TheTapestriedChamberbySirWalterScottandDeathoftheLaird’sJockINTRODUCTION。
ThisisanotherlittlestoryfromTheKeepsakeof1828。ItwastoldtomemanyyearsagobythelateMissAnnaSeward，who，amongotheraccomplishmentsthatrenderedheranamusinginmateinacountryhouse，hadthatofrecountingnarrativesofthissortwithveryconsiderableeffect——muchgreater，indeed，thananyonewouldbeapttoguessfromthestyleofherwrittenperformances。Therearehoursandmoodswhenmostpeoplearenotdispleasedtolistentosuchthings；andIhaveheardsomeofthegreatestandwisestofmycontemporariestaketheirshareintellingthem。
AUGUST1831
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THETAPESTRIEDCHAMBER；
OR，THELADYINTHESACQUE。
Thefollowingnarrativeisgivenfromthepen，sofarasmemorypermits，inthesamecharacterinwhichitwaspresentedtotheauthor’sear；norhasheclaimtofurtherpraise，ortobemoredeeplycensured，thaninproportiontothegoodorbadjudgmentwhichhehasemployedinselectinghismaterials，ashehasstudiouslyavoidedanyattemptatornamentwhichmightinterferewiththesimplicityofthetale。
Atthesametime，itmustbeadmittedthattheparticularclassofstorieswhichturnsonthemarvellouspossessesastrongerinfluencewhentoldthanwhencommittedtoprint。Thevolumetakenupatnoonday，thoughrehearsingthesameincidents，conveysamuchmorefeebleimpressionthanisachievedbythevoiceofthespeakeronacircleoffiresideauditors，whohanguponthenarrativeasthenarratordetailstheminuteincidentswhichservetogiveitauthenticity，andlowershisvoicewithanaffectationofmysterywhileheapproachesthefearfulandwonderfulpart。Itwaswithsuchadvantagesthatthepresentwriterheardthefollowingeventsrelated，morethantwentyyearssince，bythecelebratedMissSewardofLitchfield，who，tohernumerousaccomplishments，added，inaremarkabledegree，thepowerofnarrativeinprivateconversation。Initspresentformthetalemustnecessarilylosealltheinterestwhichwasattachedtoitbytheflexiblevoiceandintelligentfeaturesofthegiftednarrator。Yetstill，readaloudtoanundoubtingaudiencebythedoubtfullightoftheclosingevening，orinsilencebyadecayingtaper，andamidstthesolitudeofahalf—
lightedapartment，itmayredeemitscharacterasagoodghoststory。MissSewardalwaysaffirmedthatshehadderivedherinformationfromanauthenticsource，althoughshesuppressedthenamesofthetwopersonschieflyconcerned。IwillnotavailmyselfofanyparticularsImayhavesincereceivedconcerningthelocalitiesofthedetail，butsufferthemtorestunderthesamegeneraldescriptioninwhichtheywerefirstrelatedtome；
andforthesamereasonIwillnotaddtoordiminishthenarrativebyanycircumstance，whethermoreorlessmaterial，butsimplyrehearse，asIheardit，astoryofsupernaturalterror。
AbouttheendoftheAmericanwar，whentheofficersofLordCornwallis’sarmy，whichsurrenderedatYorktown，andothers，whohadbeenmadeprisonersduringtheimpoliticandill—fatedcontroversy，werereturningtotheirowncountry，torelatetheiradventures，andreposethemselvesaftertheirfatigues，therewasamongstthemageneralofficer，towhomMissS。gavethenameofBrowne，butmerely，asIunderstood，tosavetheinconvenienceofintroducinganamelessagentinthenarrative。Hewasanofficerofmerit，aswellasagentlemanofhighconsiderationforfamilyandattainments。
SomebusinesshadcarriedGeneralBrowneuponatourthroughthewesterncounties，when，intheconclusionofamorningstage，hefoundhimselfinthevicinityofasmallcountrytown，whichpresentedasceneofuncommonbeauty，andofacharacterpeculiarlyEnglish。
Thelittletown，withitsstatelyoldchurch，whosetowerboretestimonytothedevotionofageslongpast，layamidstpasturesandcornfieldsofsmallextent，butboundedanddividedwithhedgerowtimberofgreatageandsize。Therewerefewmarksofmodernimprovement。Theenvironsoftheplaceintimatedneitherthesolitudeofdecaynorthebustleofnovelty；thehouseswereold，butingoodrepair；andthebeautifullittlerivermurmuredfreelyonitswaytotheleftofthetown，neitherrestrainedbyadamnorborderedbyatowing—path。
