1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:07,080 Hunted down. Most of us see romances in life. In my capacity of 2 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:10,759 a chief manager of a life insurance office, I think I have, within 3 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:16,600 the last thirty years seen more romances than the generality of men. However unpromising 4 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:22,359 the opportunity may at first I have seen. As I have retired and live 5 00:00:22,399 --> 00:00:26,960 at my ease, I possess the means that I used to want of considering 6 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:32,479 what I have seen at leisure. My experiences have a more remarkable aspect so 7 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:37,759 reviewed than they had when they were in progress. I have come home from 8 00:00:37,759 --> 00:00:42,520 the plain now and can recall the scenes of the drama upon which curtain has 9 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:47,159 fallen, free from the glare, bewilderment, and bustle of the theater. 10 00:00:49,079 --> 00:00:55,520 Let me recall one of these romances of the real world. There is nothing 11 00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:00,200 truer than the physiognomy taken in connection with manner. The art of reading that 12 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:07,159 book of which eternal wisdom obliges every human creature to present his or her own 13 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:11,400 page with individual character written on it is a difficult one, perhaps, and 14 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:18,439 is little studied. It may require some natural aptitude, and it must require, 15 00:01:18,799 --> 00:01:23,280 for everything does some patience, and some pains. That these are not 16 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:29,000 usually given to it. The number of people except a few stock commonplace expressions 17 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:34,239 of the face as the whole list of characteristics, and neither seek nor know 18 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:38,079 the refinements that are truest. That you, for instance, give a great 19 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:42,760 deal of time and attention to the reading of music Greek, Latin, French, 20 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:48,480 Italian, Hebrew, if you please, and do not qualify yourself to 21 00:01:48,519 --> 00:01:53,239 read the face of the master or mistress looking over your shoulder teaching it to 22 00:01:53,280 --> 00:02:00,000 you, I assume to be five hundred times more probable than improbable. Perhaps 23 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:04,599 so little self sufficiency may be at the bottom of this facial expression requires no 24 00:02:04,719 --> 00:02:07,800 study from you. You think it comes by nature to you to know enough 25 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:13,599 about it, and you are not to be taken in. I confess for 26 00:02:13,759 --> 00:02:19,680 my part that I have been taken in over and over again. I have 27 00:02:19,759 --> 00:02:23,599 been taken in by acquaintances, and I have been taken in, of course 28 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:29,319 by friends, far oftener by friends than by any other class of persons. 29 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:36,319 How can I be so deceived? Had I quite misread their faces? No, 30 00:02:37,199 --> 00:02:40,520 believe me, My first impression of those people, founded on face and 31 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:46,240 the manner alone, was invariably true. My mistake was in suffering them to 32 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:53,680 come nearer to me and explain themselves away. The partition which separated by own 33 00:02:53,719 --> 00:02:58,560 office from our general outer office in the city was of thick plate glass. 34 00:03:00,199 --> 00:03:05,199 Through it what passed in the outer office, without hearing a word. I 35 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:07,560 had it put in place of a wall that had been there for years, 36 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:13,759 ever since the house was built. It is no matter whether I did or 37 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,840 did not make the change in order that I might derive my first impression of 38 00:03:16,879 --> 00:03:23,680 strangers who came to us on business from their faces alone, without being influenced 39 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:29,039 by anything. They said enough to mention that I turned my glass partition to 40 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:34,039 that account, and that a life assurance office is all times exposed to be 41 00:03:34,159 --> 00:03:39,719 practiced upon by the most crafty and cruel of the human grace. It was 42 00:03:39,759 --> 00:03:44,960 through my glass partition that I first saw the gentleman whose story I am going 43 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:50,360 to tell. He had come in without my observing it, and had put 44 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,400 his hat and his umbrella on the broad counter, and was bending over to 45 00:03:53,439 --> 00:03:58,759 take some papers from one of the clerks. He was about forty or so, 46 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,879 dark, exceedingly well dressed in black, being in mourning, and the 47 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:08,800 hand he extended with a polite air had a particularly well fitting black kipped glove 48 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:14,719 upon it. His hair was elaborately brushed and oiled, was sparted straight up 49 00:04:14,759 --> 00:04:18,720 the middle. And he presented this parting to the clerk exactly to my thinking, 50 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:24,079 as if he had said, in so many words, you must take 51 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:27,680 me, if you please, my friend, just as I show myself. 52 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:31,639 Come straight up here, follow the gravel path, keep up the grass. 53 00:04:32,199 --> 00:04:39,560 I allow no trespassing. I conceived a very great aversion to that man the 54 00:04:39,639 --> 00:04:43,959 moment I thus saw him. He had asked for some of her printed forms, 55 00:04:44,319 --> 00:04:47,759 and the clerk was giving them to him and explaining them, and her 56 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:51,920 obliged and agreeable smile was on his face, and his eyes met those of 57 00:04:51,959 --> 00:04:58,240 the clerk with a sprightly look. I have known a vast quantity of nonsense 58 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:02,120 being talked about, bad men not looking you in the face. Don't trust 59 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:09,600 that conventional idea. Dishonesty will stare honesty out of countenance any day in the 60 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:14,120 week, if there is anything to be cut by it. I saw in 61 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,759 the corner of his eyelash that he became aware of my looking at him. 62 00:05:17,759 --> 00:05:21,879 Immediately he turned the parting in his head towards the glass partition as if he 63 00:05:21,959 --> 00:05:26,199 said to me, with a sweet smile, straight up here, if you 64 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:30,319 please off the grass. In a few moments he had put on his hat 65 00:05:30,399 --> 00:05:34,399 and taken up his umbrella, and was gone. I beckoned the clerk into 66 00:05:34,439 --> 00:05:40,519 my room and asked who was there. He had a gentleman's card in his 67 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:45,879 hand, mister Julius Slington, Middle Temple, A barrister, mister Adams. 68 00:05:46,639 --> 00:05:49,800 I think not, sir. I should have thought him a clergyman, but 69 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:55,480 for his having no reverend here, said I, probably from his appearance. 