The Purcell Papers

e Legacy of the late Francis

--. She is no more - she long since died, a childless and a widowed wife, and, as her letter sadly predicts, none survive to whom the publication of this narrative can prove 'inj

st THE NAMES of the principal actors; and to others their publication would be useless - to us, possibly, if not probably, injurious. I have, therefore,

itation, applied myself to the task, knowing that, while I live, a kind consideration for my feelings will prevent your giving publicity to

to the guidance of my surviving parent; and, as far as a stern attention to my religious instruction, and an active anxiety evinced by his procuring for

deed, I seldom even spoke to him except at meal-times, and then his manner was silent and abrupt; his leisure hours, which were many, were passed either in his study or in so

ather's secluded habits - it was the fact that a suspicion of MURDER had fallen upon his younger brother,

he sincerity and strength of this impression he shortly afterwards proved in a manner which produced the dark events which follow. Before, however, I enter upon the statement of them, I oug

s by no means inconsiderable, nevertheless continued to actuate him, nearly to the exclusion of all other pursuits; he was, however, a proud, or rather a vain man, and could not bear to make the diminution of his income a matter of gratulation

wont to take his stand, yet he found it very possible to bring about him a sufficient number of the votaries of chance to answer all his ends. The

youth, travelled with my uncle upon the Continent; the period of his visit was winter, and, consequently, the house was nearly deserted excepting by

sdall's bedroom door repeatedly, received no answer, and, upon attempting to enter, found that it was locked; this appeared suspicious, and, the inmates of the house having been alarmed, the door was forced open, and, on proceeding to the bed, they found the body of its occupant perfectly lifeless, and hanging half-way out, the head downwards, and near the floor. One deep wo

ible by a narrow doorway and passage lying in the oldest side of the quadrangle, but which had since been built up, so as to preclude all ingress or egress; the room was also upon the second story, and the height of the window considerable. Near the bed wer

however, in any degree conclusive was elicited; the walls, ceiling, and floor of the room were carefully examined, in

ilt in the old fashion, rose in a perfectly perpendicular line from the hearth to a height of nearly fourteen feet above the roof, affording in its interior scarcely the possibility of ascent, the flue being smoothly plastered, and sloping towards the top like an inverted funnel, pro

lost to a heavy amount, but that, at their last sitting, he had not only won back his original loss, but upwards of four thousand pounds in addition; in evidence of which he produced an acknowledgment of debt to that amount

that he had committed suicide; a supposition which was strongly supported by the razors having been found thus displaced, and removed from their case. Two persons had probably been engaged in the attempt, one watching by the sleeping man, and ready to strike him in case

a letter from a person signing himself Andrew Collis, and representing himself to be the cousin of the deceased. This letter stated that Sir Arthur was likely to incur not merely suspicion, but personal risk, unless he could account for certain circu

R CO

art and soul; and, in fact, since I came here, I have lost no time. I am rather fagged, but I am sure to be well paid for my hardship; I never want sleep so long as I can have the music of a dice-b

g-box, alias double-clasped pocket-book. I leave this ruinous old rat-hole early on tomorrow, for two reasons - first, I do not want to play with Sir Arthur deeper than I think his security, that is, his money, or his money's worth, would warrant; and, secondly, because I am

must be allowed that he had reason to be a little funked, whichever way his thoughts went; but he pulled the bell, and ordered two bottles of champagne. While the fellow was bringing them he drew out a promissory note to the full amount, which he signed, and, as the man came in with the bottles and glasses,

ediment in this; I

t a tender chicken to manage? Win or lose, I will not play beyond five thousand to-night, and tomorrow sees me safe out of the reach

to co

TISD

, owing to his strong conviction in favour of his brother, he would not have admitted it without suff

more of him; but he published the letter in Faulkner's newspaper, which was shortly afterwards made the vehicle of a much more mysterious attack. The passage in that periodical to which I allude, occurred about four years afterwards, and while the fatal occurrence was still fresh in public recollection. It commenced by a rambling preface, stating that 'a CERTAIN PERSON whom CERTAIN persons thought to be dead, was not so, but living, and in ful