Uponagentleeminence，nearlyamiletothesouthwardofthetown，wereseen，amongstmanyvenerableoaksandtangledthickets，theturretsofacastleasoldasthewallsofYorkandLancaster，butwhichseemedtohavereceivedimportantalterationsduringtheageofElizabethandhersuccessor，Ithadnotbeenaplaceofgreatsize；butwhateveraccommodationitformerlyaffordedwas，itmustbesupposed，stilltobeobtainedwithinitswalls。Atleast，suchwastheinferencewhichGeneralBrownedrewfromobservingthesmokearisemerrilyfromseveraloftheancientwreathedandcarvedchimney—stalks。Thewalloftheparkranalongsideofthehighwayfortwoorthreehundredyards；andthroughthedifferentpointsbywhichtheeyefoundglimpsesintothewoodlandscenery，itseemedtobewellstocked。
Otherpointsofviewopenedinsuccession——nowafulloneofthefrontoftheoldcastle，andnowasideglimpseatitsparticulartowers，theformerrichinallthebizarrerieoftheElizabethanschool，whilethesimpleandsolidstrengthofotherpartsofthebuildingseemedtoshowthattheyhadbeenraisedmorefordefencethanostentation。
Delightedwiththepartialglimpseswhichheobtainedofthecastlethroughthewoodsandgladesbywhichthisancientfeudalfortresswassurrounded，ourmilitarytravellerwasdeterminedtoinquirewhetheritmightnotdeserveanearerview，andwhetheritcontainedfamilypicturesorotherobjectsofcuriosityworthyofastranger’svisit，when，leavingthevicinityofthepark，herolledthroughacleanandwell—pavedstreet，andstoppedatthedoorofawell—frequentedinn。
Beforeorderinghorses，toproceedonhisjourney，GeneralBrownemadeinquiriesconcerningtheproprietorofthechateauwhichhadsoattractedhisadmiration，andwasequallysurprisedandpleasedathearinginreplyanoblemannamed，whomweshallcallLordWoodville。Howfortunate！MuchofBrowne’searlyrecollections，bothatschoolandatcollege，hadbeenconnectedwithyoungWoodville，whom，byafewquestions，henowascertainedtobethesamewiththeownerofthisfairdomain。
Hehadbeenraisedtothepeeragebythedeceaseofhisfatherafewmonthsbefore，and，astheGenerallearnedfromthelandlord，thetermofmourningbeingended，wasnowtakingpossessionofhispaternalestateinthejovialseasonofmerry，autumn，accompaniedbyaselectpartyoffriends，toenjoythesportsofacountryfamousforgame。
Thiswasdelightfulnewstoourtraveller。FrankWoodvillehadbeenRichardBrowne’sfagatEton，andhischosenintimateatChristChurch；theirpleasuresandtheirtaskshadbeenthesame；
andthehonestsoldier’sheartwarmedtofindhisearlyfriendinpossessionofsodelightfularesidence，andofanestate，asthelandlordassuredhimwithanodandawink，fullyadequatetomaintainandaddtohisdignity。Nothingwasmorenaturalthanthatthetravellershouldsuspendajourney，whichtherewasnothingtorenderhurried，topayavisittoanoldfriendundersuchagreeablecircumstances。
Thefreshhorses，therefore，hadonlythebrieftaskofconveyingtheGeneral’stravellingcarriagetoWoodvilleCastle。AporteradmittedthematamodernGothiclodge，builtinthatstyletocorrespondwiththecastleitself，andatthesametimerangabelltogivewarningoftheapproachofvisitors。Apparentlythesoundofthebellhadsuspendedtheseparationofthecompany，bentonthevariousamusementsofthemorning；for，onenteringthecourtofthechateau，severalyoungmenwereloungingaboutintheirsportingdresses，lookingatandcriticizingthedogswhichthekeepersheldinreadinesstoattendtheirpastime。AsGeneralBrownealighted，theyounglordcametothegateofthehall，andforaninstantgazed，asatastranger，uponthecountenanceofhisfriend，onwhichwar，withitsfatiguesanditswounds，hadmadeagreatalteration。Buttheuncertaintylastednolongerthantillthevisitorhadspoken，andtheheartygreetingwhichfollowedwassuchascanonlybeexchangedbetwixtthosewhohavepassedtogetherthemerrydaysofcarelessboyhoodorearlyyouth。