70 00:05:55,600 --> 00:06:00,800 Mister Adams replied, he is reading for orders. I had mentioned that he 71 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:05,680 wore a dainty white cravat and a dainty linen altogether. What did he want, 72 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:10,519 mister Adams, merely a form of proposal, sir, and a form 73 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:15,160 of reference recommended here? Did he say? Yes? He said he was 74 00:06:15,199 --> 00:06:19,560 recommended here by a friend of yours. He noticed you, but said that 75 00:06:19,759 --> 00:06:24,560 as he had not the pleasure of your personal acquaintance, he would not trouble 76 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:29,480 you. Did you know my name? Oh, yes, sir, he 77 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:34,639 said, there is mister Sampson. I see a well spoken gentleman, apparently 78 00:06:35,399 --> 00:06:42,319 remarkably so, sir. Insinuating manners apparently very much so. Indeed, Sir 79 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:47,959 Hah said, I, I were nothing at present, mister Adams. Within 80 00:06:47,959 --> 00:06:51,120 a fortnight of that day, I went to dine with a friend of mine, 81 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:56,279 a merchant, a man of taste who buys pictures and books, And 82 00:06:56,319 --> 00:07:00,399 the first man I saw among the company was mister Julius Slington. There he 83 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:05,040 was standing before the fire, with good large eyes and an open expression of 84 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:10,959 face. But still I thought, requiring everybody to come at him by the 85 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:15,560 prepared way he offered, and by no other I noticed him. Ask my 86 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:21,480 friend to introduce him to mister Samson, and my friend did so. Mister 87 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:26,639 Slington was very happy to see me, not too happy, there was no 88 00:07:26,759 --> 00:07:30,800 overdoing of the matter, happy in a thoroughly well bred, perfectly unmeaning way. 89 00:07:32,639 --> 00:07:38,160 I thought you had met our host, observed, No, said mister 90 00:07:38,199 --> 00:07:44,319 Slington. I did look in at mister Sampson's office on your recommendation, but 91 00:07:44,399 --> 00:07:48,079 I really did not feel justified in troubling mister Sampson himself on a point in 92 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:54,279 the everyday routine of an ordinary clerk. I said, I should have been 93 00:07:54,279 --> 00:07:58,959 glad to show him any attention on our friend's introduction. I am sure of 94 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:03,040 that, said he, and I am much obliged. At another time, 95 00:08:03,079 --> 00:08:07,959 perhaps I may be less delicate, only, however, if I had real 96 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:11,759 business. For I know, mister Sampson, how precious your business time is, 97 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:15,560 and what a vast number of impertinent people there are in the world. 98 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:22,399 I acknowledge this consideration with a slight bow. You were thinking, said I, 99 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:28,480 of affecting a policy on your life. Oh dear, no, I 100 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:31,080 am afraid I am not so prudent as you pay me the compliment of supposing 101 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:35,679 me to be. Mister Samson. I merely inquired for a friend, But 102 00:08:35,879 --> 00:08:39,559 you know what friends are. In such matters, nothing may ever come of 103 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:45,759 it. I have the great reluctance to trouble men of business with inquiries for 104 00:08:45,879 --> 00:08:50,039 friends, knowing the probabilities to be a thousand to one that the friends will 105 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:56,440 never follow them up. People are so facal, so selfish, so inconsiderate. 106 00:08:56,399 --> 00:09:03,200 Don't you in your business find them? So, mister Samson. I 107 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:07,759 was going to give a qualified answer, but he turned his smooth white parting 108 00:09:07,799 --> 00:09:13,639 on me with its straight up here if you please, and I answered, 109 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:20,639 yes, I hear, mister Sampson. He resumed presently for our friend had 110 00:09:20,639 --> 00:09:24,039 a new cook, and dinner was not so punctual as usual. That your 111 00:09:24,039 --> 00:09:31,360 profession has recently suffered a great loss in money, said I. He laughed 112 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:37,919 at my ready association of loss with money, and replied no, in talent 113 00:09:37,039 --> 00:09:43,000 and vigor. Not at once, following out his illusion, I considered for 114 00:09:43,039 --> 00:09:48,159 a moment, has it sustained the loss of that kind? Said I? 115 00:09:48,159 --> 00:09:54,639 I was not aware of it. Understand me, mister Samson. I don't 116 00:09:54,639 --> 00:09:58,519 imagine that you have retired. It's not so bad as that. But mister 117 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:03,200 Meltham, oh to be sure, said I. Yes, mister Meltham, 118 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:09,399 the young actuary of the inestimable. Just so, he returned in a concerning 119 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:15,600 way. He's a great loss. He was at once the most profound, 120 00:10:15,879 --> 00:10:20,240 the most original, and the most energetic man I have ever known, connected 121 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:26,120 with life assurance. I spoke strongly, for I had a high esteem and 122 00:10:26,159 --> 00:10:31,440 admiration for Malcolm, and my gentleman had indefinitely conveyed to me some suspicion that 123 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:37,960 he wanted to sneer at him. He recalled me to my guard by presenting 124 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:43,159 that trim pathway up his head with its infernal not on the grass. If 125 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:50,600 you pleased to gravel. You knew mister Slington only by reputation. To have 126 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:54,039 known him as an acquaintance or as a friend is an honor I should have 127 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:58,039 sought if he had remained in society, though I might never have had the 128 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:01,720 good fortune to attain it. Be a man of far inferior mark. He 129 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:09,360 was scarcely about thirty. I suppose about thirty. Ah, he signed in 130 00:11:09,399 --> 00:11:13,600 his former consoling way, What creatures we are to break up, mister Samson 131 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:20,759 and become incapable of business at that time of life? Any reason assigned for 132 00:11:20,799 --> 00:11:26,399 the melancholy fact? Humph, thought I as I looked at him. But 133 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:31,440 I won't go up the track, and I will go on the grass. 134 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:35,480 What reason have you heard assigned mister Slington, I asked, point blank, 135 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:41,639 Most likely a false one. You know what roomor raised, mister Samson. 136 00:11:43,159 --> 00:11:46,720 I never repeat what I hear. It is the only way of bearing the 137 00:11:46,799 --> 00:11:50,399 nails and shaving the head of rumor. But when you ask me what reason 138 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:56,080 I have heard assigned for mister Meltham's passing away from among men, it is 139 00:11:56,159 --> 00:12:01,200 another thing I am not gratifying idle gossip. Then I was told mister Samson, 140 00:12:01,639 --> 00:12:07,240 that mister Meltham had relinquished all his advocations and all its prospects. Dicourse, 141 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:13,159 he was in fact broken hearted, a disappointed attachment I heard, though 142 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:18,360 it hardly seems probable in the case of a man so distinguished and so attractive, 143 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:26,000 attractions and distinctions are no armor against death, said I, Oh, 144 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:31,200 she died, pray, pardon me. I did not hear that. That 145 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:37,879 indeed makes me very very sad, poor mister Malcolm. She died, Ah, 146 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:43,360 dear me, lamentable, lamentable. I still thought his pity was not 147 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:48,840 quite genuine, and I still suspected an unaccountable sneer under all this, until 148 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:52,960 he said, as we were parted like the other knots of talkers by the 149 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:58,120 announcement of dinner, Mister Samson, you are surprised to see me so moved 150 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:03,639 on behalf of a man whom I have never known. I am not so 151 00:13:03,759 --> 00:13:09,039 disinterested as you may suppose. I have suffered, and recently too, from 152 00:13:09,039 --> 00:13:13,639 death myself. I have lost one of my two charming nieces who were my 153 00:13:13,759 --> 00:13:20,159 constant companions. She died young, barely three and twenty, and even her 154 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:28,399 remaining sister is far from strong. The world is grave. He said this 155 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:31,879 with deep feeling, and I feel reproached for the coldness of my manner. 