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s why the marks on both the old corpses and the new were so similar。
〃Now； Fairhaven had Leng's notebooks。 He began trying to replicate Leng's experiments； hoping to retrace the path Leng had taken。 But of course； his attempts were amateurish； with no real understanding of Leng's true work。〃
As Pendergast's narrative ceased； the old house settled into a profound silence。
〃I can't believe it；〃 Smithback said at last。 〃When I interviewed him； Fairhaven seemed so confident； so calm。 So 。 。 。 so sane。〃
〃Madness wears many disguises；〃 Pendergast replied。 〃Fairhaven's obsession was deep； too deep and abiding to show itself openly。 And one can reach the gates of hell just as easily by short steps as by large。 Fairhaven seemed to think that the formula for longevity had always been destined for him。 Having taken in Leng's life essence； he now began to believe that he was Leng…Leng as he should have been。 He took on Leng's persona； his manner of dress。 And the copycat killings began。 But a different sort of copycat killing than the police ever imagined。 Killings； by the way； that had nothing to do with your article； Mr。 Smithback。〃
〃Why did he try to kill you？〃 Smithback asked。 〃It was such a risk。 I never understood that。〃
〃Fairhaven was a man who thought far； far ahead。 That was why he was so successful in business…and； of course； one reason why he was so frightened of death。 When I succeeded in finding Mary Greene's address； he realized it was only a matter of time before I found Leng's。 Whether I believed Leng was alive or dead didn't matter…he knew I would e to Leng's house； and then all his efforts would be ruined。 It would expose the connection between the modern…day killer known as the Surgeon and the old killer named Leng。 It was the same with Nora。 She was hot on the trail； she'd been to visit McFadden's daughter； she had the archaeological expertise I lacked。 Clearly； it was only a matter of time before we figured out where Leng lived。 We couldn't be allowed to proceed。〃
〃And O'Shaughnessy？ Why kill him？〃
Pendergast bowed his head。 〃I will never forgive myself for that。 I sent O'Shaughnessy on what I believed was a safe errand； investigating New Amsterdam Chemists； where Leng had procured his chemicals many years ago。 While there； it seems O'Shaughnessy had the luck to find some old journals； listing chemical purchases in the 1920s。 I call it luck； but it turned out to be quite the opposite； I'm afraid。 I didn't realize Fairhaven was on high alert； monitoring our every move。 When he became aware that O'Shaughnessy not only knew where Leng bought his chemicals； but had managed to retrieve some old sales books…which might be extremely useful； and certainly dangerous in our hands…he had to kill him。 Immediately。〃
〃Poor Patrick；〃 said Smithback。 〃What a terrible way to die。〃
〃Terrible； terrible indeed；〃 Pendergast murmured； the anguish all too clear on his face。 〃And the responsibility for it lies on my shoulders。 He was a good man； and a fine officer。〃
Looking up at the rows of leather…bound books； at the worm…eaten tapestries and peeling wallpaper； Nora shivered。
〃Oh； God；〃 Smithback murmured at last； shaking his head。 〃And to think I can't publish any of this。〃 Then he looked over at Pendergast。 〃So what happened to Fairhaven？〃
〃That which he feared most； death； came at last。 In a nod to Poe； I walled up the poor wretch within a basement alcove。 It would not do for his body to surface。〃
This was followed by a short silence。
〃So what are you going to do with this house and all these collections？〃 Nora asked。
A wan smile played about Pendergast's lips。 〃Through a tortuous route of inheritance； this house and its contents have ended up in my possession。 Someday； perhaps； some of these collections will find their way anonymously into the great museums of the world…but not for a very long time。〃
〃And what's happened to the house？ It's torn apart。〃
〃That brings me to one final request I would make of you both。〃
〃And that is…？〃
〃That you e with me。〃
They followed Pendergast down winding passageways to the door leading to the porte…cochère。 Pendergast opened the door。 Outside； Pendergast's Rolls was silently idling； jarring in this forlorn neighborhood。
〃Where are we going？〃 Smithback asked。
〃Gates of Heaven Cemetery。〃
The drive out of Manhattan； into the crisp winter hills of Westchester； took half an hour。 During that time； Pendergast said nothing； sitting motionless； wrapped in his own thoughts。 At last they passed through the dark metal gates and began climbing the gentle curve of a hill。 Beyond lay another hill； and then another： a vast city of the dead； full of monuments and ponderous tombs。 In time； the car stopped in a far corner of the cemetery； on a rise dotted with marble。
Pendergast got out； then led them along a manicured path to a fresh row of graves。 They were long frozen mounds of earth； laid out in geometrical precision； without tombstones； flowers； or markings of any kind save a spike at each head。 Aluminum frames were set into each spike； holding cardboard placards； and on each placard was written a number； streaked with moisture； already mildewed and faded。
They walked along the row of graves until they came to number 12。 Pendergast stopped over it and remained there； head bowed； hands clasped as if praying。 Beyond； the weak winter sun shone through the twisted branches of the oaks； and the hill fell away into mist。
〃Where are we？〃 Smithback asked； looking around。 〃Whose graves are these？〃
〃This is where Fairhaven buried the thirty…six skeletons from Catherine Street。 It was a very clever move。 It takes a court order to get an exhumation； a long and difficult process。 This was the next best thing to cremation； which of course he wasn't allowed to do； by law。 He did not want anyone to have access to these skeletons。〃
Pendergast gestured。 〃This grave； number 12； is the final resting place of Mary Greene。 Gone； but no longer forgotten。〃 Pendergast reached into his pocket and removed a tattered piece of paper； folded into a small accordion。 It trembled slightly in the breeze。 He held it out； over the grave； almost as if it were an offering。
〃What is that？〃 Smithback asked。
〃The arcanum。〃
〃The what？〃
〃Leng's formula for extending human life。 Perfected。 It no longer required the use of human donors。 That is why he stopped killing in 1935。〃
In the sudden silence； Nora and Smithback exchanged glances。
〃Leng eventually worked it out。 It wasn't possible until the late twenties； when certain synthetic opiates and other biochemical assays became available to him。 With this formula； he no longer had need of victims。 Leng did not enjoy killing。 He was a scientist； the killing was merely a regretful necessity。 Unlike Fairhaven； who clearly took pleasure in it。〃
Smithback stared at the paper in disbelief。 〃You mean to tell me you're holding the formula for eternal life？〃
〃There is no such thing as 'eternal life；' Mr。 Smithback。 Not in this world； at least。 This course of treatment would extend the human life span； by how much exactly I don't know。 At least a hundred years； perhaps longer。〃
〃Where did you find it？〃