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during¡¡the¡¡three¡¡days¡¡which¡¡had¡¡intervened¡¡between¡¡that¡¡person's
departure¡¡and¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡woman¡¡in¡¡the¡¡village¡£
In¡¡the¡¡period¡¡of¡¡suspense¡¡and¡¡suffering¡¡that¡¡had¡¡followed¡¡no
recurrence¡¡to¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡of¡¡the¡¡usher¡¡had¡¡been¡¡possible£»¡¡and
none¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡place¡£¡¡Free¡¡from¡¡all¡¡mental¡¡disquietude¡¡on¡¡this
score£»¡¡Allan¡¡had¡¡stoutly¡¡preserved¡¡his¡¡perverse¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡his
new¡¡friend¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡written¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡Midwinter¡¡of¡¡his¡¡affliction£»
and¡¡he¡¡now¡¡proposed¡¡£¨unless¡¡the¡¡rector¡¡formally¡¡objected¡¡to¡¡it£©
paying¡¡a¡¡visit¡¡to¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡before¡¡he¡¡started¡¡for¡¡Paris¡¡the¡¡next
morning¡£
What¡¡was¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock¡¡to¡¡do£¿¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡denying¡¡that¡¡Midwinter's
conduct¡¡had¡¡pleaded¡¡unanswerably¡¡against¡¡poor¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale's
unfounded¡¡distrust¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡rector£»¡¡with¡¡no¡¡convincing
reason¡¡to¡¡allege¡¡against¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡no¡¡right¡¡to¡¡interfere¡¡but
the¡¡right¡¡which¡¡Allan's¡¡courtesy¡¡gave¡¡him£»¡¡declined¡¡to¡¡sanction
the¡¡proposed¡¡visit£»¡¡then¡¡farewell¡¡to¡¡all¡¡the¡¡old¡¡sociability¡¡and
confidence¡¡between¡¡tutor¡¡and¡¡pupil¡¡on¡¡the¡¡contemplated¡¡tour¡£
Environed¡¡by¡¡difficulties£»¡¡which¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡possibly¡¡worsted
by¡¡a¡¡less¡¡just¡¡and¡¡a¡¡less¡¡kind¡hearted¡¡man£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock¡¡said¡¡a
cautious¡¡word¡¡or¡¡two¡¡at¡¡parting£»¡¡and¡¡£¨with¡¡more¡¡confidence¡¡in
Midwinter's¡¡discretion¡¡and¡¡self¡denial¡¡than¡¡he¡¡quite¡¡liked¡¡to
acknowledge£»¡¡even¡¡to¡¡himself£©¡¡left¡¡Allan¡¡free¡¡to¡¡take¡¡his¡¡own
way¡£
After¡¡whiling¡¡away¡¡an¡¡hour£»¡¡during¡¡the¡¡interval¡¡of¡¡his¡¡pupil's
absence£»¡¡by¡¡a¡¡walk¡¡in¡¡the¡¡streets£»¡¡the¡¡rector¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡his
hotel£»¡¡and£»¡¡finding¡¡the¡¡newspaper¡¡disengaged¡¡in¡¡the¡¡coffee¡room£»
sat¡¡down¡¡absently¡¡to¡¡look¡¡over¡¡it¡£¡¡His¡¡eye£»¡¡resting¡¡idly¡¡on¡¡the
title¡page£»¡¡was¡¡startled¡¡into¡¡instant¡¡attention¡¡by¡¡the¡¡very¡¡first
advertisement¡¡that¡¡it¡¡chanced¡¡to¡¡light¡¡on¡¡at¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the
column¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡Allan's¡¡mysterious¡¡namesake¡¡again£»¡¡figuring¡¡in
capital¡¡letters£»¡¡and¡¡associated¡¡this¡¡time¡¡£¨in¡¡the¡¡character¡¡of¡¡a