\"IfIcouldhaveformedawish，mydearBrowne，\"saidLordWoodville，\"itwouldhavebeentohaveyouhere，ofallmen，uponthisoccasion，whichmyfriendsaregoodenoughtoholdasasortofholiday。Donotthinkyouhavebeenunwatchedduringtheyearsyouhavebeenabsentfromus。Ihavetracedyouthroughyourdangers，yourtriumphs，yourmisfortunes，andwasdelightedtoseethat，whetherinvictoryordefeat，thenameofmyoldfriendwasalwaysdistinguishedwithapplause。\"
TheGeneralmadeasuitablereply，andcongratulatedhisfriendonhisnewdignities，andthepossessionofaplaceanddomainsobeautiful。
\"Nay，youhaveseennothingofitasyet，\"saidLordWoodville，\"andItrustyoudonotmeantoleaveustillyouarebetteracquaintedwithit。Itistrue，Iconfess，thatmypresentpartyisprettylarge，andtheoldhouse，likeotherplacesofthekind，doesnotpossesssomuchaccommodationastheextentoftheoutwardwallsappearstopromise。Butwecangiveyouacomfortableold—fashionedroom，andIventuretosupposethatyourcampaignshavetaughtyoutobegladofworsequarters。\"
TheGeneralshruggedhisshoulders，andlaughed。\"Ipresume，\"hesaid，\"theworstapartmentinyourchateauisconsiderablysuperiortotheoldtobacco—caskinwhichIwasfaintotakeupmynight’slodgingwhenIwasintheBush，astheVirginianscallit，withthelightcorps。ThereIlay，likeDiogeneshimself，sodelightedwithmycoveringfromtheelements，thatImadeavainattempttohaveitrolledontomynextquarters；butmycommanderforthetimewouldgivewaytonosuchluxuriousprovision，andItookfarewellofmybelovedcaskwithtearsinmyeyes。\"
\"Well，then，sinceyoudonotfearyourquarters，\"saidLordWoodville，\"youwillstaywithmeaweekatleast。Ofguns，dogs，fishing—rods，flies，andmeansofsportbyseaandland，wehaveenoughandtospare——youcannotpitchonanamusementbutwewillfindthemeansofpursuingit。Butifyoupreferthegunandpointers，Iwillgowithyoumyself，andseewhetheryouhavemendedyourshootingsinceyouhavebeenamongsttheIndiansofthebacksettlements。\"
TheGeneralgladlyacceptedhisfriendlyhost’sproposalinallitspoints。Afteramorningofmanlyexercise，thecompanymetatdinner，whereitwasthedelightofLordWoodvilletoconducetothedisplayofthehighpropertiesofhisrecoveredfriend，soastorecommendhimtohisguests，mostofwhomwerepersonsofdistinction。HeledGeneralBrownetospeakofthesceneshehadwitnessed；andaseverywordmarkedalikethebraveofficerandthesensibleman，whoretainedpossessionofhiscooljudgmentunderthemostimminentdangers，thecompanylookeduponthesoldierwithgeneralrespect，asononewhohadprovedhimselfpossessedofanuncommonportionofpersonalcourage——thatattributeofallothersofwhicheverybodydesirestobethoughtpossessed。
ThedayatWoodvilleCastleendedasusualinsuchmansions。Thehospitalitystoppedwithinthelimitsofgoodorder。Music，inwhichtheyounglordwasaproficient，succeededtothecirculationofthebottle；cardsandbilliards，forthosewhopreferredsuchamusements，wereinreadiness；buttheexerciseofthemorningrequiredearlyhours，andnotlongaftereleveno’clocktheguestsbegantoretiretotheirseveralapartments。
