Chapter XXIV
"Deeply did I ruminate on the occurrences that had just passed. Nothingexcited my wonder so much as the means by which you discovered my beingin the closet. This discovery appeared to be made at the moment when youattempted to open it. How could you have otherwise remained so long inthe chamber apparently fearless and tranquil? And yet, having madethis discovery, how could you persist in dragging me forth: persist indefiance of an interdiction so emphatical and solemn?
"But your sister's death was an event detestable and ominous. She hadbeen the victim of the most dreadful species of assassination. How, in astate like yours, the murderous intention could be generated, was whollyinconceivable.
"I did not relinquish my design of confessing to you the part which Ihad sustained in your family, but I was willing to defer it till thetask which I had set myself was finished. That being done, I resumed theresolution. The motives to incite me to this continually acquiredforce. The more I revolved the events happening at Mettingen, the moreinsupportable and ominous my terrors became. My waking hours and mysleep were vexed by dismal presages and frightful intimations.
"Catharine was dead by violence. Surely my malignant stars had not mademe the cause of her death; yet had I not rashly set in motion a machine,over whose progress I had no controul, and which experience had shewn mewas infinite in power? Every day might add to the catalogue of horrorsof which this was the source, and a seasonable disclosure of the truthmight prevent numberless ills.
"Fraught with this conception, I have turned my steps hither. I findyour brother's house desolate: the furniture removed, and the wallsstained with damps. Your own is in the same situation. Your chamber isdismantled and dark, and you exhibit an image of incurable grief, and ofrapid decay.
"I have uttered the truth. This is the extent of my offences. You tellme an horrid tale of Wieland being led to the destruction of his wifeand children, by some mysterious agent. You charge me with the guiltof this agency; but I repeat that the amount of my guilt has been trulystated. The perpetrator of Catharine's death was unknown to me till now;nay, it is still unknown to me."
At that moment, the closing of a door in the kitchen was distinctlyheard by us. Carwin started and paused. "There is some one coming. Imust not be found here by my enemies, and need not, since my purpose isanswered."
I had drunk in, with the most vehement attention, every word that hehad uttered. I had no breath to interrupt his tale by interrogationsor comments. The power that he spoke of was hitherto unknown to me: itsexistence was incredible; it was susceptible of no direct proof.
He owns that his were the voice and face which I heard and saw. Heattempts to give an human explanation of these phantasms; but it isenough that he owns himself to be the agent; his tale is a lie, and hisnature devilish. As he deceived me, he likewise deceived my brother, andnow do I behold the author of all our calamities!
Such were my thoughts when his pause allowed me to think. I should havebad him begone if the silence had not been interrupted; but now I fearedno more for myself; and the milkiness of my nature was curdled intohatred and rancour. Some one was near, and this enemy of God andman might possibly be brought to justice. I reflected not that thepreternatural power which he had hitherto exerted, would avail to rescuehim from any toils in which his feet might be entangled. Meanwhile,looks, and not words of menace and abhorrence, were all that I couldbestow.
He did not depart. He seemed dubious, whether, by passing out of thehouse, or by remaining somewhat longer where he was, he should mostendanger his safety. His confusion increased when steps of one barefootwere heard upon the stairs. He threw anxious glances sometimes at thecloset, sometimes at the window, and sometimes at the chamber door, yethe was detained by some inexplicable fascination. He stood as if rootedto the spot.
As to me, my soul was bursting with detestation and revenge. I hadno room for surmises and fears respecting him that approached. It wasdoubtless a human being, and would befriend me so far as to aid me inarresting this offender.
The stranger quickly entered the room. My eyes and the eyes of Carwinwere, at the same moment, darted upon him. A second glance was notneeded to inform us who he was. His locks were tangled, and fellconfusedly over his forehead and ears. His shirt was of coarse stuff,and open at the neck and breast. His coat was once of bright and finetexture, but now torn and tarnished with dust. His feet, his legs, andhis arms were bare. His features were the seat of a wild and tranquilsolemnity, but his eyes bespoke inquietude and curiosity.
He advanced with firm step, and looking as in search of some one. He sawme and stopped. He bent his sight on the floor, and clenching his hands,appeared suddenly absorbed in meditation. Such were the figure anddeportment of Wieland! Such, in his fallen state, were the aspect andguise of my brother!
Carwin did not fail to recognize the visitant. Care for his own safetywas apparently swallowed up in the amazement which this spectacleproduced. His station was conspicuous, and he could not have escaped theroving glances of Wieland; yet the latter seemed totally unconscious ofhis presence.
Grief at this scene of ruin and blast was at first the only sentimentof which I was conscious. A fearful stillness ensued. At length Wieland,lifting his hands, which were locked in each other, to his breast,exclaimed, "Father! I thank thee. This is thy guidance. Hither thou hastled me, that I might perform thy will: yet let me not err: let me hearagain thy messenger!"