dead¡¡man£©¡¡with¡¡the¡¡offer¡¡of¡¡a¡¡pecuniary¡¡reward¡£¡¡Thus¡¡it¡¡ran£º
SUPPOSED¡¡TO¡¡BE¡¡DEAD¡£To¡¡parish¡¡clerks£»¡¡sextons£»¡¡and¡¡others¡£
Twenty¡¡Pounds¡¡reward¡¡will¡¡be¡¡paid¡¡to¡¡any¡¡person¡¡who¡¡can¡¡produce
evidence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡death¡¡of¡¡ALLAN¡¡ARMADALE£»¡¡only¡¡son¡¡of¡¡the¡¡late
Allan¡¡Armadale£»¡¡of¡¡Barbadoes£»¡¡and¡¡born¡¡in¡¡Trinidad¡¡in¡¡the¡¡year
1830¡£¡¡Further¡¡particulars¡¡on¡¡application¡¡to¡¡Messrs¡£¡¡Hammick¡¡and
Ridge£»¡¡Lincoln's¡¡Inn¡¡Fields£»¡¡London¡£
Even¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock's¡¡essentially¡¡unimaginative¡¡mind¡¡began¡¡to¡¡stagger
superstitiously¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡as¡¡he¡¡laid¡¡the¡¡newspaper¡¡down¡¡again¡£
Little¡¡by¡¡little¡¡a¡¡vague¡¡suspicion¡¡took¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡him¡¡that
the¡¡whole¡¡series¡¡of¡¡events¡¡which¡¡had¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡first
appearance¡¡of¡¡Allan's¡¡namesake¡¡in¡¡the¡¡newspaper¡¡six¡¡years¡¡since
was¡¡held¡¡together¡¡by¡¡some¡¡mysterious¡¡connection£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡tending
steadily¡¡to¡¡some¡¡unimaginable¡¡end¡£¡¡Without¡¡knowing¡¡why£»¡¡he¡¡began
to¡¡feel¡¡uneasy¡¡at¡¡Allan's¡¡absence¡£¡¡Without¡¡knowing¡¡why£»¡¡he¡¡became
impatient¡¡to¡¡get¡¡his¡¡pupil¡¡away¡¡from¡¡England¡¡before¡¡anything¡¡else
happened¡¡between¡¡night¡¡and¡¡morning¡£
In¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡more¡¡the¡¡rector¡¡was¡¡relieved¡¡of¡¡all¡¡immediate¡¡anxiety
by¡¡Allan's¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hotel¡£¡¡The¡¡young¡¡man¡¡was¡¡vexed¡¡and¡¡out
of¡¡spirits¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡discovered¡¡Midwinter's¡¡lodgings£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had
failed¡¡to¡¡find¡¡Midwinter¡¡himself¡£¡¡The¡¡only¡¡account¡¡his¡¡landlady
could¡¡give¡¡of¡¡him¡¡was¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡out¡¡at¡¡his¡¡customary¡¡time
to¡¡get¡¡his¡¡dinner¡¡at¡¡the¡¡nearest¡¡eating¡house£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had
not¡¡returned£»¡¡in¡¡accordance¡¡with¡¡his¡¡usual¡¡regular¡¡habits£»¡¡at¡¡his
usual¡¡regular¡¡hour¡£¡¡Allan¡¡had¡¡therefore¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡inquire¡¡at¡¡the
eating¡house£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡found£»¡¡on¡¡describing¡¡him£»¡¡that¡¡Midwinter
was¡¡well¡¡known¡¡there¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡his¡¡custom£»¡¡on¡¡other¡¡days£»¡¡to¡¡take¡¡a
frugal¡¡dinner£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡sit¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡afterward¡¡reading¡¡the
newspaper¡£¡¡On¡¡this¡¡occasion£»¡¡after¡¡dining£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡up¡¡the
paper¡¡as¡¡usual£»¡¡had¡¡suddenly¡¡thrown¡¡it¡¡aside¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡gone£»
nobody¡¡knew¡¡where£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡violent¡¡hurry¡£¡¡No¡¡further¡¡information
being¡¡attainable£»¡¡Allan¡¡had¡¡left¡¡a¡¡note¡¡at¡¡the¡¡lodgings£»¡¡giving
his¡¡address¡¡at¡¡the¡¡hotel£»¡¡and¡¡begging¡¡Midwinter¡¡to¡¡come¡¡and¡¡say
good¡by¡¡before¡¡his¡¡departure¡¡for¡¡Paris¡£
The¡¡evening¡¡passed£»¡¡and¡¡Allan's¡¡invisible¡¡friend¡¡never¡¡appeared¡£
The¡¡morning¡¡came£»¡¡bringing¡¡no¡¡obstacles¡¡with¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock
and¡¡his¡¡pupil¡¡left¡¡London¡£¡¡So¡¡far¡¡Fortune¡¡had¡¡declared¡¡herself¡¡at
last¡¡on¡¡the¡¡rector's¡¡side¡£¡¡Ozias¡¡Midwinter£»¡¡after¡¡intrusively
rising¡¡to¡¡the¡¡surface£»¡¡had¡¡conveniently¡¡dropped¡¡out¡¡of¡¡sight
again¡£¡¡What¡¡was¡¡to¡¡happen¡¡next£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
Advancing¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡by¡¡three¡¡weeks¡¡only£»¡¡from¡¡past¡¡to¡¡present£»
Mr¡£¡¡Brock's¡¡memory¡¡took¡¡up¡¡the¡¡next¡¡event¡¡on¡¡the¡¡seventh¡¡of
April¡£¡¡To¡¡all¡¡appearance£»¡¡the¡¡chain¡¡was¡¡now¡¡broken¡¡at¡¡last¡£¡¡The
new¡¡event¡¡had¡¡no¡¡recognizable¡¡connection¡¡£¨either¡¡to¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡or
to¡¡Allan's£©¡¡with¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡persons¡¡who¡¡had¡¡appeared£»¡¡or¡¡any¡¡of
the¡¡circumstances¡¡that¡¡had¡¡happened£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡by¡gone¡¡time¡£
The¡¡travelers¡¡had¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡got¡¡no¡¡further¡¡than¡¡Paris¡£¡¡Allan's
spirits¡¡had¡¡risen¡¡with¡¡the¡¡change£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡made¡¡all¡¡the
readier¡¡to¡¡enjoy¡¡the¡¡novelty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡around¡¡him¡¡by¡¡receiving
a¡¡letter¡¡from¡¡Midwinter£»¡¡containing¡¡news¡¡which¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock¡¡himself
acknowledged¡¡promised¡¡fairly¡¡for¡¡the¡¡future¡£¡¡The¡¡ex¡usher¡¡had
been¡¡away¡¡on¡¡business¡¡when¡¡Allan¡¡had¡¡called¡¡at¡¡his¡¡lodgings£»
having¡¡been¡¡led¡¡by¡¡an¡¡accidental¡¡circumstance¡¡to¡¡open
communications¡¡with¡¡his¡¡relatives¡¡on¡¡that¡¡day¡£¡¡The¡¡result¡¡had
taken¡¡him¡¡entirely¡¡by¡¡surprise£º¡¡it¡¡had¡¡unexpectedly¡¡secured¡¡to
him¡¡a¡¡little¡¡income¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡for¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡his¡¡life¡£¡¡His
future¡¡plans£»¡¡now¡¡that¡¡this¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡good¡¡fortune¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡to
his¡¡share£»¡¡were¡¡still¡¡unsettled¡£¡¡But¡¡if¡¡Allan¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡what
he¡¡ultimately¡¡decided¡¡on£»¡¡his¡¡agent¡¡in¡¡London¡¡£¨whose¡¡direction¡¡he
inclosed£©¡¡would¡¡receive¡¡communications¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡furnish
Mr¡£¡¡Armadale¡¡at¡¡all¡¡future¡¡times¡¡with¡¡his¡¡address¡£