Theyounglordhimselfconductedhisfriend，GeneralBrowne，tothechamberdestinedforhim，whichansweredthedescriptionhehadgivenofit，beingcomfortable，butold—fashioned，Thebedwasofthemassiveformusedintheendoftheseventeenthcentury，andthecurtainsoffadedsilk，heavilytrimmedwithtarnishedgold。Butthenthesheets，pillows，andblanketslookeddelightfultothecampaigner，whenhethoughtofhis\"mansion，thecask。\"Therewasanairofgloominthetapestryhangings，which，withtheirworn—outgraces，curtainedthewallsofthelittlechamber，andgentlyundulatedastheautumnalbreezefounditswaythroughtheancientlatticewindow，whichpatteredandwhistledastheairgainedentrance。Thetoilet，too，withitsmirror，turbanedafterthemannerofthebeginningofthecentury，withacoiffureofmurrey—colouredsilk，anditshundredstrange—shapedboxes，providingforarrangementswhichhadbeenobsoleteformorethanfiftyyears，hadanantique，andinsofaramelancholy，aspect。Butnothingcouldblazemorebrightlyandcheerfullythanthetwolargewaxcandles；orifaughtcouldrivalthem，itwastheflaming，bickeringfagotsinthechimney，thatsentatoncetheirgleamandtheirwarmththroughthesnugapartment，which，notwithstandingthegeneralantiquityofitsappearance，wasnotwantingintheleastconveniencethatmodernhabitsrenderedeithernecessaryordesirable。
\"Thisisanold—fashionedsleepingapartment，General，\"saidtheyounglord；\"butIhopeyoufindnothingthatmakesyouenvyyouroldtobacco—cask。\"
\"Iamnotparticularrespectingmylodgings，\"repliedtheGeneral；\"yetwereItomakeanychoice，Iwouldpreferthischamberbymanydegreestothegayerandmoremodernroomsofyourfamilymansion。Believemethat，whenIuniteitsmodernairofcomfortwithitsvenerableantiquity，andrecollectthatitisyourlordship’sproperty，IshallfeelinbetterquartersherethanifIwereinthebesthotelLondoncouldafford。\"
\"Itrust——Ihavenodoubt——thatyouwillfindyourselfascomfortableasIwishyou，mydearGeneral，\"saidtheyoungnobleman；andoncemorebiddinghisguestgood—night，heshookhimbythehand，andwithdrew。
TheGeneraloncemorelookedroundhim，andinternallycongratulatinghimselfonhisreturntopeacefullife，thecomfortsofwhichwereendearedbytherecollectionofthehardshipsanddangershehadlatelysustained，undressedhimself，andpreparedforaluxuriousnight’srest。
Here，contrarytothecustomofthisspeciesoftale，weleavetheGeneralinpossessionofhisapartmentuntilthenextmorning。
Thecompanyassembledforbreakfastatanearlyhour，butwithouttheappearanceofGeneralBrowne，whoseemedtheguestthatLordWoodvillewasdesirousofhonouringaboveallwhomhishospitalityhadassembledaroundhim。HemorethanonceexpressedsurpriseattheGeneral’sabsence，andatlengthsentaservanttomakeinquiryafterhim。ThemanbroughtbackinformationthatGeneralBrownehadbeenwalkingabroadsinceanearlyhourofthemorning，indefianceoftheweather，whichwasmistyandungenial。
\"Thecustomofasoldier，\"saidtheyoungnoblemantohisfriends。\"Manyofthemacquirehabitualvigilance，andcannotsleepaftertheearlyhouratwhichtheirdutyusuallycommandsthemtobealert。\"
YettheexplanationwhichLordWoodvillethusofferedtothecompanyseemedhardlysatisfactorytohisownmind，anditwasinafitofsilenceandabstractionthathewaitedthereturnoftheGeneral。Ittookplacenearanhourafterthebreakfastbellhadrung。Helookedfatiguedandfeverish。Hishair，thepowderingandarrangementofwhichwasatthistimeoneofthemostimportantoccupationsofaman’swholeday，andmarkedhisfashionasmuchasinthepresenttimethetyingofacravat，orthewantofone，wasdishevelled，uncurled，voidofpowder，anddankwithdew。Hisclotheswerehuddledonwithacarelessnegligence，remarkableinamilitaryman，whoserealorsupposeddutiesareusuallyheldtoincludesomeattentiontothetoilet；
andhislookswerehaggardandghastlyinapeculiardegree。
\"Soyouhavestolenamarchuponusthismorning，mydearGeneral，\"saidLordWoodville；\"oryouhavenotfoundyourbedsomuchtoyourmindasIhadhopedandyouseemedtoexpect。Howdidyourestlastnight？\"
\"Oh，excellentlywell！remarkablywell！neverbetterinmylife，\"saidGeneralBrownerapidly，andyetwithanairofembarrassmentwhichwasobvioustohisfriend。Hethenhastilyswallowedacupoftea，andneglectingorrefusingwhateverelsewasoffered，seemedtofallintoafitofabstraction。
