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stood like a pillar； motionless； torpid； frozen。 But the great
burst of the choir； and the mighty blare ascending from our vast
organ at the closing of the grave； recalled him to himself； and he
strode rapidly homeward。 Half an hour after I returned； I was
summoned to his bedroom。 He was in bed； calm and collected。 What
he said to me I remember as if it had been yesterday； and the very
tone with which he said it； although more than twenty years have
passed since then。 He began thus： 〃I have not long to live〃； and
when he saw me start； suddenly awakened into a consciousness that
perhaps he had taken poison； and meant to intimate as much； he
continued： 〃You fancy I have taken poison；no matter whether I
have or not； if I have； the poison is such that no antidote will
now avail； or； if they would； you well know that some griefs are of
a kind which leave no opening to any hope。 What difference；
therefore； can it make whether I leave this earth to…day； to…
morrow； or the next day？ Be assured of thisthat whatever I have
determined to do is past all power of being affected by a human
opposition。 Occupy yourself not with any fruitless attempts； but
calmly listen to me； else I know what to do。〃 Seeing a suppressed
fury in his eye； notwithstanding I saw also some change stealing
over his features as if from some subtle poison beginning to work
upon his frame； awestruck I consented to listen； and sat still。
〃It is well that you do so； for my time is short。 Here is my will；
legally drawn up； and you will see that I have committed an immense
property to your discretion。 Here； again； is a paper still more
important in my eyes； it is also testamentary； and binds you to
duties which may not be so easy to execute as the disposal of my
property。 But now listen to something else； which concerns neither
of these papers。 Promise me； in the first place； solemnly； that
whenever I die you will see me buried in the same grave as my wife；
from whose funeral we are just returned。 Promise。〃I promised。
〃Swear。〃I swore。〃Finally； promise me that； when you read this
second paper which I have put into your hands； whatsoever you may
think of it； you will say nothingpublish nothing to the world
until three years shall have passed。〃I promised。〃And now
farewell for three hours。 Come to me again about ten o'clock； and
take a glass of wine in memory of old times。〃 This he said
laughingly； but even then a dark spasm crossed his face。 Yet；
thinking that this might be the mere working of mental anguish
within him； I complied with his desire； and retired。 Feeling；
however； but little at ease； I devised an excuse for looking in
upon him about one hour and a half after I had left him。 I knocked
gently at his door； there was no answer。 I knocked louder； still
no answer。 I went in。 The light of day was gone； and I could see
nothing。 But I was alarmed by the utter stillness of the room。 I
listened earnestly； but not a breath could be heard。 I rushed back
hastily into the hall for a lamp； I returned； I looked in upon this
marvel of manly beauty； and the first glance informed me that he
and all his splendid endowments had departed forever。 He had died；
probably； soon after I left him； and had dismissed me from some
growing instinct which informed him that his last agonies were at
hand。
I took up his two testamentary documents； both were addressed in
the shape of letters to myself。 The first was a rapid though
distinct appropriation of his enormous property。 General rules
were laid down； upon which the property was to be distributed； but
the details were left to my discretion； and to the guidance of
circumstances as they should happen to emerge from the various
inquiries which it would become necessary to set on foot。 This
first document I soon laid aside； both because I found that its
provisions were dependent for their meaning upon the second； and
because to this second document I looked with confidence for a
solution of many mysteries；of the profound sadness which had；
from the first of my acquaintance with him； possessed a man so
gorgeously endowed as the favorite of nature and fortune； of his
motives for huddling up； in a clandestine manner； that connection
which formed the glory of his life； and possibly （but then I
hesitated） of the late unintelligible murders； which still lay
under as profound a cloud as ever。 Much of this WOULD be unveiled
all might be： and there and then； with the corpse lying beside me
of the gifted and mysterious writer； I seated myself； and read the
following statement：
〃MARCH 26； 1817。
〃My trial is finished； my conscience； my duty； my honor； are
liberated； my 'warfare is accomplished。' Margaret； my innocent
young wife； I have seen for the last time。 Her； the crown that
might have been of my earthly felicityher； the one temptation to
put aside the bitter cup which awaited meher； sole seductress （O
innocent seductress！） from the stern duties which my fate had
imposed upon meher； even her； I have sacrificed。
〃Before I go； partly lest the innocent should be brought into
question for acts almost exclusively mine； but still more lest the
lesson and the warning which God； by my hand； has written in blood
upon your guilty walls； should perish for want of its authentic
exposition； hear my last dying avowal； that the murders which have
desolated so many families within your walls； and made the
household hearth no sanctuary； age no charter of protection； are
all due originally to my head； if not always to my hand； as the
minister of a dreadful retribution。
〃That account of my history； and my prospects； which you received
from the Russian diplomatist； among some errors of little
importance； is essentially correct。 My father was not so
immediately connected with English blood as is there represented。
However； it is true that he claimed descent from an English family
of even higher distinction than that which is assigned in the
Russian statement。 He was proud of this English descent； and the
more so as the war with revolutionary France brought out more
prominently than ever the moral and civil grandeur of England。
This pride was generous； but it was imprudent in his situation。
His immediate progenitors had been settled in Italyat Rome first；
but latterly at Milan； and his whole property； large and scattered；
came； by the progress of the revolution； to stand under French
domination。 Many spoliations he suffered； but still he was too
rich to be seriously injured。 But he foresaw； in the progress of
events； still greater perils menacing his most capital resources。
Many of the states or princes in Italy were deeply in his debt；
and； in the great convulsions which threatened his country； he saw
that both the contending parties would find a colorable excuse for
absolving themselves from engagements which pressed unpleasantly
upon their finances。 In this embarrassment he formed an intimacy