On¡¡receipt¡¡of¡¡this¡¡letter£»¡¡Allan¡¡had¡¡seized¡¡the¡¡pen
¡¡in¡¡his¡¡usual¡¡headlong¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡insisted¡¡on¡¡Midwinter's
immediately¡¡joining¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock¡¡and¡¡himself¡¡on¡¡their¡¡travels¡£¡¡The
last¡¡days¡¡of¡¡March¡¡passed£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡answer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡proposal¡¡was
received¡£¡¡The¡¡first¡¡days¡¡of¡¡April¡¡came£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡seventh¡¡of¡¡the
month¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡for¡¡Allan¡¡at¡¡last¡¡on¡¡the
breakfast¡table¡£¡¡He¡¡snatched¡¡it¡¡up£»¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡address£»¡¡and
threw¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡down¡¡again¡¡impatiently¡£¡¡The¡¡handwriting¡¡was¡¡not
Midwinter's¡£¡¡Allan¡¡finished¡¡his¡¡breakfast¡¡before¡¡he¡¡cared¡¡to¡¡read
what¡¡his¡¡correspondent¡¡had¡¡to¡¡say¡¡to¡¡him¡£
The¡¡meal¡¡over£»¡¡young¡¡Armadale¡¡lazily¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡letter¡£¡¡He¡¡began
it¡¡with¡¡an¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡supreme¡¡indifference¡£¡¡He¡¡finished¡¡it
with¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡leap¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡chair£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡loud¡¡shout¡¡of
astonishment¡£¡¡Wondering£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡well¡¡might£»¡¡at¡¡this¡¡extraordinary
outbreak£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock¡¡took¡¡up¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡which¡¡Allan¡¡had¡¡tossed
across¡¡the¡¡table¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡Before¡¡he¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡his
hands¡¡dropped¡¡helplessly¡¡on¡¡his¡¡knees£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡blank¡¡bewilderment
of¡¡his¡¡pupil's¡¡expression¡¡was¡¡accurately¡¡reflected¡¡on¡¡his¡¡own
face¡£
If¡¡ever¡¡two¡¡men¡¡had¡¡good¡¡cause¡¡for¡¡being¡¡thrown¡¡completely¡¡off
their¡¡balance£»¡¡Allan¡¡and¡¡the¡¡rector¡¡were¡¡those¡¡two¡£¡¡The¡¡letter
which¡¡had¡¡struck¡¡them¡¡both¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡shock¡¡of¡¡astonishment
did£»¡¡beyond¡¡all¡¡question£»¡¡contain¡¡an¡¡announcement¡¡which£»¡¡on¡¡a
first¡¡discovery¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡was¡¡simply¡¡incredible¡£¡¡The¡¡news¡¡was¡¡from
Norfolk£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡to¡¡this¡¡effect¡£¡¡In¡¡little¡¡more¡¡than¡¡one¡¡week's
time¡¡death¡¡had¡¡mown¡¡down¡¡no¡¡less¡¡than¡¡three¡¡lives¡¡in¡¡the¡¡family
at¡¡Thorpe¡¡Ambrose£»¡¡and¡¡Allan¡¡Armadale¡¡was¡¡at¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡heir¡¡to
an¡¡estate¡¡of¡¡eight¡¡thousand¡¡a¡¡year£¡
A¡¡second¡¡perusal¡¡of¡¡the¡¡letter¡¡enabled¡¡the¡¡rector¡¡and¡¡his