156 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:37,679 Coldness and distrust have been engendered in me. I knew from my bad experiences 157 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:43,200 they were not natural to me, and I often thought how much I had 158 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:48,679 lost in life losing trustfulness, and how little I have gained gaining hard caution, 159 00:13:50,399 --> 00:13:54,480 the state of mind being habitual to me. I troubled myself more about 160 00:13:54,480 --> 00:14:00,519 this conversation than I might have troubled myself about a greater matter. I listened 161 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:05,080 to his talk at dinner and observed how readily other men responded to it, 162 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:09,720 and with what graceful instinct he adapted his subjects to the knowledge and habits of 163 00:14:09,759 --> 00:14:15,399 those he talked with, as in talking with me, he had easily started 164 00:14:15,399 --> 00:14:20,440 the subject I might have supposed to understand best and to be the most interested 165 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:24,000 in. So in talking with others he guided himself by the same rule. 166 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:30,720 The company was of varied character, but he was not at fault that I 167 00:14:30,799 --> 00:14:35,000 could discover with any member of it. He knew just as much of each 168 00:14:35,039 --> 00:14:41,120 man's pursuit as made him agreeable to that man in reference to it, and 169 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:46,120 just as little as made it natural in him to seek the modesty for information 170 00:14:46,639 --> 00:14:50,200 when the theme was approached. As he talked and talked, but really not 171 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:54,440 too much for the rest of us, seemed to force it upon him. 172 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:58,519 I became quite angry with myself. I took his face to pieces in my 173 00:14:58,639 --> 00:15:03,519 mind like a watch, and examined it in detail. I could not say 174 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:09,080 much against any of his features separately, I could say even less against them 175 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:13,559 when they were put together. Then is it not monstrous? I asked myself 176 00:15:13,159 --> 00:15:16,519 that because a man happens to part his hair straight up the middle of his 177 00:15:16,639 --> 00:15:22,679 head, I should permit myself to suspect and even to detest him. I 178 00:15:22,720 --> 00:15:28,200 may stop to remark that this was no proof of my sense. An observer 179 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:31,799 of men, who finds himself steadily repelled by some apparent trifling thing in a 180 00:15:31,799 --> 00:15:37,480 stranger is right to give it great weight. It may be the clue to 181 00:15:37,519 --> 00:15:41,720 the whole mystery. A hair or two will show where the lion is hidden, 182 00:15:41,559 --> 00:15:46,639 and a very little key will open a very heavy door. I took 183 00:15:46,679 --> 00:15:50,639 part in the conversation with him after a time, and be got on remarkably 184 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:54,919 well. In the drawing room, I asked the host how long he had 185 00:15:54,960 --> 00:16:00,480 known mister Slington. He answered not many months. He had met him at 186 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:04,679 the house of a celebrated painter then present, who had known him Bell when 187 00:16:04,679 --> 00:16:10,000 he was traveling with his nieces in Italy for their help, his plans in 188 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:14,320 life being broken by the death of one of them. He was reading with 189 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:18,480 the intention of going back to college as a matter of form, taking his 190 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:23,879 degree and going into orders. I could not but argue with myself that here 191 00:16:25,039 --> 00:16:29,399 was a true explanation of his interest in poor Meltholm, and that I had 192 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:36,159 been almost brutal in my distrust on that simple head. On the very next 193 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:38,600 day, but one, I was sitting behind my glass partition as before, 194 00:16:40,159 --> 00:16:44,440 when he came into the outer office as before, the moment I saw him 195 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:48,679 again without hearing him, I hated him worse than ever. It was only 196 00:16:48,679 --> 00:16:52,799 for a moment that I had this opportunity, for he waved his tight fitting 197 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:59,639 black glove the instant I looked at him and came straight in. Mister Samson 198 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:04,079 good, I presume you see upon your kind permission to intrude upon you. 199 00:17:06,279 --> 00:17:10,440 I don't keep my word in being justified by business. For my business here, 200 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:14,039 if I may so abuse. The word is of the slightest nature, 201 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,519 I asked. Was it anything I could assist him in? I thank you. 202 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:25,160 No. I merely called to inquire outside whether my dilatory friend had been 203 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:30,759 so false to himself as to be practical and sensible. But of course he 204 00:17:30,799 --> 00:17:34,559 has done nothing. I gave him your papers with my own hand, and 205 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:38,359 he was hot upon the intention. But of course he has done nothing, 206 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:44,400 apart from the general human disinincination to do anything that ought to be done. 207 00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:48,599 I dare say that is a speciality about assuring one's life. You find it 208 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:53,720 like will making people are so superstitious and take it for granted that they will 209 00:17:53,759 --> 00:18:00,640 die soon afterwards. Up Here, if you please, straight up here, 210 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:06,440 mister Samson, neither to the right nor to the left. I almost fancied 211 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,960 I could hear him breathe those words, as he sat smiling at me, 212 00:18:10,559 --> 00:18:17,079 with that intolerable parting exactly opposite the bridge of my nose. There is such 213 00:18:17,079 --> 00:18:21,000 a feeling sometimes, no doubt, I replied, But I don't think it 214 00:18:21,039 --> 00:18:26,279 obtains to any great extent. Well, he said, with a shrug and 215 00:18:26,319 --> 00:18:30,880 a smile. I wish some good angel would influence my friend in the right 216 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:36,680 direction. I rashly promised his mother and sister in Norfolk to see it done, 217 00:18:37,079 --> 00:18:41,039 and he promised them that he would do it. But I suppose he 218 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:45,200 never will. He spoke for a minute or two in different topics, and 219 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:49,480 went away. I had scarcely unlocked the drawers of my writing table. Next 220 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:55,599 morning when he reappeared, I noticed he came straight to the door in the 221 00:18:55,599 --> 00:19:00,920 glass partition and did not pause a single moment outside. Can you spare me 222 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:07,480 two minutes, my dear mister Sampson, by all means much obliged, laying 223 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:11,680 his hat an umbrella on the table. I came early not to interrupt you. 224 00:19:11,599 --> 00:19:15,440 The fact is I am taken by surprise in the reference to this proposal 225 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:21,680 my friend has made. Has he made one? Said I? Yes, 226 00:19:22,079 --> 00:19:26,720 he answered, deliberately, looking at me, and then a bright idea seemed 227 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:30,480 to strike him. Or he only tells me he has. Perhaps that may 228 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:36,359 be a new way of evading the matter. By Jupiter, I never thought 229 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:41,759 of that. Mister Adam was opening the morning's letters in the outer office. 