My father, however, wrote in a threatening tone to Faulkner, demanding a surrender of the author of the obnoxious article. The answer to this application is still in my possession, and is pe

known to none, he was said to have disposed of it to enable himself to buy off the threatened information. However the truth might have been, it is certain that no charges respe

ticed by the gentry and aristocracy of the county, whose attention and courtesies he had hitherto received. He accordingly

ng of sedentary, procrastinating, and secluded habits, and their respective residences being very far apart - the one lying in the county of Galway, the other in that of Cork - he was stro

adually declining, died, leaving me in heart wretched and desolate, and, ow

nd them, surprised me not a little: all his vast property was left to me, and to the heirs of my body, for e

with his family, and under his care, during the term of my minority; and in consideration of the increased expense

ld die without issue, while at the same time he placed me wholly in his power, to prove to the world how great and unshaken was his confidence

ness respecting the arrangement than that likely to result to a timid girl, of secluded habits, from the immediate prospect of taking up her abode for the first time in her life among total strangers. Previous to leaving my home, which I felt I should do with

ly tint upon the fine old trees, which stood in lordly groups, casting their long, sweeping shadows over rock and sward. There was an air of neglect and decay about the spot, which amounted almost to desolation; the symptoms of this in

were almost concealed by grass and nettles; the loose stone walls which had here and there intersected the broad park were, in many places, broken down, so as no longer to answer their original purpose as fences; piers were now and then to be seen, but the gates were gone; and, to add to the

rising at a small distance in front, and darkened by the hoary wood which crowded around them. It was a quadrangular building of considerable extent, and the front which lay towards us, and in which the great entrance was placed, bore unequivocal marks of antiquity; the time-worn

from some half-ruinous out-houses, and took charge of the horses; the hall-door stood open, and I entered a gloomy and imperfectly lighted apartment, and found no one within. However, I had not long to wait in this awkward predicament, for bef

at home, at least at any reasonable hour - you must be so tired - so fatigued - let me show you to your room - see that Lady Margaret's luggage is all brought up - you must lie down and rest yourself - Deborah, bring some coffee - up these stairs; w

aking in the general air of decay which pervaded the mansion and all about it, had nevertheless been fitted up with evident attention to comfort, and even with some dingy attempt at luxury; but what pleased me most was that it opened, by a second door, upon

d portraits, and, as I was not sorry to see, containing in its ample grate a large and cheerful fire. Here my cousin had leisure to talk more a

. In addition to this very scanty stock of information, I shortly learned from my communicative companion that my uncle was, as I had suspected, completely retired in his habits, and besides that

suppose that he was a specimen of the idle, coarse-mannered, profligate, low-minded 'squirearchy'- a result which might naturally have flowed from the circumstance of

nothing in my cousin's communication fully to

osity - a sensation which I have often since experienced, though to a less degree, when upon the point of standing

and when young his figure must have been strikingly elegant; as it was, however, its effect was marred by a very decided stoop. His dress was of a sober colour, and in fashion anterior to anything which I could remember. It was, however, handsome, and by no means carelessly put on; but what completed the singularity of his appearance was his uncut, white hair, wh

hat you are not much fatigued - pray be seated again.' He led me to my chair, and continued: 'I am glad to perceive you have made acquaintance with Emily already; I see, in you

it was impossible that this man, with feelings so quick, so warm, so tender, could be the wretc

o speak benevolence itself. It was a manner which I felt cold art could never have taught; it owed most of its char

pressed me to take some refreshment; and on my refusing, he observed that previously to bidding me good-nigh

thing in his house as altogether at my disposal. It is needless to say that I was much pleased with my uncle - it was impossible to avoid being so; and I could not help saying to myself, if such a man as

nce in his look and tone which would read encouragement even in mere toleration; and I felt more disgusted and annoyed at the coarse and extravagant compliments which he was pleased from time to time to pay me, than perhaps the extent of the atrocity might fully have warranted. It was, however, one consolation that he did not often appear, being much engrossed by pursuits about which I neither knew nor cared anything; but when he did a

as was my habit, in the parlour, the door opened, and my cousin Edward entered the room. There was something, I thought, odd in his manner - a ki