companion¡¡to¡¡master¡¡the¡¡details¡¡which¡¡had¡¡escaped¡¡them¡¡on¡¡a¡¡first
reading
The¡¡writer¡¡was¡¡the¡¡family¡¡lawyer¡¡at¡¡Thorpe¡¡Ambrose¡£¡¡After
announcing¡¡to¡¡Allan¡¡the¡¡deaths¡¡of¡¡his¡¡cousin¡¡Arthur¡¡at¡¡the¡¡age¡¡of
twenty¡five£»¡¡of¡¡his¡¡uncle¡¡Henry¡¡at¡¡the¡¡age¡¡of¡¡forty¡eight£»¡¡and¡¡of
his¡¡cousin¡¡John¡¡at¡¡the¡¡age¡¡of¡¡twenty¡one£»¡¡the¡¡lawyer¡¡proceeded¡¡to
give¡¡a¡¡brief¡¡abstract¡¡of¡¡the¡¡terms¡¡of¡¡the¡¡elder¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Blanchard's
will¡£¡¡The¡¡claims¡¡of¡¡male¡¡issue¡¡were£»¡¡as¡¡is¡¡not¡¡unusual¡¡in¡¡such
cases£»¡¡preferred¡¡to¡¡the¡¡claims¡¡of¡¡female¡¡issue¡£¡¡Failing¡¡Arthur
and¡¡his¡¡issue¡¡male£»¡¡the¡¡estate¡¡was¡¡left¡¡to¡¡Henry¡¡and¡¡his¡¡issue
male¡£¡¡Failing¡¡them£»¡¡it¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡issue¡¡male¡¡of¡¡Henry's¡¡sister£»
and£»¡¡in¡¡default¡¡of¡¡such¡¡issue£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡next¡¡heir¡¡male¡£¡¡As¡¡events
had¡¡happened£»¡¡the¡¡two¡¡young¡¡men£»¡¡Arthur¡¡and¡¡John£»¡¡had¡¡died
unmarried£»¡¡and¡¡Henry¡¡Blanchard¡¡had¡¡died£»¡¡leaving¡¡no¡¡surviving
child¡¡but¡¡a¡¡daughter¡£¡¡Under¡¡these¡¡circumstances£»¡¡Allan¡¡was¡¡the
next¡¡heir¡¡male¡¡pointed¡¡at¡¡by¡¡the¡¡will£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡now¡¡legally
successor¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Thorpe¡¡Ambrose¡¡estate¡£¡¡Having¡¡made¡¡this
extraordinary¡¡announcement£»¡¡the¡¡lawyer¡¡requested¡¡to¡¡be¡¡favored
with¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Armadale's¡¡instructions£»¡¡and¡¡added£»¡¡in¡¡conclusion£»¡¡that
he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡happy¡¡to¡¡furnish¡¡any¡¡further¡¡particulars¡¡that¡¡were
desired¡£
It¡¡was¡¡useless¡¡to¡¡waste¡¡time¡¡in¡¡wondering¡¡at¡¡an¡¡event¡¡which
neither¡¡Allan¡¡nor¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡as¡¡even¡¡remotely
possible¡£¡¡The¡¡only¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡be¡¡done¡¡was¡¡to¡¡go¡¡back¡¡to¡¡England¡¡at
once¡£¡¡The¡¡next¡¡day¡¡found¡¡the¡¡travelers¡¡installed¡¡once¡¡more¡¡in
their¡¡London¡¡hotel£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡day¡¡after¡¡the¡¡affair¡¡was¡¡placed¡¡in
the¡¡proper¡¡professional¡¡hands¡£¡¡The¡¡inevitable¡¡corresponding¡¡and
consulting¡¡ensued£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡by¡¡one¡¡the¡¡all¡important¡¡particulars
flowed¡¡in£»¡¡until¡¡the¡¡measure¡¡of¡¡information¡¡was¡¡pronounced¡¡to¡¡be
full¡£
This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡story¡¡of¡¡the¡¡three¡¡deaths£º
At¡¡the¡¡time¡¡when¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Brock¡¡had¡¡written¡¡to¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Armadale's
relatives¡¡to¡¡announce¡¡the¡¡news¡¡of¡¡her¡¡decease¡¡£¨that¡¡is¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡in
the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡month¡¡of¡¡January£©£»¡¡the¡¡family¡¡at¡¡Thorpe¡¡Ambrose