230 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:47,440 What is his name, mister Slington, I asked, What is the name, 231 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:52,039 mister Slington, I asked Beck with. I looked out at the door 232 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:56,440 and requested mister Adams if there were a proposal in that name to bring it 233 00:19:56,480 --> 00:20:00,839 in. He had already laid it out of his hand on counter. It 234 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:06,079 was easily selected from the rest, and he gave it to me. Alfred 235 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:11,400 beckwith proposal to effect the policy with us for two thousand pounds, dated yesterday 236 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:18,440 from Middle Temple. I see missus Slington. Yes, he lives in the 237 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:22,920 same staircas with me. His door is opposite. I never thought he would 238 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:29,160 make me his reference, though it seems natural enough that he would. It 239 00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:33,119 seems natural enough that he should, quite so, mister Sampson, But I 240 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:37,400 never thought of it. Let me see. He took the printed paper from 241 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:45,000 his pocket. How am I to answer all these questions according to the truth, 242 00:20:45,039 --> 00:20:48,319 of course? Said I? Oh, of course, he answered, 243 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:52,559 looking up from the paper with a smile. I meant there were so many. 244 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:56,880 But you do right to be particular. It stands to reason that you 245 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:02,880 must be particular. Will allow me to use your pen and ink certainly, 246 00:21:03,559 --> 00:21:08,000 and your desk certainly. He had been hovering about between his hat and his 247 00:21:08,079 --> 00:21:12,359 umbrella for a place to write. He now sat down in my chair at 248 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:17,640 my blotting paper, and instand with a long walk up his head in an 249 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:22,240 accurate perspective before me, as I stood with my back to the fire. 250 00:21:22,599 --> 00:21:29,319 Before answering each question, he ran it over aloud and discussed it. How 251 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:34,160 long had he known mister Alfred Beckwith that he had decalculate by years upon his 252 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:41,160 fingers, what were his habits? Not difficulty about them? Temperate in the 253 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:45,440 last degree, and took a little too much exercise, if any All the 254 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:51,359 answers were satisfactory. When he had written them all, he looked them over 255 00:21:51,759 --> 00:21:56,920 and finally signed them in a very pretty hand. He supposed he had now 256 00:21:56,039 --> 00:22:00,359 done with the business. I told him he was not likely to be troubled 257 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:07,200 any further. Should he lead the papers there if he pleased, much obliged 258 00:22:07,519 --> 00:22:12,880 good morning. I had had one other visitor before him, not at the 259 00:22:12,960 --> 00:22:18,519 office, but at my own home. That visitor had come to my bedside 260 00:22:18,599 --> 00:22:23,039 when it was not yet daylight, and had been seen by no one else 261 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:30,880 but my faithful confidential servant. A second reference paper, for we required always 262 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:36,960 two was sent down into Norfolk and was duly received back by post. This 263 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:44,000 likewise was satisfactorily answered. In every respect, our firms were all complied with. 264 00:22:45,319 --> 00:22:48,400 We accepted the proposal, and the premium for one year was paid. 265 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:53,400 For six or seven months, I saw no more of mister Slington. He 266 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:56,759 called once at my house when I was not at home, and he once 267 00:22:56,839 --> 00:23:00,960 asked me to dine with him in the temple, but I was engaged. 268 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:07,680 His friend's assurance was suffected. In March, late in September or early in 269 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:11,000 October, I was down at Scarborough for a breadth of sea air, where 270 00:23:11,039 --> 00:23:15,559 I met him on the beach. It was a hot evening. He came 271 00:23:15,599 --> 00:23:18,920 toward me with his hat in his hand, and there was a walk I 272 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:26,400 felt so strongly disinclined to take in perfect order again exactly in front of the 273 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:30,039 bridge of my nose. He was not alone, but had a young lady 274 00:23:30,079 --> 00:23:36,000 on his arm. She was dressed in moaning and I looked at her with 275 00:23:36,079 --> 00:23:41,759 great interest. She had the appearance of being extremely delicate, and her face 276 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:48,200 was remarkably pale and melancholy, but she was very pretty. He introduced her 277 00:23:48,279 --> 00:23:52,480 as his niece, Miss Nina. Are you strolling, mister Samson? Is 278 00:23:52,519 --> 00:23:59,839 it possible you can be idle it? Was possible, and I was strolling. 279 00:24:00,039 --> 00:24:07,160 Shall we stroll together with pleasure? The young lady walked between us, 280 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:11,240 and we walked on the cools he sand in the direction of Philly. There 281 00:24:11,279 --> 00:24:15,079 have been wheels here, said mister Slington. And now I look again, 282 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:19,240 the wheels up a hand carriage. Margaret, my love, your shadow, 283 00:24:19,319 --> 00:24:25,920 without doubt, miss Niner's shadow, I repeated, looking down on the sand, 284 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:30,400 Not that one. Mister Slington returned, laughing, Maha, gareat my 285 00:24:30,519 --> 00:24:34,960 dear tell mister Sampson. Indeed, said the young lady, turning to me, 286 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:41,680 there is nothing to tell except that I constantly see the same invalid old 287 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:45,839 gentleman at all times wherever I go. I have mentioned it to my uncle, 288 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:52,039 and he calls the gentleman my shadow. Does he live in Scarborough? 289 00:24:52,079 --> 00:24:56,599 I asked, He is staying here? Do you live in Scarborough? No, 290 00:24:57,359 --> 00:25:02,200 I'm staying here. My uncle has placed me with a family here for 291 00:25:02,279 --> 00:25:07,519 my help, and your shadow, said I smiling. My shadow, she 292 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:14,000 answered, smiling too, is like myself, not very robust. I fear 293 00:25:14,559 --> 00:25:18,960 for I lose my shadow sometimes as my shadow loses me at other times. 294 00:25:18,799 --> 00:25:23,240 You both seemed liable to confinement to the house. I have not seen my 295 00:25:23,279 --> 00:25:29,880 shadow for days and days, but it does oddly happen occasionally that wherever I 296 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:34,359 go for many days together, this gentleman goes. We have come together on 297 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:40,279 the most unfrequented nooks on this shore. Is this, he said I, 298 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:45,960 pointing before us the wheels had swept down the water's edge, and describing a 299 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:51,000 great loop on the sand, and turning, bringing the hoop back towards us, 300 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:53,400 and spinning it out. As it came. Was a hand carriage drawn 301 00:25:53,480 --> 00:26:00,400 by a man. Yes, said miss Nina. This really is my shadow 302 00:26:00,519 --> 00:26:06,359 uncle. As the carriage approached us, and we approached the carriage, I 303 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:10,799 saw within it an old man whose head was sunk on his breast, and 304 00:26:10,839 --> 00:26:15,599 who was enveloped in a variety of wrappers. He was drawn by a very 305 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:19,079 quiet, but very keen looking man with iron gray hair, and who was 306 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:25,759 slightly lame. They had passed us when the scarriage stopped, and the old 307 00:26:25,799 --> 00:26:29,880 gentleman within, putting out his arm, called to me by my name. 308 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:34,000 I went back and was absent from mister Slington and his niece for about five 309 00:26:34,039 --> 00:26:41,720 minutes. When I rejoined them, missus Slington was the first to speak indeed, 310 00:26:41,799 --> 00:26:44,440 he said to me in a raised voice, before I came up with 311 00:26:44,519 --> 00:26:48,160 him. It is well you have not been longer, or my niece might 312 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:53,799 have died of curiosity to know who her shadow is. Mister Samson, an 313 00:26:53,839 --> 00:26:59,599 old East India director, said, I an intimate friend of our friends at 314 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:03,559 whose I first had the pleasure of meeting you, A certain major banks. 