Emily's place for a minute or two; and then we part for a while, fair cousin. Emily, my father wants you in the corner turret. No sh

here for a minute or two, as if reflecting what he should say, per

essly, with his foot; and advancing slowly, as if in deep thou

nterval of silence,

n of the object of my early visit; but I s

n,' I replied, 'what

- that an offhand young fellow like me, and a good-looking girl like yourself, could meet continually, as you and I have done, without an attachment - a liking growi

horrified to speak. He inter

to please, and very hard to HIT. I can't say when I was ta

t once restored me to utterance, and with the most indignant vehe

been a source of much annoyance to me; and you must be aware that I have marked my disap

open the parlour-door with violence, and take two or three rapid strides in the direction in which I was moving. I was now much frightened, and ran the whole way until I reached my room; and having locked the door, I listened breathlessly, but he

I most loathed and abhorred, and to whom I had, as clearly as manner could do it, expressed the state of my feelings, was almost too overwhelming to be borne. It was a calamity, too, in which I could not claim the sympathy of my cousin Emily, which had always bee

y cousin Edward; but such a consummation, though devoutly to be wished, was hardly likely to occur. The painful impressions o

w that he had set his heart upon my property, and that he was not likely easily to forego such an acquisiti

felt the helplessness of my situation. I determined, however, in case of my cousin's persevering in his addresses, to lay all the particulars before my uncle, although he had neve

to excess. At the beginning of the yesterday's interview there was a sort of bullying swagger in his air, which towards the end gave place to the brutal vehemence of an undisguised ruffian - a transition which had te

wondering all the way what this unusual measure might prelude. When I entered the room, he did not rise in his usual courteous way to greet me, but si

have not forgotten that I am also your guardian, and that my authority as such gives me a right to control your conduct. I shall put a question to you, an

h with a good de

's proposals; and my coldness and discouragement migh

l or indifferent to the person who wears this manner. You know, too, none better, that an affected neglect, when skilfully managed, is amongst the most formidable of the engines which artful beauty can employ. I tell you, madam, that having, without one word spoken in discouragement, permitted my son's most marked attentions for a twelvemonth or more, yo

plan for their own aggrandisement, which I now perceived my uncle and his son to have deliberately entered into, at o

cousin; my manner towards him could have conveyed nothing but dislike; and if anything could have added to the strong aversion which I have long felt towards him, it would be his atte

ut he was too old in the world's ways to falter beneath t

ith the provisions of

e affirmative; a

d in my memory, while at the same time the expression of his countenance underwent a gradual but horrible change, and the eyes which he fixed upon me became so darkly vivid, that I almost lost sight of everything else)-'if he we

ed to speak, fascinated by the terrible serpent-like gaze

vantages of the two courses which are open to you. I should be sorry to hurry you to a decision. I am satisfied with having

eft the room, much ag

ypothetically, of murder, combined to arouse all my worst suspicions of him. I dreaded to look upon the face that had so recently worn the appalling li

of which I have just related, I found a note upon m

R LADY

dismissed your Irish maid, and secured a French one to wait upon you - a step ren

ithful g

UR T-

raw-boned, ill-looking, elderly Frenchwoman, whose sullen and presuming manners seemed to imply that her vocation had never before been that of a

had at length elapsed; the day arrived on which I was to communicate my decision to my uncle. Although my resolution had never for a

from policy, it could not have been from delicacy. I was prepared for a terrific burst of fury from my uncle, as soon as I should

in my uncle's presence. He received me with a politeness which I dreaded, as arguing a favourable ant

g with an abruptness which, under other circumstances, would be unpardonable. You have, I am certain, given the subject of our last interview fair and serious

upon a mine which might in an instant explode,

and I reiterate the declaration which I then made, that I never can nor wi

ept that he became deadly, almost lividly pale. He seemed lost

solution is unchangeable. Well, would it had been otherwise - wo

evident that he was fearfully agitated. He continued to hold my hand with an almost p

ere was here a long pause. 'Madness INDEED to strain a cable that

er which, suddenly changing his voice and ma

speak no more upon this subject - never, never more - whatever events depended upon your answer must now take

produced upon my mind a more solemn and depressing effect than I believed possible to have been caused by the course which I had determined to pursue; it struck upon my heart with an awe

