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The magistrate now considered it his duty to send a couple of constables
to search the chamber of the accused in the house of his uncle。 From this
search they almost immediately returned with the well…known steel…bound；
russet leather pocket…book which the old gentleman had been in the habit
of carrying for years。 Its valuable contents； however； had been
abstracted； and the magistrate in vain endeavored to extort from the
prisoner the use which had been made of them； or the place of their
concealment。 Indeed； he obstinately denied all knowledge of the matter。
The constables； also； discovered； between the bed and sacking of the
unhappy man； a shirt and neck…handkerchief both marked with the initials
of his name； and both hideously besmeared with the blood of the victim。
At this juncture； it was announced that the horse of the murdered man had
just expired in the stable from the effects of the wound he had received；
and it was proposed by Mr。 Goodfellow that a post mortem examination of
the beast should be immediately made； with the view； if possible； of
discovering the ball。 This was accordingly done； and； as if to demonstrate
beyond a question the guilt of the accused； Mr。 Goodfellow； after
considerable searching in the cavity of the chest was enabled to detect
and to pull forth a bullet of very extraordinary size； which； upon trial；
was found to be exactly adapted to the bore of Mr。 Pennifeather's rifle；
while it was far too large for that of any other person in the borough or
its vicinity。 To render the matter even surer yet； however； this bullet
was discovered to have a flaw or seam at right angles to the usual suture；
and upon examination； this seam corresponded precisely with an accidental
ridge or elevation in a pair of moulds acknowledged by the accused himself
to be his own property。 Upon finding of this bullet； the examining
magistrate refused to listen to any farther testimony； and immediately
committed the prisoner for trial…declining resolutely to take any bail in
the case； although against this severity Mr。 Goodfellow very warmly
remonstrated； and offered to become surety in whatever amount might be
required。 This generosity on the part of 〃Old Charley〃 was only in
accordance with the whole tenour of his amiable and chivalrous conduct
during the entire period of his sojourn in the borough of Rattle。 In the
present instance the worthy man was so entirely carried away by the
excessive warmth of his sympathy； that he seemed to have quite forgotten；
when he offered to go bail for his young friend； that he himself （Mr。
Goodfellow） did not possess a single dollar's worth of property upon the
face of the earth。
The result of the committal may be readily foreseen。 Mr。 Pennifeather；
amid the loud execrations of all Rattleborough； was brought to trial at
the next criminal sessions； when the chain of circumstantial evidence
（strengthened as it was by some additional damning facts； which Mr。
Goodfellow's sensitive conscientiousness forbade him to withhold from the
court） was considered so unbroken and so thoroughly conclusive； that the
jury； without leaving their seats； returned an immediate verdict of
〃Guilty of murder in the first degree。〃 Soon afterward the unhappy wretch
received sentence of death； and was remanded to the county jail to await
the inexorable vengeance of the law。
In the meantime； the noble behavior of 〃Old Charley Goodfellow； had doubly
endeared him to the honest citizens of the borough。 He became ten times a
greater favorite than ever； and； as a natural result of the hospitality
with which he was treated； he relaxed； as it were； perforce； the extremely
parsimonious habits which his poverty had hitherto impelled him to
observe； and very frequently had little reunions at his own house； when
wit and jollity reigned supreme…dampened a little； of course； by the
occasional remembrance of the untoward and melancholy fate which impended
over the nephew of the late lamented bosom friend of the generous host。
One fine day； this magnanimous old gentleman was agreeably surprised at
the receipt of the following letter：…
Charles Goodfellow； Esq。； Rattleborough
From H。F。B。 & Co。
Chat。 Mar。 A No。 1。 6 doz。 bottles （1/2 Gross）
｛The above inscription lies vertically to the left of the following letter
in the print version Ed。｝
_〃Charles Goodfellow； Esquire。_
_〃Dear Sir In conformity with an order transmitted to our firm about
two months since； by our esteemed correspondent； Mr。 Barnabus
Shuttleworthy； we have the honor of forwarding this morning； to your