315 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:11,000 You have heard of him. Never very rich, miss Diner, but very 316 00:27:11,039 --> 00:27:15,920 old and very crippled, an amiable man, sensible, much interested in you. 317 00:27:15,799 --> 00:27:21,319 He has just been expatiating on the affection that he has observed to exist 318 00:27:21,400 --> 00:27:26,279 between you and your uncle. Mister Slington was holding his hat again, and 319 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:32,079 he passed his hand up the street walk as he himself went up it serenely 320 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:37,759 after me. Mister Samson, he said, tenderly pressing his niece's arm in 321 00:27:37,799 --> 00:27:42,559 his Our affection was always a strong one, for we have had but few 322 00:27:42,599 --> 00:27:48,480 near ties. We have still fewer now we have associations to bring us together 323 00:27:49,039 --> 00:27:56,079 that are not of this world, Margaret. Dear uncle murmured the young lady 324 00:27:56,599 --> 00:28:00,400 and turned her face aside to hide her tears. My niece and I had 325 00:28:00,440 --> 00:28:07,200 such remembrances and regrets in common, mister Samson. He feelingly pursued that it 326 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:11,319 would be strange, indeed, if the relations between us were cold or indifferent. 327 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:15,599 If I remember a conversation we have had together, you will understand the 328 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:21,920 reference I make. Cheer up, dear Margaret, don't droop. Don't droop, 329 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:26,599 my Margaret. I cannot bear to see you droop. The poor young 330 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:32,839 lady was very much affected, but controlled herself. His feelings, too, 331 00:28:33,079 --> 00:28:37,880 were very acute. In a word, he found himself under such a great 332 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:41,480 need of a restorative that he presently went away to take a bath of sea 333 00:28:41,519 --> 00:28:45,920 water, leaving the young lady and me sitting by a point of rock, 334 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:52,839 and probably presuming, but that you will say was a pardonable indulgence in her 335 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:57,440 luxury, that she would praise him with all her heart. She did poor 336 00:28:57,519 --> 00:29:03,759 thing, with all her confiding heart. She praised him to me for his 337 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:07,640 care of her dead sister, and for his untiding devotion in her last illness. 338 00:29:08,279 --> 00:29:14,119 The sister had wasted away very slowly, and wild and terrible fantasies had 339 00:29:14,119 --> 00:29:18,039 come over her toward the end. But he had never been impatient with her 340 00:29:18,720 --> 00:29:22,359 or at a loss, had always been gentle, watchful, and self possessed. 341 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:26,200 The sister had known him as she had known him, to the best 342 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:30,319 of men, the kindest of men, and yet a man of such admirable 343 00:29:30,359 --> 00:29:34,960 strength of character as to be a very tower for the support of their weak 344 00:29:36,079 --> 00:29:41,319 natures while their poor lives endured. I shall leave him, mister Samson, 345 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:47,000 very soon, said the young lady. I know my life is drawing to 346 00:29:47,039 --> 00:29:51,279 an end, and when I am gone, I hope he will marry and 347 00:29:51,359 --> 00:29:56,119 be happy. I am sure he has lived single so long only for my 348 00:29:56,319 --> 00:30:02,279 sake and for my poor, poor sisters. The little hand carriage had made 349 00:30:02,279 --> 00:30:06,680 another great loop on the damp sand and was coming back again, gradually, 350 00:30:06,759 --> 00:30:11,799 spinning out a slim figure of eight half a mile long. Young lady said, 351 00:30:11,839 --> 00:30:15,359 I, looking round, laying my hand upon her arm, and speaking 352 00:30:15,359 --> 00:30:21,839 in a low voice. Time presses you hear the gentle murmur of that sea. 353 00:30:22,039 --> 00:30:26,680 She looked at me with utmost wonder and alarm, saying, yes, 354 00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:32,160 and you know what a voice is in it when the storm comes. Yes, 355 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:37,240 you see how quiet and peaceful it lies before us. And you know 356 00:30:37,279 --> 00:30:41,440 what an awful side of power without pity it might be this very night. 357 00:30:41,559 --> 00:30:47,519 Yes, But if you have never heard or seen it, or heard of 358 00:30:47,559 --> 00:30:52,079 it in its cruelty? Could you believe that it beats every inanimate thing in 359 00:30:52,119 --> 00:30:59,559 its way to pieces without mercy, and destroys life without remorse. You terrify 360 00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:03,640 me so by these questions. To save you, young lady, To save 361 00:31:03,720 --> 00:31:10,960 you for God's sake, Collect your strength and collect your firmness. If you 362 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:15,680 were here alone and hinden by the rising tide on the floor of fifty feet 363 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:19,200 above your head, you could not be in greater danger than the danger you 364 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:25,519 are now to be saved from. The figure in the sand was spun out 365 00:31:25,799 --> 00:31:30,400 and straggled off into a crooked little jerk that ended the cliff very near us. 366 00:31:30,079 --> 00:31:34,839 As I am before Heaven and the judge of all mankind, your friend 367 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:41,279 and your dear sister's friend, I solemnly entreat you, miss Nina, without 368 00:31:41,319 --> 00:31:45,880 one moment's loss of time, to come to this gentleman with me. If 369 00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:49,640 the little carriage had been less near to us, I doubt if I could 370 00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:53,960 have got her way. But it was so near that we were there before 371 00:31:55,000 --> 00:32:00,240 she had recovered the hurry of being urged from the rock. I had not 372 00:32:00,319 --> 00:32:06,480 remained there with her two minutes certainly within five. I had the inexpressible satisfaction 373 00:32:06,599 --> 00:32:09,200 of seeing her from the point we had sat on, to which I had 374 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:15,400 returned, half supported and half carried up some rude steps notched in the cliff 375 00:32:15,880 --> 00:32:20,200 by the figure of an active man. With that figure beside her, I 376 00:32:20,319 --> 00:32:25,759 knew she was safe anywhere. I sat alone in the rock awaiting mister Slington's 377 00:32:25,759 --> 00:32:31,079 return. The twilight was deepening and the shadows were heavy when he came round 378 00:32:31,079 --> 00:32:36,640 the point with his hat hanging at his button hole, smoothing his wet hair 379 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:39,759 with one of his hands and picking up the old path with the other and 380 00:32:39,839 --> 00:32:45,599 a pocket comb. My niece not here, mister Sampson, he said, 381 00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:51,400 looking round. Miss Nina seemed to feel a little chill in the air after 382 00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:57,000 the sun was down, and has gone home. He looked surprised, as 383 00:32:57,039 --> 00:33:00,920 though she were not accustomed to do anything without him, even to originate so 384 00:33:01,119 --> 00:33:07,559 slight a proceeding. I persuaded Miss Niner, I explained, ah, said 385 00:33:07,599 --> 00:33:13,559 he. She is easily persuaded for her good Thank you, mister Samson. 386 00:33:14,039 --> 00:33:19,000 She is better within doors. The bathing place was further than I thought to 387 00:33:19,039 --> 00:33:24,799 say. The truth, Missnner is very delicate, I observed. He shook 388 00:33:24,839 --> 00:33:31,359 his head drew a deep sigh, very very very You may recollect me saying 389 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:37,440 so the time that has since intervened has not strengthened her. The gloomy shadow 390 00:33:37,519 --> 00:33:43,240 that fell upon her sister so early in life seems, in my anxious eyes 391 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:49,839 to gather over her ever darker, ever darker. Dear Margaret, dear Margaret. 