ber you shall have no farther uneasiness from Edward; he leaves Ireland for France on to-morrow; this will be a rel

desired assur

lieve, to say upon either side, and my presence must be a

knowing what to think of the strange

cumstances; and two days subsequently he actually produced a letter from his son, written, as it said, ON BOARD, and despatched while the ship

o fervent, and upon which, in all its progress, I could look back with feelings of such unalloyed pleasure, upon whose termination I must ever dwell with so deep, yet so

by the circumstances of the two trying interviews whose particulars I have just detailed. The unpleasant impression which these conferences were calculated to leave upon my mind, was fast

walked about half a mile when I perceived that we had forgotten our drawing materials, the absence of which would have defeated the object of our walk. Laughing

y the tall, ill-looking Frenchwoma

more decided effort to be polite th

I, hastily running by her i

s'il vous plait; votre chambre n'est pas faite

or I was now upon the very lobby, she made a desperate attempt to seize hold of my person: she succeeded in grasping the end of my shaw

tily pushed open the door of my room, at which I now stood, in order to escape fr

was booted and cloaked, and wore a heavy broad-leafed hat over his brows. He turned but for a moment, and averted his face; but I had seen enough to convince me that he was no other than my cousin Edward. My uncle had some iron instrument in his hand, w

ught I heard the voice of the Frenchwoman in all the shrill volubility of excuse, which was met, however, by suppresse

tly as I could; and with tears she promised vigilance, and devotion, and love. I never had reason for a moment to repent the unreserved confidence which I then reposed in her. She was no less surprised than I at the une

e nervousness produced by sleepless nights and days of anxious fears increased the horrors of my situation to such a degree, that I at length wrote a letter to a Mr. Jefferies, an old and faithful friend of my

rtunity which might be safely trusted, whereby to have it placed in the post-office. As neither Emily nor I were permitted to pass beyond the precinc

onversation with her father, whi

nreserved in my disposition. She answered in the affirmative; and he then inquired whether I had been much

think of George Wi

inqui

is to contract for the repairs of the h

ily, 'and she was in such a hurry to

satisfied, and the

was required to do so, all that I had before believed as to Edward's actual presence; and I naturally became,

this person was not connected by service with those whose observation I dreaded, I committed the letter to his keeping, with strict injunctions that he should put it without

and I was not warranted in suspecting him of such wanton dishonesty as an inclination to tamper with it; but I could not be quite satisfied of its

y in the day, reading by myself,

I; and my uncle

come here. I desired to say a word with you. I trust that you have hitherto f

t withhold

r unjust, and that you have perceived, my dear niece, that I hav

et, whence he drew a folded paper, and dashing it

write tha

than all, the unexpected production of my letter to Mr. Jefferies, which I a

not utte

Men will universally believe you mad, if I choose to call for an inquiry. I can make you appear so. The suspicions expressed in this letter are the hallucinations and alarms of mo

rds he left the room, le

hat of eloping secretly from the castle, and placing myself under the protection of the

of evil men, and feeling that she had it not in her power to escape for a moment from the malignant influences under which she was probably fated to fall; and with a conscious

n to think that he must have taken his departure - a conviction which was to a certain de

learn that Edward's black horse had actually been for a day and part of a night in the castle stables, just at the

to look out from the window, and, to my unutterable horror, I beheld, peering through an opposite casement, my cousin

oking fixedly into the narrow quadrangle upon which the window opened. I shrank back unperceived, to pass the

econd door. By this private entrance I found my way into her chamber, and without difficulty persuaded her to return to my room and sleep with me. We accordingly lay do

r the first pale gleam of morning, reckoning every stroke of the

the key in the lock. I held my breath, and the same sound was repeated at the second door of my room - that which opened upon the lobby - the sound was here disti

agination added distinctness to sounds vague in themselves. I thought that I could actually hear the breathing of the person who was slowly returning down the lobby. At the head of the staircase there appeared to occur a pause; and I could distinctly hear two

ur united strength to attempt to force the partition-door, which was slighter than the other, and through this to p

re than a few incoherent words - it was a death-like sleep. She had certainly drank of some narcotic, as had I