He stood for a minute as if listening; but recovering from his attitude,he continued--"It is not needed. Dastardly wretch! thus eternallyquestioning the behests of thy Maker! weak in resolution! wayward infaith!"
He advanced to me, and, after another pause, resumed: "Poor girl!a dismal fate has set its mark upon thee. Thy life is demanded asa sacrifice. Prepare thee to die. Make not my office difficult byfruitless opposition. Thy prayers might subdue stones; but none but hewho enjoined my purpose can shake it."
These words were a sufficient explication of the scene. The nature ofhis phrenzy, as described by my uncle, was remembered. I who had soughtdeath, was now thrilled with horror because it was near. Death inthis form, death from the hand of a brother, was thought upon withundescribable repugnance.
In a state thus verging upon madness, my eye glanced upon Carwin. Hisastonishment appeared to have struck him motionless and dumb. My lifewas in danger, and my brother's hand was about to be embrued in myblood. I firmly believed that Carwin's was the instigation. I couldrescue me from this abhorred fate; I could dissipate this tremendousillusion; I could save my brother from the perpetration of new horrors,by pointing out the devil who seduced him; to hesitate a moment wasto perish. These thoughts gave strength to my limbs, and energy to myaccents: I started on my feet. "O brother! spare me, spare thyself:There is thy betrayer. He counterfeited the voice and face of an angel,for the purpose of destroying thee and me. He has this moment confessedit. He is able to speak where he is not. He is leagued with hell, butwill not avow it; yet he confesses that the agency was his."
My brother turned slowly his eyes, and fixed them upon Carwin. Everyjoint in the frame of the latter trembled. His complexion was paler thana ghost's. His eye dared not meet that of Wieland, but wandered with anair of distraction from one space to another.
"Man," said my brother, in a voice totally unlike that which he hadused to me, "what art thou? The charge has been made. Answer it.The visage--the voice--at the bottom of these stairs--at the hour ofeleven--To whom did they belong? To thee?"
Twice did Carwin attempt to speak, but his words died away upon hislips. My brother resumed in a tone of greater vehemence--
"Thou falterest; faltering is ominous; say yes or no: one word willsuffice; but beware of falsehood. Was it a stratagem of hell tooverthrow my family? Wast thou the agent?"
I now saw that the wrath which had been prepared for me was to beheaped upon another. The tale that I heard from him, and his presenttrepidations, were abundant testimonies of his guilt. But what ifWieland should be undeceived! What if
he shall find his acts to haveproceeded not from an heavenly prompter, but from human treachery! Willnot his rage mount into whirlwind? Will not he tare limb from limb thisdevoted wretch?
Instinctively I recoiled from this image, but it gave place to another.Carwin may be innocent, but the impetuosity of his judge may misconstruehis answers into a confession of guilt. Wieland knows not thatmysterious voices and appearances were likewise witnessed by me. Carwinmay be ignorant of those which misled my brother. Thus may his answersunwarily betray himself to ruin.
Such might be the consequences of my frantic precipitation, and these,it was necessary, if possible, to prevent. I attempted to speak, butWieland, turning suddenly upon me, commanded silence, in a tone furiousand terrible. My lips closed, and my tongue refused its office.
"What art thou?" he resumed, addressing himself to Carwin. "Answer me;whose form--whose voice--was it thy contrivance? Answer me."
The answer was now given, but confusedly and scarcely articulated. "Imeant nothing--I intended no ill--if I understand--if I do not mistakeyou--it is too true--I did appear--in the entry--did speak. Thecontrivance was mine, but--"
These words were no sooner uttered, than my brother ceased to wear thesame aspect. His eyes were downcast: he was motionless: his respirationbecame hoarse, like that of a man in the agonies of death. Carwin seemedunable to say more. He might have easily escaped, but the thought whichoccupied him related to what was horrid and unintelligible in thisscene, and not to his own danger.
Presently the faculties of Wieland, which, for a time, were chainedup, were seized with restlessness and trembling. He broke silence. Thestoutest heart would have been appalled by the tone in which he spoke.He addressed himself to Carwin.
"Why art thou here? Who detains thee? Go and learn better. I will meetthee, but it must be at the bar of thy Maker. There shall I bear witnessagainst thee."
Perceiving that Carwin did not obey, he continued; "Dost thou wish meto complete the catalogue by thy death? Thy life is a worthless thing.Tempt me no more. I am but a man, and thy presence may awaken a furywhich may spurn my controul. Begone!"
Carwin, irresolute, striving in vain for utterance, his complexionpallid as death, his knees beating one against another, slowly obeyedthe mandate and withdrew.