392 00:33:51,480 --> 00:33:55,960 But we must hope. The hand carriage was spinning away before us at 393 00:33:57,079 --> 00:34:01,240 most indecorous space for an invalid vehicle, and was making most irregular curves upon 394 00:34:01,279 --> 00:34:07,440 the sand. Missus Slington, noticing it after he had put his handkerchief to 395 00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:12,880 his eyes, said, if I may judge from appearances, your friend will 396 00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:16,880 be upset. Mister Samson, it looks probable, certainly, said I. 397 00:34:19,199 --> 00:34:24,039 The servant must be drunk. The servants of old gentlemen will get drunk sometimes, 398 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:30,159 said I. The major draws very light, mister Samson. The Major 399 00:34:30,239 --> 00:34:36,159 does draw light, said I. By this time the carriage, much to 400 00:34:36,199 --> 00:34:39,079 my relief, was lost in the darkness. He walked on for a little 401 00:34:39,159 --> 00:34:44,400 side by side over the sand in silence. After a short while, he 402 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:47,719 said, in a voice still affected by the emotion, that his niece's state 403 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:53,039 of health had awakened him. Do you stay here long, mister Samson? 404 00:34:53,920 --> 00:35:00,440 Why I know I am going away to night so soon? But business always 405 00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:06,760 holds you in request. Men like mister Samson are too important to others to 406 00:35:06,840 --> 00:35:13,360 be spared to their own need of relaxation and enjoyment. I dun't know about 407 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:19,159 that, said I. However, I am going back to London. To 408 00:35:19,199 --> 00:35:24,360 London, I shall be there too soon after you. I knew that as 409 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:29,599 well as he did, but I did not tell him so any more than 410 00:35:29,599 --> 00:35:32,599 I told him what defensive weapon my right hand rested on in my pocket as 411 00:35:32,599 --> 00:35:37,960 I walked by his side, any more than I told him why I did 412 00:35:37,960 --> 00:35:39,960 not walk on the sea side of him. With the night closing in, 413 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:46,239 we left the beach, and our ways diverged. We exchanged good night and 414 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:52,039 had parted. Indeed, when he said, returning, mister Samson, May 415 00:35:52,119 --> 00:36:00,719 I ask poor Melton, whom we spoke of, dead yet not when I 416 00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:05,079 last heard of him, but too broken a man to live long and hopelessly 417 00:36:05,119 --> 00:36:08,239 lost to his old calling. Dear, dear, dear, said he, 418 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:15,599 with great feeling. Sad, sad, sad. The world is grave and 419 00:36:15,719 --> 00:36:20,039 so went his way. It was not his fault if the world were not 420 00:36:20,119 --> 00:36:23,719 a grave. But I did not call that observation after him any more than 421 00:36:23,760 --> 00:36:30,519 that I had mentioned those other things just now enumerated. He went his way, 422 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:35,039 and I went mine with all expedition. This happened, as I have 423 00:36:35,119 --> 00:36:39,480 said, either at the end of September or beginning of October. The next 424 00:36:39,519 --> 00:36:45,239 I saw him, and the last time was late in November. I had 425 00:36:45,239 --> 00:36:50,960 a very particular engagement to breakfast in the temple. It was a bitter northeasterly 426 00:36:51,039 --> 00:36:55,880 morning, and the sleet and slush lay inches deep in the streets. I 427 00:36:55,920 --> 00:37:00,480 could get no conveyance, and was soon wet to the knee. But I 428 00:37:00,519 --> 00:37:05,559 should have been true to that appointment, though I had to wade to it 429 00:37:05,760 --> 00:37:09,480 up to my neck in the same impediments. The appointment took me to the 430 00:37:09,559 --> 00:37:15,039 chambers in the temple. They were at the top of the lonely corner house, 431 00:37:15,119 --> 00:37:21,320 overlooking the river. The name mister Alfred Beckwith was painted on the outer 432 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:27,239 door. On the door opposite on the same landing the name mister Julius Slington. 433 00:37:29,159 --> 00:37:32,239 The doors of both sets of chambers stood open, so that anything said 434 00:37:32,280 --> 00:37:37,360 aloud in one set, could be heard in the other. I had never 435 00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:42,719 been in those chambers before. They were dismal, close, unwholesome, and 436 00:37:42,800 --> 00:37:49,119 oppressive. The furniture, originally good and not yet old, was faded and 437 00:37:49,199 --> 00:37:54,079 dirty. The rooms were in great disorder. There was a strong prevailing smell 438 00:37:54,119 --> 00:38:00,679 of opium, brandy and tobacco. The great and fire irons were flashed all 439 00:38:00,719 --> 00:38:05,599 over with unsightly blotches of rust. And on a sofa by the fire in 440 00:38:05,679 --> 00:38:09,960 the room where breakfast had been prepared, lay the host, mister beckwith a 441 00:38:10,039 --> 00:38:15,840 man with all appearances of the worst kind of drunkard, very far advanced upon 442 00:38:15,840 --> 00:38:22,519 his shameful way to death. Slington is not come yet, said this creature, 443 00:38:22,840 --> 00:38:29,360 staggering up when I went in. I'll call him Hulloa, Julius Caesar, 444 00:38:29,880 --> 00:38:34,440 Come and drink. As he hoarsely roared this out, he beat the 445 00:38:34,480 --> 00:38:37,679 poker and tongs together in a mad way, as if that were his usual 446 00:38:37,719 --> 00:38:44,280 manner of summoning his associate. The voice mister Slington was heard through the clatter 447 00:38:44,679 --> 00:38:47,800 from the opposite side of the staircase, and he came in. He had 448 00:38:47,840 --> 00:38:52,920 not expected the pleasure of meeting me I have seen several artful men brought to 449 00:38:52,920 --> 00:38:58,840 a stag, but I never saw a man so aghast as he was when 450 00:38:58,840 --> 00:39:05,679 his eyes rested on mine. Julius Caesar cried, beck With staggering between us, 451 00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:10,960 Miss Samson, missed Samson, Julius Caesar, Julius, mister Samson is 452 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:15,880 a friend of my soul. Julius keeps me piled with liquor morning, noon 453 00:39:15,960 --> 00:39:22,000 and night. Julius is a real benefactor. Julius threw the tea and coffee 454 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:27,719 out of the window when I used to have any. Julius empties all the 455 00:39:27,760 --> 00:39:32,840 water jugs of their content and fills them with spirits. Julius winds me up 456 00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:38,440 and keeps me going. Boil the brandy, Julius. There was a rusty 457 00:39:38,480 --> 00:39:44,119 and fury saucepan in the ashes. The ashes looked like the accumulation of weeks. 458 00:39:44,840 --> 00:39:49,400 And beck With rolling and staggering between us as he were going to plunge 459 00:39:49,440 --> 00:39:53,320 headlong into the fire, got the saucepan out and tried to force it into 460 00:39:53,320 --> 00:40:00,760 Stington's hand. Boil the brandy, Julius Caesar, come do you usual office? 461 00:40:00,119 --> 00:40:06,639 Boil the brandy. He became so fierce in his gesticulation with the sauceman 462 00:40:07,079 --> 00:40:12,199 that I expected to see him lay open Slington's head with it. I therefore 463 00:40:12,239 --> 00:40:15,559 put out my hand to check him. He reeled back to the sofa, 464 00:40:15,960 --> 00:40:20,800 sat there, panting, shaking, and red eyed in his rags of a 465 00:40:20,920 --> 00:40:24,840 dressing gown, looking at hers both. I noticed then that there was nothing 466 00:40:24,880 --> 00:40:30,519 to drink on the table but brandy, and nothing to eat but salted herrings 467 00:40:30,119 --> 00:40:36,960 and a heart sickly highly peppered stew At all events, mister Sampson, said 468 00:40:37,039 --> 00:40:42,320 Slington, offering me the smooth gravel path for the last time. I thank 469 00:40:42,360 --> 00:40:47,159 you for interfering between me and this unfortunate man's violence. However you came here, 470 00:40:47,480 --> 00:40:52,320 mister Sampson, or with whatever motive you came here, at least, 471 00:40:52,320 --> 00:40:59,760 I thank you for that boil. The brandy, muttered Beckward, without gratifying 472 00:40:59,760 --> 00:41:05,079 his to know how I came there, I said, quietly, how is 473 00:41:05,119 --> 00:41:10,559 your niece, mister Slington. He looked hard at me, and I looked 474 00:41:10,559 --> 00:41:15,119 hard at him. I am sorry to say, mister Sampson, that my 475 00:41:15,239 --> 00:41:21,760 niece has proved treacherous and ungrateful to her best friend. She left me without 476 00:41:21,760 --> 00:41:25,840 a word of notice or explanation. She was misled, no doubt by some 477 00:41:25,920 --> 00:41:32,400 designing rascal. Perhaps you may have heard of it. I did hear that 478 00:41:32,440 --> 00:41:37,400 she was misled by a designing rascal. In fact, I have proof of 479 00:41:37,440 --> 00:41:45,679 it. Are you sure of that? Said he quite boil The brandy muttered, 480 00:41:45,679 --> 00:41:50,599 beckwith company to breakfast, Julius, Caesar, do your usual office, 481 00:41:51,039 --> 00:41:55,199 provide the usual breakfast, dinner, tea and supper, boil the brandy. 