r movables I could carry thither, and piled them against the doors, so as to assist me in whatever attempts I should make to resist the entrance of those without. I then returned to the bed and endeavoured again, but fruitl

not to disturb the calmness which I now felt, by uselessly watching the proceedings of those who sought my life; but as the sounds continued, the horrible curiosity which I felt overcam

row court beneath, one side of which was therefore clearly illuminated, while the other was lost in obscuri

as to be almost dazzling, and, peering into the darkness, I first dimly, but afterwards gradually, almost with full distinctness, beheld the form of a man engaged in digging what appeared to be a rude hole close under the

unted into a heap, 'they are digging the grave in which, before two hour

y. I strained every nerve and sinew, but I might as well have attempted, with my single strength, to force the building itself from its fou

is present and inevitable. When I arose, I went once more to the window and looked out, just in time to see a shadowy

g which might serve as a weapon; but either through accident, or from an anticipation of such a possibility, everything which might

would be effected, was that which opened upon the lobby. It was the more direct way, besides being, for obvious reasons, less liable to interruption than the other. I resolved, then, to place myself behind a projection of the wall, whos

the room suddenly darkened by the close approach of some shadowy object to the window. On turning my eyes in that direction, I observed at the top of the cas

urtains were drawn, he was able to distinguish the bed itself and its contents. He appeared satisfied with his scrutiny, for he looked up and made a sign with his hand, upon which the rope by which his descent had been effected was slackened from above, and he proceeded to disengage it fro

of the room. He held in his hand what appeared to be a steel instrument, shaped something like a hammer, but larger and sharpe

h, and the long-drawn, heavy breathing of the sleeper was for ever suspended. I unclosed my eyes, and saw the murderer fling the quilt across the head of his victim: he then, with the instrument of death still in his hand, proceeded to the lobby-door, upon which he tapped sharply twice or

ock - the door opened - and

k down, cowering towards the ground on the entrance of Edward through the window. When my uncle entered the room he and his son both stood

tion from the next r

s the br

must not lay her claws upon them. You're a

replied his son, 'an

gain. 'We must lift the - the THING throug

between them slowly to the window, and, exchanging a few brief words with some one below,

d my uncle; 'there are two

nished me with matter of astonishment, to lay his hand upon the very spot whe

pe made fa

- to be sure it

and was creeping towards the door, when I heard my cousin's voice, in a sharp whisper, exclaim: 'Scramble up again! G- d d -- n you, you've

ith stillness, along the lobby. Before I had gone many yards, I heard the door through which I had just passed double-locked o

thought, easily effect my escape. Accordingly, I hastily entered; but, to my consternation, a candle was burning in the room, and by its light I saw a figure seated at the dinner-table,

alignant and ghastly in the calmness of this bad woman's features, dimly illuminated as they were by the flickering blaze of the candle. A knife lay u

orrected me. 'No,' thought I, 'the God who has conducted me thus far through the valley of the shadow of death, will not abando

h a firm step and collected mind, to the window. I noiselessly withdrew the bars and unclosed the shutters - I pushed open the casement, and, without waitin

rcuit, and in order to avoid delay, I directed my way across the smooth sward round which the pathway wound, intending, at the opposite side of the flat,

smother. The clattering of galloping hoofs approached - I was pursued - they were now upon the sward on which I was running - there was not a bush or a bramble to shelter me - and, a

ed past me at full gallop. It was one of the young fillies which pastured loose about the park, whose frolics had thus all but maddened me with terror. I scrambled to my feet, and rushed on with weak but

ho cried: 'Who goes there?' I felt that I was now safe. I turned in the direction of the voice, and fell fainting at the soldier's f

ormed their officer of the circumstances which had occurred, describing also the appearance of the persons engaged in the murder; and he, without loss of time, proceeded to the m

en a housekeeper in the castle at the time, and a kind of chere amie of my uncle's. She was, in reality, able to speak English like a native, but had exclusively used the French language, I suppose to facilitate her disguise. She died

also in possession of their after fate - the terrible, the tremendous retribution which, after long delays of man

providential occurrences, the failing of a single link of which must have ensured my destruction, I w

rmest heart - the only creature on earth that cared for me - HER life had been the price of my deliverance; and I then uttered the wish, which no event of my long