeninthatlonelyplace,eventhoughitconveyedarealcauseofalarm,wassomethingtohim.
Heregainedhisstrengthandenergyattheprospectofpersonaldanger;andspringingtohisfeet,rushedintotheopenair.
Thebroadskyseemedonfire.Risingintotheairwithshowersofsparks,androllingoneabovetheother,weresheetsofflame,lightingtheatmosphereformilesround,anddrivingcloudsofsmokeinthedirectionwherehestood.
Theshoutsgrewlouderasnewvoicesswelledtheroar,andhecouldhearthecryofFire!
mingledwiththeringingofanalarm-bell,thefallofheavybodies,andthecracklingofflamesastheytwinedroundsomenewobstacle,andshotaloftasthoughrefreshedbyfood.Thenoiseincreasedashelooked.
Therewerepeoplethere—menandwomen—light,bustle.Itwaslikenewlifetohim.
Hedartedonward—straight,headlong—dashingthroughbrierandbrake,andleapinggateandfenceasmadlyashisdog,whocareeredwithloudandsoundingbarkbeforehim.
Hecameuponthespot.Therewerehalf-dressedfigurestearingtoandfro,someendeavouringtodragthefrightenedhorsesfromthestables,othersdrivingthecattlefromtheyardandout-houses,andotherscomingladenfromtheburningpile,amidstashoweroffallingsparks,andthetumblingdownofred-hotbeams.
Theapertures,wheredoorsandwindowsstoodanhourago,disclosedamassofragingfire;wallsrockedandcrumbledintotheburningwell;themoltenleadandironpoureddown,whitehot,upontheground.
Womenandchildrenshrieked,andmenencouragedeachotherwithnoisyshoutsandcheers.
Theclankingoftheengine-pumps,andthespirtingandhissingofthewaterasitfellupontheblazingwood,addedtothetremendousroar.
Heshouted,too,tillhewashoarse;andflyingfrommemoryandhimself,plungedintothethickestofthethrong.
Hitherandthitherhedivedthatnight:nowworkingatthepumps,andnowhurryingthroughthesmokeandflame,butneverceasingtoengagehimselfwherevernoiseandmenwerethickest.
Upanddowntheladders,upontheroofsofbuildings,overfloorsthatquakedandtrembledwithhisweight,undertheleeoffallingbricksandstones,ineverypartofthatgreatfirewashe;butheboreacharmedlife,andhadneitherscratchnorbruise,norwearinessnorthought,tillmorningdawnedagain,andonlysmokeandblackenedruinsremained.
Thismadexcitementover,therereturned,withten-foldforce,thedreadfulconsciousnessofhiscrime.
Helookedsuspiciouslyabouthim,forthemenwereconversingingroups,andhefearedtobethesubjectoftheirtalk.
Thedogobeyedthesignificantbeckofhisfinger,andtheydrewoff,stealthily,together.
Hepassednearanenginewheresomemenwereseated,andtheycalledtohimtoshareintheirrefreshment.
Hetooksomebreadandmeat;andashedrankadraughtofbeer,heardthefiremen,whowerefromLondon,talkingaboutthemurder.
‘HehasgonetoBirmingham,theysay,’saidone:‘butthey’llhavehimyet,forthescoutsareout,andbyto-morrownightthere’llbeacryallthroughthecountry.’
Hehurriedoff,andwalkedtillhealmostdroppedupontheground;thenlaydowninalane,andhadalong,butbrokenanduneasysleep.
Hewanderedonagain,irresoluteandundecided,andoppressedwiththefearofanothersolitarynight.
Suddenly,hetookthedesperateresolutiontogoingbacktoLondon.
‘There’ssomebodytospeaktothere,atallevent,’hethought.‘Agoodhiding-place,too.
They’llneverexpecttonabmethere,afterthiscountryscent.
Whycan’tIliebyforaweekorso,and,forcingbluntfromFagin,getabroadtoFrance?Damme,I’llriskit.’
Heacteduponthisimpulsewithoutdelay,andchoosingtheleastfrequentedroadsbeganhisjourneyback,resolvedtolieconcealedwithinashortdistanceofthemetropolis,and,enteringitatduskbyacircuitousroute,toproceedstraighttothatpartofitwhichhehadfixedonforhisdestination.
Thedog,though.Ifanydescriptionofhimwereout,itwouldnotbeforgottenthatthedogwasmissing,andhadprobablygonewithhim.
Thismightleadtohisapprehensionashepassedalongthestreets.
Heresolvedtodrownhim,andwalkedon,lookingaboutforapond:pickingupaheavystoneandtyingittohishandkerchiefashewent.
Theanimallookedupintohismaster’sfacewhilethesepreparationsweremaking;whetherhisinstinctapprehendedsomethingoftheirpurpose,ortherobber’ssidelonglookathimwassternerthanordinary,heskulkedalittlefartherintherearthanusual,andcoweredashecamemoreslowlyalong.
Whenhismasterhaltedatthebrinkofapool,andlookedroundtocallhim,hestoppedoutright.
‘Doyouhearmecall?Comehere!’criedSikes.
Theanimalcameupfromtheveryforceofhabit;butasSikesstoopedtoattachthehandkerchieftohisthroat,heutteredalowgrowlandstartedback.
‘Comeback!’saidtherobber.
Thedogwaggedhistail,butmovednot.Sikesmadearunningnooseandcalledhimagain.
Thedogadvanced,retreated,pausedaninstant,andscouredawayathishardestspeed.
Themanwhistledagainandagain,andsatdownandwaitedintheexpectationthathewouldreturn.Butnodogappeared,andatlengthheresumedhisjourney.
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