482 00:41:58,039 --> 00:42:01,599 The eyes of Slington looked from him to me, and he said, after 483 00:42:01,639 --> 00:42:07,400 a moment's consideration, mister Samson, you're a man of the world, and 484 00:42:07,480 --> 00:42:13,719 so am I. I will be plain with you. Oh no, you 485 00:42:13,840 --> 00:42:16,519 won't, said I, shaking my head. I tell you, sir, 486 00:42:16,599 --> 00:42:21,400 I will be plain with you, and I tell you you will not, 487 00:42:21,880 --> 00:42:27,159 said I. I know all about you. You plain with any one. 488 00:42:27,880 --> 00:42:32,679 Nonsense, nonsense, I plainly tell you, mister Samson. He went on, 489 00:42:32,920 --> 00:42:38,320 with a manner almost composed, that I understand your object. You want 490 00:42:38,360 --> 00:42:44,440 to save your funds and escape from your liabilities. These are old tricks of 491 00:42:44,480 --> 00:42:47,000 the trade. With you off this, gentleman. But you will not do 492 00:42:47,039 --> 00:42:52,079 it, sir, You will not succeed. You have not an easy adversary 493 00:42:52,119 --> 00:42:58,199 to play against. When you play against me, we shall have to inquire 494 00:42:58,239 --> 00:43:04,000 in due time when and how mister Beckwith fell into his present habits. With 495 00:43:04,119 --> 00:43:07,920 that remark, Sir, I put this poor creature and his incoherent wanderings of 496 00:43:07,960 --> 00:43:13,599 speech aside, and vish you a good morning and a better case next time. 497 00:43:15,960 --> 00:43:19,519 When he was saying this, Beckwith filled a half pine glass with brandy. 498 00:43:20,599 --> 00:43:22,880 At this moment he threw the brandy at his face and threw the glass 499 00:43:22,960 --> 00:43:28,320 after it. Slington put up his hands, half blinded with the spirit, 500 00:43:28,840 --> 00:43:32,480 and cut with the glass across the forehead. At the sound of the breakage, 501 00:43:32,639 --> 00:43:37,440 a fourth person came into the room, closing the door and stood at 502 00:43:37,480 --> 00:43:42,639 it. He was a very quiet, but very keen looking man, with 503 00:43:42,840 --> 00:43:49,440 iron gray hair and slightly lame. Slington pulled out his handkerchief, assuaged the 504 00:43:49,480 --> 00:43:54,119 pain in his sparting eyes, and dabbled the blood on his forehead. He 505 00:43:54,320 --> 00:43:58,760 was a long time about it, and I saw that in doing of it 506 00:43:58,840 --> 00:44:04,760 a tremendous change over him, occasioned by the change in Beckwith, who ceased 507 00:44:04,760 --> 00:44:10,280 to pant and tremble, sat upright and never took his eyes off him I 508 00:44:10,360 --> 00:44:16,119 never in my life saw a face in which aberance and determination was so forcibly 509 00:44:16,159 --> 00:44:23,079 painted as in Beckwit's. Then look at me, you villain, said Beckwith, 510 00:44:23,719 --> 00:44:29,239 and see me as I really am. I took these rooms to make 511 00:44:29,280 --> 00:44:32,000 them a trap for you. I came into them as a drunkard, to 512 00:44:32,079 --> 00:44:37,440 date the trap for you. You fell into the trap, and you will 513 00:44:37,480 --> 00:44:40,760 never leave it alive. On the morning when you last went to see mister 514 00:44:40,800 --> 00:44:45,639 Sampson's office, I had seen him first. Your plot had been known to 515 00:44:45,719 --> 00:44:52,519 both of us all along, and you have been counterplotted all along. What 516 00:44:52,320 --> 00:44:57,280 have you been cajoled into putting the prize of two thousand pounds in your power? 517 00:44:58,199 --> 00:45:00,800 I was to be done to death with brain, and Randy not proving 518 00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:06,599 quick enough with something quicker. Have I never seen you when you thought my 519 00:45:06,639 --> 00:45:13,239 senses gone, pouring your little bottle into my glass? Why you, murderer 520 00:45:13,239 --> 00:45:16,760 and forger, Alone here with you in the dead of night, as I 521 00:45:16,840 --> 00:45:21,679 have so often been, I have had my hand upon the trigger of a 522 00:45:21,719 --> 00:45:28,159 pistol twenty times to blow your brains out. This sudden starting up the thing 523 00:45:28,719 --> 00:45:32,719 that he had supposed to be his imbecile victim into a determined man with a 524 00:45:32,719 --> 00:45:38,599 subtled resolution to hunt him down and be the death of him, mercilessly expressed 525 00:45:38,599 --> 00:45:44,119 from head to foot, was in the first shock too much for him. 526 00:45:44,719 --> 00:45:49,800 Without any figure of speech, he staggered under it. But there is no 527 00:45:49,880 --> 00:45:53,440 greater mistake than to suppose that a man who is a calculating criminal is in 528 00:45:53,519 --> 00:46:00,239 any phase of his guilt otherwise than true to himself and perfectly consistent with his 529 00:46:00,320 --> 00:46:05,559 whole character. Such a man commits murder, and murder is the natural culmination 530 00:46:05,679 --> 00:46:09,119 of his course. Such a man has to outface murder, and will do 531 00:46:09,239 --> 00:46:15,800 it with hardihood and effrontery. It is a sort of fashion to express surprise 532 00:46:15,239 --> 00:46:20,880 that any notorious criminal, having such a crime upon his conscience can so brave 533 00:46:20,880 --> 00:46:24,639 it out. Do you think that he had it in his conscience at all, 534 00:46:25,280 --> 00:46:30,159 or had a conscience to have it upon he would ever have committed the 535 00:46:30,239 --> 00:46:36,679 crime perfectly consistent with himself, as I believe all such monsters to be. 536 00:46:37,440 --> 00:46:43,000 The Slington recovered himself and showed a defiance that was sufficiently cold and quiet. 537 00:46:44,199 --> 00:46:47,920 He was white, he was haggard, and he was changed, but only 538 00:46:47,960 --> 00:46:52,280 as a sharper who had played for a great stake, and had been outwitted 539 00:46:52,440 --> 00:46:59,599 and had lost the game. Listen to me, you villain, said Beckwith, 540 00:47:00,079 --> 00:47:02,599 And let every word you hear me say be a stab in your wicked 541 00:47:02,639 --> 00:47:08,280 heart. When I took these rooms to throw myself in your way and lead 542 00:47:08,360 --> 00:47:13,719 you on the scheme that I knew my appearance and supposed character and habits would 543 00:47:13,760 --> 00:47:17,599 suggest to such a devil. How did I know that? Because you were 544 00:47:17,639 --> 00:47:22,519 no stranger to me, I knew you to be the cruel wretch who, 545 00:47:22,559 --> 00:47:29,000 for so much money, had killed one innocent girl while she trusted him implicitly, 546 00:47:29,800 --> 00:47:35,800 and who was by inches killing another Slington took out a snuff box, 547 00:47:36,440 --> 00:47:40,159 took a pinch of snuff and laughed. But see here, said Beckwith, 548 00:47:40,280 --> 00:47:45,840 never looking away, never raising his voice, never relaxing his face, never 549 00:47:45,960 --> 00:47:50,480 unclenching his hand. See what a dull wolf you have been, after all, 550 00:47:51,679 --> 00:47:55,519 the infatuated drunkard who never drank a fiftieth part of liquor you plied him 551 00:47:55,519 --> 00:48:00,119 with, but poured it away here, there, everywhere, almost before your 552 00:48:00,119 --> 00:48:05,159 eyes, who brought over the fellow you said to watch him and to ply 553 00:48:05,360 --> 00:48:09,800 him by outbidding you in his bribe before he had been at his work three 554 00:48:09,880 --> 00:48:16,840 days, with whom you have observed no caution yet, who was so bent 555 00:48:17,000 --> 00:48:22,280 on bridding the earth of you as a wild beast, that he would have 556 00:48:22,360 --> 00:48:27,760 defeated you if you had been ever so prudent. That drunkard, whom you 557 00:48:27,840 --> 00:48:31,199 have many a time left on the floor of this room, and who has 558 00:48:31,360 --> 00:48:37,119 even let you go out of it alive and undeceived, when you had turned 559 00:48:37,159 --> 00:48:42,320 him over with your foot, has almost as often on the same night, 560 00:48:42,599 --> 00:48:46,599 within an hour, within a few minutes, watched you awake, had his 561 00:48:46,679 --> 00:48:52,800 hand in at your pillow when you were asleep, turned over your papers, 562 00:48:52,480 --> 00:48:58,719 taken samples from your bottles and packets of powder, changed their contents, rifled 563 00:48:58,840 --> 00:49:02,679 every secret in your life life. He had had another pinch of snuff in 564 00:49:02,679 --> 00:49:07,400 his hand, but had gradually let a drop from between his fingers to the 565 00:49:07,440 --> 00:49:12,119 floor, where he now smoothed it out with his foot, looking down at 566 00:49:12,159 --> 00:49:16,440 it. The while that drunkard said beckwith, who had free access to your 567 00:49:16,480 --> 00:49:21,599 rooms at all times, that he might drink the strong drinks that you left 568 00:49:21,599 --> 00:49:25,880 in his way, and be sooner ended holding no more terms with you that 569 00:49:27,079 --> 00:49:30,679 he would hold with a tiger has had his master key for all your locks, 570 00:49:31,360 --> 00:49:36,559 his tests for all your poisons, his clue to your cipher writing. 