numbered¡¡five¡¡personsArthur¡¡Blanchard¡¡£¨in¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡the
estate£©£»¡¡living¡¡in¡¡the¡¡great¡¡house¡¡with¡¡his¡¡mother£»¡¡and¡¡Henry
Blanchard£»¡¡the¡¡uncle£»¡¡living¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighborhood£»¡¡a¡¡widower¡¡with
two¡¡children£»¡¡a¡¡son¡¡and¡¡a¡¡daughter¡£¡¡To¡¡cement¡¡the¡¡family
connection¡¡still¡¡more¡¡closely£»¡¡Arthur¡¡Blanchard¡¡was¡¡engaged¡¡to¡¡be
married¡¡to¡¡his¡¡cousin¡£¡¡The¡¡wedding¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡celebrated¡¡with
great¡¡local¡¡rejoicings¡¡in¡¡the¡¡coming¡¡summer£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡young¡¡lady
had¡¡completed¡¡her¡¡twentieth¡¡year¡£
The¡¡month¡¡of¡¡February¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡changes¡¡with¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡family
position¡£¡¡Observing¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡delicacy¡¡in¡¡the¡¡health¡¡of¡¡his¡¡son£»
Mr¡£¡¡Henry¡¡Blanchard¡¡left¡¡Norfolk£»¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man¡¡with¡¡him£»
under¡¡medical¡¡advice£»¡¡to¡¡try¡¡the¡¡climate¡¡of¡¡Italy¡£¡¡Early¡¡in¡¡the
ensuing¡¡month¡¡of¡¡March£»¡¡Arthur¡¡Blanchard¡¡also¡¡left¡¡Thorpe
Ambrose£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡days¡¡only£»¡¡on¡¡business¡¡which¡¡required¡¡his
presence¡¡in¡¡London¡£¡¡The¡¡business¡¡took¡¡him¡¡into¡¡the¡¡City¡£¡¡Annoyed
by¡¡the¡¡endless¡¡impediments¡¡in¡¡the¡¡streets£»¡¡he¡¡returned¡¡westward
by¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river¡¡steamers£»¡¡and£»¡¡so¡¡returning£»¡¡met¡¡his¡¡death¡£
As¡¡the¡¡steamer¡¡left¡¡the¡¡wharf£»¡¡he¡¡noticed¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡near¡¡him¡¡who
had¡¡shown¡¡a¡¡singular¡¡hesitation¡¡in¡¡embarking£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been
the¡¡last¡¡of¡¡the¡¡passengers¡¡to¡¡take¡¡her¡¡place¡¡in¡¡the¡¡vessel¡£¡¡She
was¡¡neatly¡¡dressed¡¡in¡¡black¡¡silk£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡red¡¡Paisley¡¡shawl¡¡over
her¡¡shoulders£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡kept¡¡her¡¡face¡¡hidden¡¡behind¡¡a¡¡thick¡¡veil¡£
Arthur¡¡Blanchard¡¡was¡¡struck¡¡by¡¡the¡¡rare¡¡grace¡¡and¡¡elegance¡¡of¡¡her
figure£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡young¡¡man's¡¡passing¡¡curiosity¡¡to¡¡see¡¡her
face¡£¡¡She¡¡neither¡¡lifted¡¡her¡¡veil¡¡nor¡¡turned¡¡her¡¡head¡¡his¡¡way¡£
After¡¡taking¡¡a¡¡few¡¡steps¡¡hesitatingly¡¡backward¡¡and¡¡forward¡¡on¡¡the
deck£»¡¡she¡¡walked¡¡away¡¡on¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stern¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vessel¡£¡¡In
a¡¡minute¡¡more¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡cry¡¡of¡¡alarm¡¡from¡¡the¡¡man¡¡at¡¡the¡¡helm£»
and¡¡the¡¡engines¡¡were¡¡stopped¡¡immediately¡£¡¡The¡¡woman¡¡had¡¡thrown
herself¡¡overboard¡£
The¡¡passengers¡¡a