My
understanding was bemazed, and my senses were taught to distrust their
own testimony. From this musing state I was recalled by my companion, who said to me,
in solemn accents, "Mervyn! I have but two requests to make. Assist me
to bury these remains, and then accompany me across the river. I have no
power to compel your silence on the acts that you have witnessed. I have
meditated to benefit as well as to injure you; but I do not desire that
your demeanour should conform to any other standard than justice. You
have promised, and to that promise I trust. "If you choose to fly from this scene, to withdraw yourself from what
you may conceive to be a theatre of guilt or peril, the avenues are
open; retire unmolested and in silence. If you have a manlike spirit, if
you are grateful for the benefits bestowed upon you, if your discernment
enables you to see that compliance with my request will entangle you in
no guilt and betray you into no danger, stay, and aid me in hiding these
remains from human scrutiny. "Watson is beyond the reach of further injury. I never intended him
harm, though I have torn from him his sister and friend, and have
brought his life to an untimely close. To provide him a grave is a duty
that I owe to the dead and to the living. I shall quickly place myself
beyond the reach of inquisitors and judges, but would willingly rescue
from molestation or suspicion those whom I shall leave behind." What would have been the fruit of deliberation, if I had had the time or
power to deliberate, I know not. My thoughts flowed with tumult and
rapidity. To shut this spectacle from my view was the first impulse; but
to desert this man, in a time of so much need, appeared a thankless and
dastardly deportment. To remain where I was, to conform implicitly to
his direction, required no effort. Some fear was connected with his
presence, and with that of the dead; but, in the tremulous confusion of
my present thoughts, solitude would conjure up a thousand phantoms. I made no preparation to depart. I did not verbally assent to his
proposal. He interpreted my silence into acquiescence. He wrapped the
body in the carpet, and then, lifting one end, cast at me a look which
indicated his expectations that I would aid him in lifting this ghastly
burden. During this process, the silence was unbroken. I knew not whither he intended to convey the corpse. He had talked of
burial, but no receptacle had been provided. How far safety might depend
upon his conduct in this particular, I was unable to estimate. I was in
too heartless a mood to utter my doubts. I followed his example in
raising the corpse from the floor. He led the way into the passage and down-stairs. Having reached the
first floor, he unbolted a door which led into the cellar. The stairs
and passage were illuminated by lamps that hung from the ceiling and
were accustomed to burn during the night. Now, however, we were entering
darksome and murky recesses. "Return," said he, in a tone of command, "and fetch the light. I will
wait for you." I obeyed. As I returned with the light, a suspicion stole into my mind,
that Welbeck had taken this opportunity to fly; and that, on regaining
the foot of the stairs, I should find the spot deserted by all but the
dead. My blood was chilled by this image. The momentary resolution it
inspired was to follow the example of the fugitive, and leave the
persons whom the ensuing day might convene on this spot, to form their
own conjectures as to the cause of this catastrophe. Meanwhile, I cast anxious eyes forward. Welbeck was discovered in the
same place and posture in which he had been left. Lifting the corpse and
its shroud in his arms, he directed me to follow him. The vaults beneath
were lofty and spacious. He passed from one to the other till we reached
a small and remote cell. Here he cast his burden on the ground. In the
fall, the face of Watson chanced to be disengaged from its covering. Its
closed eyes and sunken muscles were rendered in a tenfold degree ghastly
and rueful by the feeble light which the candle shed upon it. This object did not escape the attention of Welbeck. He leaned against
the wall, and, folding his arms, resigned himself to reverie. He gazed
upon the countenance of Watson, but his looks denoted his attention to
be elsewhere employed. As to me, my state will not be easily described. My eye roved fearfully
from one object to another. By turns it was fixed upon the murdered
person and the murderer. The narrow cell in which we stood, its
rudely-fashioned walls and arches, destitute of communication with the
external air, and its palpable dark scarcely penetrated by the rays of a
solitary candle, added to the silence which was deep and universal,
produced an impression on my fancy which no time will obliterate. Perhaps my imagination was distempered by terror. The incident which I
am going to relate may appear to have existed only in my fancy. Be that
as it may, I experienced all the effects which the fullest belief is
adapted to produce. Glancing vaguely at the countenance of Watson, my
attention was arrested by a convulsive motion in the eyelids. This
motion increased, till at length the eyes opened, and a glance, languid
but wild, was thrown around. Instantly they closed, and the tremulous
appearance vanished. I started from my place and was on the point of uttering some
involuntary exclamation. At the same moment, Welbeck seemed to recover
from his reverie. "How is this?" said he. "Why do we linger here? Every moment is
precious. We cannot dig for him a grave with our hands. Wait here, while
I go in search of a spade." Saying this, he snatched the candle from my hand, and hasted away. My
eye followed the light as its gleams shifted their place upon the walls
and ceilings, and, gradually vanishing, gave place to unrespited gloom. This proceeding was so unexpected and abrupt, that I had no time to
remonstrate against it. Before I retrieved the power of reflection, the
light had disappeared and the footsteps were no longer to be heard. I was not, on ordinary occasions, destitute of equanimity; but perhaps
the imagination of man is naturally abhorrent of death, until tutored
into indifference by habit. Every circumstance combined to fill me with
shuddering and panic. For a while, I was enabled to endure my situation
by the exertions of my reason. That the lifeless remains of a human
being are powerless to injure or benefit, I was thoroughly persuaded. I
summoned this belief to my aid, and was able, if not to subdue, yet to
curb, my fears. I listened to catch the sound of the returning footsteps
of Welbeck, and hoped that every new moment would terminate my solitude. No signal of his coming was afforded. At length it occurred to me that
Welbeck had gone with no intention to return; that his malice had
seduced me hither to encounter the consequences of his deed. He had fled
and barred every door behind him.