\"Youwilltakethegunto—day，General？\"saidhisfriendandhost，buthadtorepeatthequestiontwiceerehereceivedtheabruptanswer，\"No，mylord；IamsorryIcannothavetheopportunityofspendinganotherdaywithyourlordship；myposthorsesareordered，andwillbeheredirectly。\"
Allwhowerepresentshowedsurprise，andLordWoodvilleimmediatelyreplied\"Posthorses，mygoodfriend！Whatcanyoupossiblywantwiththemwhenyoupromisedtostaywithmequietlyforatleastaweek？\"
\"Ibelieve，\"saidtheGeneral，obviouslymuchembarrassed，\"thatImight，inthepleasureofmyfirstmeetingwithyourlordship，havesaidsomethingaboutstoppinghereafewdays；butIhavesincefounditaltogetherimpossible。\"
\"Thatisveryextraordinary，\"answeredtheyoungnobleman。\"Youseemedquitedisengagedyesterday，andyoucannothavehadasummonsto—day，forourposthasnotcomeupfromthetown，andthereforeyoucannothavereceivedanyletters。\"
GeneralBrowne，withoutgivinganyfurtherexplanation，mutteredsomethingaboutindispensablebusiness，andinsistedontheabsolutenecessityofhisdepartureinamannerwhichsilencedalloppositiononthepartofhishost，whosawthathisresolutionwastaken，andforboreallfurtherimportunity。
\"Atleast，however，\"hesaid，\"permitme，mydearBrowne，sincegoyouwillormust，toshowyoutheviewfromtheterrace，whichthemist，thatisnowrising，willsoondisplay。\"
Hethrewopenasash—window，andsteppeddownupontheterraceashespoke。TheGeneralfollowedhimmechanically，butseemedlittletoattendtowhathishostwassaying，as，lookingacrossanextendedandrichprospect，hepointedoutthedifferentobjectsworthyofobservation。ThustheymovedontillLordWoodvillehadattainedhispurposeofdrawinghisguestentirelyapartfromtherestofthecompany，when，turningrounduponhimwithanairofgreatsolemnity，headdressedhimthus：——
\"RichardBrowne，myoldandverydearfriend，wearenowalone。
Letmeconjureyoutoanswermeuponthewordofafriend，andthehonourofasoldier。Howdidyouinrealityrestduringlastnight？\"
\"Mostwretchedlyindeed，mylord，\"answeredtheGeneral，inthesametoneofsolemnity——\"somiserably，thatIwouldnotruntheriskofsuchasecondnight，notonlyforallthelandsbelongingtothiscastle，butforallthecountrywhichIseefromthiselevatedpointofview。\"
\"Thisismostextraordinary，\"saidtheyounglord，asifspeakingtohimself；\"thentheremustbesomethinginthereportsconcerningthatapartment。\"AgainturningtotheGeneral，hesaid，\"ForGod’ssake，mydearfriend，becandidwithme，andletmeknowthedisagreeableparticularswhichhavebefallenyouunderaroof，where，withconsentoftheowner，youshouldhavemetnothingsavecomfort。\"
TheGeneralseemeddistressedbythisappeal，andpausedamomentbeforehereplied。\"Mydearlord，\"heatlengthsaid，\"whathappenedtomelastnightisofanaturesopeculiarandsounpleasant，thatIcouldhardlybringmyselftodetailiteventoyourlordship，wereitnotthat，independentofmywishtogratifyanyrequestofyours，Ithinkthatsincerityonmypartmayleadtosomeexplanationaboutacircumstanceequallypainfulandmysterious。Toothers，thecommunicationIamabouttomake，mightplacemeinthelightofaweak—minded，superstitiousfool，whosufferedhisownimaginationtodeludeandbewilderhim；butyouhaveknownmeinchildhoodandyouth，andwillnotsuspectmeofhavingadoptedinmanhoodthefeelingsandfrailtiesfromwhichmyearlyyearswerefree。\"Herehepaused，andhisfriendreplied，——
\"Donotdoubtmyperfectconfidenceinthetruthofyourcommunication，howeverstrangeitmaybe，\"repliedLordWoodville。\"Iknowyourfirmnessofdispositiontoowell，tosuspectyoucouldbemadetheobjectofimposition，andamawarethatyourhonourandyourfriendshipwillequallydeteryoufromexaggeratingwhateveryoumayhavewitnessed。\"
\"Well，then，\"saidtheGeneral，\"IwillproceedwithmystoryaswellasIcan，relyinguponyourcandour，andyetdistinctlyfeelingthatIwouldratherfaceabatterythanrecalltomymindtheodiousrecollectionsoflastnight。\"