address； a double box of Chateau…Margaux of the antelope brand； violet
seal。 Box numbered and marked as per margin。_
_〃We remain； sir_； _
_ _〃Your most ob'nt ser'ts；
_ _ _〃HOGGS； FROGS； BOGS； & CO。
〃City of ； June 21； 18。
_〃P。S。 The box will reach you by wagon； on the day after your receipt
of this letter。 Our respects to Mr。 Shuttleworthy。_
〃H。； F。； B。； & CO。〃
The fact is； that Mr。 Goodfellow had； since the death of Mr。
Shuttleworthy； given over all expectation of ever receiving the promised
Chateau…Margaux； and he； therefore； looked upon it now as a sort of
especial dispensation of Providence in his behalf。 He was highly
delighted； of course； and in the exuberance of his joy invited a large
party of friends to a petit souper on the morrow； for the purpose of
broaching the good old Mr。 Shuttleworthy's present。 Not that he said any
thing about 〃the good old Mr。 Shuttleworthy〃 when he issued the
invitations。 The fact is； he thought much and concluded to say nothing at
all。 He did not mention to any one if I remember aright that he had
received a present of Chateau…Margaux。 He merely asked his friends to come
and help him drink some； of a remarkable fine quality and rich flavour；
that he had ordered up from the city a couple of months ago； and of which
he would be in the receipt upon the morrow。 I have often puzzled myself to
imagine why it was that 〃Old Charley〃 came to the conclusion to say
nothing about having received the wine from his old friend； but I could
never precisely understand his reason for the silence； although he had
some excellent and very magnanimous reason； no doubt。
The morrow at length arrived； and with it a very large and highly
respectable company at Mr。 Goodfellow's house。 Indeed； half the borough
was there； I myself among the number； but； much to the vexation of
the host； the Chateau…Margaux did not arrive until a late hour； and when
the sumptuous supper supplied by 〃Old Charley〃 had been done very ample
justice by the guests。 It came at length； however； a monstrously big
box of it there was； too and as the whole party were in excessively
good humor； it was decided； nem。 con。； that it should be lifted upon the
table and its contents disembowelled forthwith。
No sooner said than done。 I lent a helping hand； and； in a trice we had
the box upon the table； in the midst of all the bottles and glasses； not a
few of which were demolished in the scuffle。 〃Old Charley；〃 who was pretty
much intoxicated； and excessively red in the face； now took a seat； with
an air of mock dignity； at the head of the board； and thumped furiously
upon it with a decanter； calling upon the company to keep order 〃during
the ceremony of disinterring the treasure。〃
After some vociferation； quiet was at length fully restored； and； as very
often happens in similar cases； a profound and remarkable silence ensued。
Being then requested to force open the lid； I complied； of course； 〃with
an infinite deal of pleasure。〃 I inserted a chisel； and giving it a few
slight taps with a hammer； the top of the box flew suddenly off； and at
the same instant； there sprang up into a sitting position； directly facing
the host； the bruised； bloody； and nearly putrid corpse of the murdered
Mr。 Shuttleworthy himself。 It gazed for a few seconds； fixedly and
sorrowfully； with its decaying and lack…lustre eyes； full into the
countenance of Mr。 Goodfellow； uttered slowly； but clearly and
impressively； the words 〃Thou art the man！〃 and then； falling over the
side of the chest as if thoroughly satisfied； stretched out its limbs
quiveringly upon the table。
The scene that ensued is altogether beyond description。 The rush for the
doors and windows was terrific； and many of the most robust men in the
room fainted outright through sheer horror。 But after the first wild；
shrieking burst of affright； all eyes were directed to Mr。 Goodfellow。 If
I live a thousand years； I can never forget the more than mortal agony
which was depicted in that ghastly face of his； so lately rubicund with
triumph and wine。 For several minutes he sat rigidly as a statue of
marble； his eyes seeming； in the intense vacancy of their gaze； to be
turned inward and absorbed in the contemplation of his own miserable；
murderous soul。 At length their expression appeared to flash suddenly out
into the external world； when； with a quick leap； he sprang from his
chair； and falling heavily with his head and shoulders upon the table； and
in contact with the corpse； poured out rapidly and vehemently a detailed
confession of the hideous crime for which