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They！ Men of science； whom he could have bought by the gross； with a
scratch of his pen！ He showed them the garden… gate again； and locked
and barred it。
'But they were bent on doing what they wanted to do； and they bribed
the old serving…man … a thankless wretch who regularly complained when
he received his wages； of being underpaid … and they stole into the garden
by night with their lanterns； picks； and shovels； and fell to at the tree。 He
was lying in a turret…room on the other side of the house （the Bride's
Chamber had been unoccupied ever since）； but he soon dreamed of picks
and shovels； and got up。
'He came to an upper window on that side； whence he could see their
lanterns； and them； and the loose earth in a heap which he had himself
disturbed and put back； when it was last turned to the air。 It was found！
They had that minute lighted on it。 They were all bending over it。 One
of them said； 〃The skull is fractured；〃 and another； 〃See here the bones；〃
and another； 〃See here the clothes；〃 and then the first struck in again； and
said； 〃A rusty bill…hook！〃
'He became sensible； next day； that he was already put under a strict
watch； and that he could go nowhere without being followed。 Before a
week was out； he was taken and laid in hold。 The circumstances were
gradually pieced together against him； with a desperate malignity； and an
appalling ingenuity。 But； see the justice of men； and how it was extended
to him！ He was further accused of having poisoned that girl in the
Bride's Chamber。 He； who had carefully and expressly avoided
imperilling a hair of his head for her； and who had seen her die of her own
incapacity！
'There was doubt for which of the two murders he should be first tried；
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but； the real one was chosen； and he was found Guilty； and cast for death。
Bloodthirsty wretches！ They would have made him Guilty of anything；
so set they were upon having his life。
'His money could do nothing to save him； and he was hanged。 I am
He； and I was hanged at Lancaster Castle with my face to the wall； a
hundred years ago！'
At this terrific announcement； Mr。 Goodchild tried to rise and cry out。
But； the two fiery lines extending from the old man's eyes to his own； kept
him down； and he could not utter a sound。 His sense of hearing； however；
was acute； and he could hear the clock strike Two。 No sooner had he
heard the clock strike Two； than he saw before him Two old men！
TWO。
The eyes of each； connected with his eyes by two films of fire： each；
exactly like the other： each； addressing him at precisely one and the
same instant： each； gnashing the same teeth in the same head； with the
same twitched nostril above them； and the same suffused expression
around it。 Two old men。 Differing in nothing； equally distinct to the
sight； the copy no fainter than the original； the second as real as the first。
'At what time；' said the Two old men； 'did you arrive at the door
below？'
'At Six。'
'And there were Six old men upon the stairs！'
Mr。 Goodchild having wiped the perspiration from his brow； or tried to
do it； the Two old men proceeded in one voice； and in the singular
number：
'I had been anatomised； but had not yet had my skeleton put together
and re…hung on an iron hook； when it began to be whispered that the
Bride's Chamber was haunted。 It WAS haunted； and I was there。
'WE were there。 She and I were there。 I； in the chair upon the
hearth； she； a white wreck again； trailing itself towards me on the floor。
But； I was the speaker no more； and the one word that she said to me from
midnight until dawn was； 'Live！'
'The youth was there； likewise。 In the tree outside the window。
Coming and going in the moonlight； as the tree bent and gave。 He has；
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ever since； been there； peeping in at me in my torment； revealing to me by
snatches； in the pale lights and slatey shadows where he comes and goes；
bare…headed … a bill…hook； standing edgewise in his hair。
'In the Bride's Chamber； every night from midnight until dawn … one
month in the year excepted； as I am going to tell you … he hides in the tree；
and she comes towards me on the floor； always approaching； never
coming nearer； always visible as if by moon… light； whether the moon
shines or no； always saying； from mid…night until dawn； her one word；
〃Live！〃
'But； in the month wherein I was forced out of this life … this present
month of thirty days … the Bride's Chamber is empty and quiet。 Not so
my old dungeon。 Not so the rooms where I was restless and afraid； ten
years。 Both are fitfully haunted then。 At One in the morning。 I am what
you saw me when the clock struck that hour … One old man。 At Two in
the morning； I am Two old men。 At Three； I am Three。 By Twelve at
noon； I am Twelve old men； One for every hundred per cent。 of old gain。
Every one of the Twelve； with Twelve times my old power of suffering
and agony。 From that hour until Twelve at night； I； Twelve old men in
anguish and fearful foreboding； wait for the coming of the executioner。
At Twelve at night； I； Twelve old men turned off； swing invisible outside
Lancaster Castle； with Twelve faces to the wall！
'When the Bride's Chamber was first haunted； it was known to me that
this punishment would never cease； until I could make its nature； and my
story； known to two living men together。 I waited for the coming of two
living men together into the Bride's Chamber； years upon years。 It was
infused into my knowledge （of the means I am ignorant） that if two living
men； with their eyes open； could be in the Bride's Chamber at One in the
morning； they would see me sitting in my chair。
'At length； the whispers that the room was spiritually troubled； brought
two men to try the adventure。 I was scarcely struck upon the hearth at
midnight （I come there as if the Lightning blasted me into being）； when I
heard them ascending the stairs。 Next； I saw them enter。 One of them
was a bold； gay； active man； in the prime of life； some five and forty years
of age； the other； a dozen years younger。 They brought provisions with
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them in a basket； and bottles。 A young woman accompanied them； with
wood and coals for the lighting of the fire。 When she had lighted it； the
bold； gay； active man accompanied her along the gallery outside the room；
to see her safely down the staircase； and came back laughing。
'He locked the door； examined the chamber； put out the contents of the
basket on the table before the fire … little recking of me； in my appointed
station on the hearth； close to him … and filled the glasses； and ate and
drank。 His companion did the same； and was as cheerful and confident
as he： though he was the leader。 When they had supped； they laid
pistols on the table； turned to the fire； and began to smoke their pipes of
foreign make。
'They had travelled together； and had been much together； and had an
abundance of subjects in common。 In the midst of their talking and
laughing； the younger man made a reference to the leader's being always
ready for any adventure； that one； or any other。 He replied in these
words：
'〃Not quite so； Dick； if I am afraid of nothing else； I am afraid of
myself。〃
'His companion seeming to grow a little dull； asked him； in what sense？
How？
'〃Why； thus；〃 he returned。 〃Here is a Ghost to be disproved。 Well！ I
cannot answer for what my fancy might do if I were alone here； or what
tricks my senses might play