Hepausedasecondtime，andthenperceivingthatLordWoodvilleremainedsilentandinanattitudeofattention，hecommenced，thoughnotwithoutobviousreluctance，thehistoryofhisnight’sadventuresintheTapestriedChamber。
\"Iundressedandwenttobedsosoonasyourlordshipleftmeyesterdayevening；butthewoodinthechimney，whichnearlyfrontedmybed，blazedbrightlyandcheerfully，and，aidedbyahundredexcitingrecollectionsofmychildhoodandyouth，whichhadbeenrecalledbytheunexpectedpleasureofmeetingyourlordship，preventedmefromfallingimmediatelyasleep。Iought，however，tosaythatthesereflectionswereallofapleasantandagreeablekind，groundedonasenseofhavingforatimeexchangedthelabour，fatigues，anddangersofmyprofessionfortheenjoymentsofapeacefullife，andthereunionofthosefriendlyandaffectionatetieswhichIhadtornasunderattherudesummonsofwar。
\"Whilesuchpleasingreflectionswerestealingovermymind，andgraduallylullingmetoslumber，Iwassuddenlyarousedbyasoundlikethatoftherustlingofasilkengown，andthetappingofapairofhigh—heeledshoes，asifawomanwerewalkingintheapartment。EreIcoulddrawthecurtaintoseewhatthematterwas，thefigureofalittlewomanpassedbetweenthebedandthefire。Thebackofthisformwasturnedtome，andIcouldobserve，fromtheshouldersandneck，itwasthatofanoldwoman，whosedresswasanold—fashionedgown，whichIthinkladiescallasacque——thatis，asortofrobecompletelylooseinthebody，butgatheredintobroadplaitsupontheneckandshoulders，whichfalldowntotheground，andterminateinaspeciesoftrain。
\"Ithoughttheintrusionsingularenough，butneverharbouredforamomenttheideathatwhatIsawwasanythingmorethanthemortalformofsomeoldwomanabouttheestablishment，whohadafancytodresslikehergrandmother，andwho，havingperhaps（asyourlordshipmentionedthatyouwereratherstraitenedforroom）
beendislodgedfromherchamberformyaccommodation，hadforgottenthecircumstance，andreturnedbytwelvetoheroldhaunt。UnderthispersuasionImovedmyselfinbedandcoughedalittle，tomaketheintrudersensibleofmybeinginpossessionofthepremises。Sheturnedslowlyround，but，graciousHeaven！
mylord，whatacountenancedidshedisplaytome！Therewasnolongeranyquestionwhatshewas，oranythoughtofherbeingalivingbeing。Uponafacewhichworethefixedfeaturesofacorpsewereimprintedthetracesofthevilestandmosthideouspassionswhichhadanimatedherwhileshelived。Thebodyofsomeatrociouscriminalseemedtohavebeengivenupfromthegrave，andthesoulrestoredfromthepenalfire，inordertoformforaspaceaunionwiththeancientaccompliceofitsguilt。Istartedupinbed，andsatupright，supportingmyselfonmypalms，asIgazedonthishorriblespectre。Thehagmade，asitseemed，asingleandswiftstridetothebedwhereIlay，andsquattedherselfdownuponit，inpreciselythesameattitudewhichIhadassumedintheextremityofhorror，advancingherdiabolicalcountenancewithinhalfayardofmine，withagrinwhichseemedtointimatethemaliceandthederisionofanincarnatefiend。\"
HereGeneralBrownestopped，andwipedfromhisbrowthecoldperspirationwithwhichtherecollectionofhishorriblevisionhadcoveredit。
\"Mylord，\"hesaid，\"Iamnocoward，Ihavebeeninallthemortaldangersincidentaltomyprofession，andImaytrulyboastthatnomaneverknewRichardBrownedishonourtheswordhewears；butinthesehorriblecircumstances，undertheeyes，and，asitseemed，almostinthegraspofanincarnationofanevilspirit，allfirmnessforsookme，allmanhoodmeltedfrommelikewaxinthefurnace，andIfeltmyhairindividuallybristle。Thecurrentofmylife—bloodceasedtoflow，andIsankbackinaswoon，asveryavictimtopanicterroraseverwasavillagegirl，orachildoftenyearsold。HowlongIlayinthisconditionIcannotpretendtoguess。