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faceto wander slowly； inch by inch； as it were； until they
stopped at a certain point； with the same fixed stare into
vacancy which had so often startled me on former occasions。 The
whole expression of his face altered as I had never yet seen it
alter； he sat before me looking like a man in a death…trance。
〃You are very kind；〃 he said； slowly and faintly； speaking； not
to me； but in the direction in which his eyes were still fixed。
〃I know you can help me； but〃
He stopped； his face whitened horribly； and the perspiration
broke out all over it。 He tried to continuesaid a word or
twothen stopped again。 Seriously alarmed about him； I rose from
my chair with the intention of getting him some water from a jug
which I saw standing on a side…table。
He sprang up at the same moment。 All the suspicions I had ever
heard whispered against his sanity flashed over my mind in an
instant； and I involuntarily stepped back a pace or two。
〃Stop；〃 he said； seating himself again； 〃don't mind me； and don't
leave your chair。 I wantI wish； if you please； to make a little
alteration； before we say anything more。 Do you mind sitting in a
strong light？〃
〃Not in the least。〃
I had hitherto been seated in the shade of his reading…lamp； the
only light in the room。
As I answered him he rose again； and； going into another
apartment； returned with a large lamp in his hand； then took two
candles from the side…table； and two others from the chimney
piece； placed them all； to my amazement； together； so as to stand
exactly between us； and then tried to light them。 His hand
trembled so that he was obliged to give up the attempt； and allow
me to come to his assistance。 By his direction； I took the shade
off the reading…lamp after I had lit the other lamp and the four
candles。 When we sat down again； with this concentration of light
between us； his better and gentler manner began to return； and
while he now addressed me he spoke without the slightest
hesitation。
〃It is useless to ask whether you have heard the reports about
me；〃 he said； 〃I know that you have。 My purpose to…night is to
give you some reasonable explanation of the conduct which has
produced those reports。 My secret has been hitherto confided to
one person only； I am now about to trust it to your keeping； with
a special object which will appear as I go on。 First； however； I
must begin by telling you exactly what the great difficulty is
which obliges me to be still absent from England。 I want your
advice and your help； and； to conceal nothing from you； I want
also to test your forbearance and your friendly sympathy； before
I can venture on thrusting my miserable secret into your keeping。
Will you pardon this apparent distrust of your frank and open
characterthis apparent ingratitude for your kindness toward me
ever since we first met？〃
I begged him not to speak of these things； but to go on。
〃You know；〃 he proceeded； 〃that I am here to recover the body of
my Uncle Stephen； and to carry it back with me to our family
burial…place in England； and you must also be aware that I have
not yet succeeded in discovering his remains。 Try to pass over；
for the present； whatever may seem extraordinary and
incomprehensible in such a purpose as mine is； and read this
newspaper article where the ink…line is traced。 It is the only
evidence hitherto obtained on the subject of the fatal duel in
which my uncle fell； and I want to hear what course of proceeding
the perusal of it may suggest to you as likely to be best on my
part。〃
He handed me an old French newspaper。 The substance of what I
read there is still so firmly impressed on my memory that I am
certain of being able to repeat correctly at this distance of
time all the facts which it is necessary for me to communicate to
the reader。
The article began； I remember； with editorial remarks on the
great curiosity then felt in regard to the fatal duel between the
Count St。 Lo and Mr。 Stephen Monkton； an English gentleman。 The
writer proceeded to dwell at great length on the extraordinary
secrecy in which the whole affair had been involved from first to
last； and to express a hope that the publication of a certain
manuscript； to which his introductory observations referred；
might lead to the production of fresh evidence from other and
better…informed quarters。 The manuscript had been found among the
papers of Monsieur Foulon； Mr。 Monkton's second； who had died at
Paris of a rapid decline shortly after returning to his home in
that city from the scene of the duel。 The document was
unfinished； having been left incomplete at the very place where
the reader would most wish to find it continued。 No reason could
be discovered for this； and no second manuscript bearing on the
all…important subject had been found； after the strictest search
among the papers left by the deceased。
The document itself then followed。
It purported to be an agreement privately drawn up between Mr。
Monkton's second； Monsieur Foulon； and the Count St。 Lo's second；
Monsieur Dalville； and contained a statement of all the
arrangements for conducting the duel。 The paper was dated
〃Naples； February 22d；〃 and was divided into some seven or eight
clauses。 The first clause described the origin and nature of the
quarrela very disgraceful affair on both sides； worth neither
remembering nor repeating。 The second clause stated that； the
challenged man having chosen the pistol as his weapon； and the
challenger （an excellent swordsman）； having； on his side；
thereupon insisted that the duel should be fought in such a
manner as to make the first fire decisive in its results； the
seconds； seeing that fatal consequences must inevitably follow
the hostile meeting； determined； first of all； that the duel
should be kept a profound secret from everybody； and that the
place where it was to be fought should not be made known
beforehand； even to the principals themselves。 It was added that
this excess of precaution had been rendered absolutely necessary
in consequence of a recent address from the Pope to the ruling
powers in Italy commenting on the scandalous frequency of the
practice of dueling； and urgently desiring that the laws against
duelists should be enforced for the future with the utmost rigor。
The third clause detailed the manner in which it had been
arranged that the duel should be fought。
The pistols having been loaded by the seconds on the ground； the
combatants were to be placed thirty paces apart； and were to toss
up for the first fire。 The man who won was to advance ten paces
marked out for him beforehandand was then to discharge his
pistol。 If he missed； or failed to disable his opponent； the
latter was free to advance； if he chose； the whole remaining
twenty paces before he fired in his turn。 This arrangement
insured the decisive termination of the duel at the first
discharge of the pistols； and both principals and seconds pledged
themselves on either side to abide by it。
The fourth clause stated that the seconds had agreed that the
duel should be fought out of the Neapolitan States； but left
themselves to be guided by circumstances as to the exact locality
in which it should take place。 The remaining clauses； so far as I
remember them； were devoted to detailing the different
precautions to be adopted for avoiding discovery。 The duelists
and their seconds were to leave Naples in separate parties； were
to change carriages several times； were to meet at a certain
town； or； failing that； at a certain post…house on the high road
from Naples to Rome； were to carry drawing…books； color boxes；
and camp…stools； as if they had been artists out on a
sketching…tour； and were to proceed to the place of the duel on
foot； employing no gui des； for fear of treachery。 Such general
arrangements as these； and others for facilitating the flight of
the survivors after the affair was over； formed the conclusion of
this extraordinary document； which was signed； in initials only；
by both the seconds。
Just below the initials appeared the beginning of a narrative；
dated 〃Paris；〃 and evidently intended to describe the duel itself
with extreme minuteness。 The hand…writing was that of the
deceased second。
Monsieur Foulon； tire gentleman in question； stated his belief
that circumstances might transpire which would render an account
by an eyewitness of the hostile meeting between St。 Lo and Mr。
Monkton an important document。 He proposed； therefore； as one of
the seconds； to testify that the duel had been fought in exact
accordance with the terms of the agreement； both the principals
conducting themselves like men of gallantry and honor （！）。 And he
further announced that； in order not to compromise any one； he
should place the paper containing his testimony in safe hands；
with strict directions that it was on no account to be opened
except in a case of the last emergency。
After thus preamble； Monsieur Foulon related that the duel had
been fought two days after the drawing up of the agreement； in a
locality to which accident had conducted the dueling party。 （The
name of the place was not mentioned； nor even the neighborhood in
which it was situated。） The men having