The Conclusion of the Adventure with the Lady with the Silver Veil
Nor did he check his precipitous flight until suddenly, being led perhaps by some strange influence of which he was not at all the master, he discovered himself to be standing before the garden-gate where not more than an hour before he had first entered upon the series of monstrous adventures that had led to such tremendous conclusions.
People were still passing and repassing, and one of these groups--a party of young ladies and gentlemen--paused upon the opposite side of the street to observe, with no small curiosity and amusement, his dripping and bedraggled aspect.But only one thought and one intention possessed our hero--to relieve himself as quickly as possible of that trust which he had taken up so thoughtlessly, and with such monstrous results to himself and to his victims.He ran to the gate of the garden and began beating and kicking upon it with a vehemence that he could neither master nor control.He was aware that the entire neighborhood was becoming aroused, for he beheld lights moving and loud voices of inquiry; yet he gave not the least thought to the disturbance he was creating, but continued without intermission his uproarious pounding upon the gate.
At length, in answer to the sound of his vehement blows, the little wicket was opened and a pair of eyes appeared thereat.The next instant the gate was cast ajar very hastily, and the pock-pitted negress appeared.She caught him by the sleeve of his coat and drew him quickly into the garden."Buckra, Buckra!" she cried."What you doing? You wake de whole town!" Then, observing his dripping garments: "You been in de water.You catch de fever and shake till you die.""Thy mistress!" cried Jonathan, almost sobbing in the excess of his emotion; "take me to her upon the instant, or I cannot answer for my not going entirely mad!"When our hero was again introduced to the lady, he found her clad in a loose and an elegant negligee, infinitely becoming to her graceful figure, and still covered with the veil of silver gauze that had before enveloped her.
"Friend," he cried, vehemently, approaching her and holding out toward her the little ivory ball, "take again this which thou gavest me! It has brought death to three men, and I know not what terrible fate may befall me if I keep it longer in my possession.
"What is it you say?" cried she, in a piercing voice."Did you say it hath caused the death of three men? Quick! Tell me what has happened, for I feel somehow a presage that you bring me news of safety and release from all my dangers.""I know not what thou meanest!" cried Jonathan, still panting with agitation."But this I do know: that when I went away from thee I departed an innocent man, and now I come back to thee burdened with the weight of three lives, which, though innocent Ihave been instrumental in taking."
"Explain!" exclaimed the lady, tapping the floor with her foot.
"Explain! explain! explain!"
"That I will," cried Jonathan, "and as soon as I am able! When I left thee and went out into the street I was accosted by a little gentleman clad in black.""Indeed!" cried the lady; "and had he but one eye, and did he carry a gold-headed cane?""Exactly," said Jonathan; "and he claimed acquaintance with friend Jeremiah Doolittle.""He never knew him!" cried the lady, vehemently; "and I must tell you that he was a villain named Hunt, who at one time was the intimate consort of the pirate Keitt.He it was who plunged a deadly knife into his captain's bosom, and so murdered him in this very house.He himself or his agents, must have been watching my gate when you went forth.""I know not how that may be," said Jonathan, "but he took me to his apartment, and there, obtaining a knowledge of the trust thou didst burden me with, he demanded it of me, and upon my refusing to deliver it to him he presently fell to attacking me with a dagger.In my efforts to protect my life I inadvertently caused him to plunge the knife into his own bosom and to kill himself.""And what then?" cried the lady, who appeared well-nigh distracted with her emotions.
"Then," said Jonathan, "there came a strange man--a foreigner--who upon his part assaulted me with a pistol, with every intention of murdering me and thus obtaining possession of that same little trifle."And did he," exclaimed the lady, "have long, black mustachios, and did he have silver ear-rings in his ears?""Yes," said Jonathan, "he did."
"That," cried the lady, could have been none other than Captain Keitt's Portuguese sailing-master, who must have been spying upon Hunt! Tell me what happened next!""He would have taken my life," said Jonathan, "but in the struggle that followed he shot himself accidentally with his own pistol, and died at my very feet.I do not know what would have happened to me if a sea-captain had not come and proffered his assistance.""A sea-captain!" she exclaimed; "and had he a flat face and a broken nose?""Indeed he had," replied Jonathan.