571 00:49:37,639 --> 00:49:40,360 He can tell you, as well as you can tell him, how long 572 00:49:40,400 --> 00:49:45,400 it took to complete the deed, What doses there were, what intervals, 573 00:49:45,559 --> 00:49:52,840 What signs of gradual decay upon mind and body? What distempered fancies were produced, 574 00:49:52,519 --> 00:49:59,400 what observable changes, what physical pain? He can tell you as well 575 00:49:59,440 --> 00:50:02,280 as you can tell tell him. That all this was recorded day by day 576 00:50:02,760 --> 00:50:07,719 as a lesson of experience for future service. He can tell you better than 577 00:50:07,760 --> 00:50:14,760 you can tell him where that journal is. At this moment, Slington stopped 578 00:50:14,760 --> 00:50:19,239 the action of his foot and looked at Beckwith. No, said the latter, 579 00:50:19,679 --> 00:50:22,440 as if answering a question from him. Not in the drawer of the 580 00:50:22,440 --> 00:50:28,039 writing desk that opens with the spring, it is not there, and it 581 00:50:28,079 --> 00:50:31,920 never will be there again. Then you are a thief, said Slington, 582 00:50:34,239 --> 00:50:37,880 without any change whatever in the inflexible purpose which it was quite terrific even to 583 00:50:37,960 --> 00:50:43,519 me to contemplate, and from the power of which I had always felt convinced 584 00:50:43,719 --> 00:50:49,400 it was impossible for this wretch to escape. Beckwith returned, and I am 585 00:50:49,480 --> 00:50:53,840 your niece's shadow too. With an imprecation. Slington put his hand to his 586 00:50:53,920 --> 00:50:59,599 head, tore out some hair, and flung it to the ground. It 587 00:50:59,679 --> 00:51:02,760 was the end of the smooth walk. He destroyed it in the action, 588 00:51:04,440 --> 00:51:08,599 and will soon be seen that his use for it was past. Beckworth went 589 00:51:08,639 --> 00:51:15,000 on whenever you left here, I left here, although I understood that you 590 00:51:15,079 --> 00:51:20,159 found it necessary to pause in the completion of that purpose to avert suspicion. 591 00:51:20,760 --> 00:51:24,440 Still, I watched you close with that poor confiding girl. When I had 592 00:51:24,440 --> 00:51:29,440 the diary and I could read it word by word. It is only about 593 00:51:29,519 --> 00:51:34,639 the night before your last visit to Scarborough. You remember the night you slept 594 00:51:34,639 --> 00:51:39,079 with a small flat while tied to your wrist. I sent to mister Samson, 595 00:51:39,559 --> 00:51:45,760 who was kept out of view. This is mister Samson's trusty servants standing 596 00:51:45,840 --> 00:51:52,440 by the door. We three saved your niece among us. Slington looked at 597 00:51:52,480 --> 00:51:55,960 us all, took an uncertain step or two from the place where he had 598 00:51:57,000 --> 00:52:00,920 stood, returned to it, and glanced about him in a very curious way, 599 00:52:02,000 --> 00:52:07,039 as one of the meaner reptiles might looking for a hole to hide in. 600 00:52:07,960 --> 00:52:10,960 I noticed at the same time that a singular change took place in the 601 00:52:10,960 --> 00:52:16,760 figure of the man as if it collapsed within his clothes, and they consequently 602 00:52:16,840 --> 00:52:22,559 became ill, shapen and ill fitting. You shall know, said Beckwid, 603 00:52:23,239 --> 00:52:28,519 for I hope the knowledge will be bitter and terrible to you. Why you 604 00:52:28,639 --> 00:52:32,159 have been pursued by one man, and why when the whole interest that mister 605 00:52:32,239 --> 00:52:38,119 Sampson represents would have expended any money in hunting you down, you have been 606 00:52:38,199 --> 00:52:44,400 tracked to death at a single individual's charge. I hear you have had the 607 00:52:44,480 --> 00:52:50,039 name of Melthem on your lips. Sometimes I saw, in addition to those 608 00:52:50,039 --> 00:52:55,840 other changes, a sudden stoppage came upon his breathing. When you send the 609 00:52:55,880 --> 00:53:00,880 sweet girl whom you murdered, you know with what artfully made out surroundings and 610 00:53:00,960 --> 00:53:07,440 probabilities you sent her to Meltham's office before taking her abroad to originate the transaction 611 00:53:07,599 --> 00:53:12,880 that doomed her to the grave. It fell to Meltham's lot to see her 612 00:53:13,239 --> 00:53:16,159 and to speak with her. It did not fall to his lot to save 613 00:53:16,239 --> 00:53:21,039 her. Though I knew he would freely give up his own life to have 614 00:53:21,079 --> 00:53:25,000 done it. He admired her. I would say he loved her deeply. 615 00:53:25,760 --> 00:53:30,440 If I thought it possible that you could understand the word. When she was 616 00:53:30,519 --> 00:53:37,199 sacrificed, he was thoroughly assured of your guilt. Having lost her, he 617 00:53:37,280 --> 00:53:42,119 had but one object left in life, and that was to avenge her and 618 00:53:42,280 --> 00:53:49,280 destroy you. I saw the villain's nostril rise and fall convulsively, but I 619 00:53:49,400 --> 00:53:55,360 saw no moving at his mouth. That man meltham Beck, with steadily pursued, 620 00:53:57,400 --> 00:54:00,960 was as absolutely certain that you could never him in this world if he 621 00:54:01,079 --> 00:54:07,320 devoted himself to a destruction with his utmost fidelity and earnestness, and if he 622 00:54:07,400 --> 00:54:13,280 divided the sacred duty with no other duty in life, as he was certain 623 00:54:13,840 --> 00:54:16,920 that in achieving it he would be a poor instrument in the hand of Providence, 624 00:54:17,760 --> 00:54:22,079 and would do well before Heaven in striking you out from among living men. 625 00:54:23,480 --> 00:54:28,639 I am that man, and I thank God that I have done my 626 00:54:28,760 --> 00:54:34,280 work. If Slington had been running for his life from swift footed savages a 627 00:54:34,360 --> 00:54:39,159 dozen miles, he could not have shown more empathetic signs of being oppressed at 628 00:54:39,239 --> 00:54:45,480 heart and laboring for breath than he showed now when he looked at the pursuer 629 00:54:45,719 --> 00:54:51,039 who had so relentlessly hunted him down. You never saw me under my right 630 00:54:51,159 --> 00:54:54,519 name before you see me under my right name. Now you shall see me 631 00:54:54,599 --> 00:54:59,400 once again in the body, when you are tried for your life. You 632 00:54:59,440 --> 00:55:02,239 shall see me once again in the spirit, when the cord is around your 633 00:55:02,239 --> 00:55:07,559 neck and the crowds are crying against you. When Maltam had spoken these last 634 00:55:07,559 --> 00:55:13,519 words, the miscreen suddenly turned his face away and seemed to strike his mouth 635 00:55:13,559 --> 00:55:17,000 with his open hand. At the same instant, the room was filled with 636 00:55:17,039 --> 00:55:22,199 a new and powerful odor, and almost at the same time he broke into 637 00:55:22,199 --> 00:55:27,079 a crooked run, leap start. I have no name for the spasm, 638 00:55:27,719 --> 00:55:30,599 and fell with a dull weight that shook the heavy old doors and windows in 639 00:55:30,639 --> 00:55:37,320 their frames. That was a fitting end of him. When we saw that 640 00:55:37,400 --> 00:55:40,239 he was dead, we drew away from the room, and Melton, giving 641 00:55:40,280 --> 00:55:45,000 me his hands, said with a weary air, I have no more work 642 00:55:45,039 --> 00:55:50,000 on earth, my friend, but I shall see her again elsewhere. It 643 00:55:50,159 --> 00:55:53,039 was in vain that I tried to rally him. He might have saved her. 644 00:55:53,239 --> 00:55:59,199 He said he had not saved her, and he reproached himself. He 645 00:55:59,280 --> 00:56:05,440 had lost her, and he was broken hearted. The purpose that has sustained 646 00:56:05,480 --> 00:56:09,480 me over Samson, and there is nothing now to hold to life. I 647 00:56:09,519 --> 00:56:14,880 am not fit for life. I am weak and spiritless. I have no 648 00:56:15,039 --> 00:56:20,679 hope and no object. My day is done. In truth, I could 649 00:56:20,679 --> 00:56:24,119 hardly have believed that a broken man who then spoke to me was the man 650 00:56:24,159 --> 00:56:30,360 who had so strongly and so differently impressed me when his purpose was before him. 651 00:56:30,639 --> 00:56:35,920 I used such entries with him as I could, But he still said, 652 00:56:36,079 --> 00:56:40,760 and always said, in a patient, undemonstrative way, nothing could avail 653 00:56:40,840 --> 00:56:46,199 him. He was broken hearted. He died early in the next spring. 654 00:56:47,079 --> 00:56:51,719 He was buried by the side of the poor young lady for whom he had 655 00:56:51,800 --> 00:56:57,920 cherished those tender and unhappy regrets, and he left all he had to his 656 00:56:58,079 --> 00:57:02,199 sister. She lived to be a happy wife and mother. She married my 657 00:57:02,320 --> 00:57:07,480 sister's son, who succeeded poor Malcolm. She is living now, and her 658 00:57:07,559 --> 00:57:12,239 children ride about the garden on my walking stick when I go to see her 659 00:57:15,000 --> 00:57:17,159 and off. Hunted down by Charles Dickens