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like rain。 I got to be my own man again before the hammering was
done； and found myself thinking of somebody very dear to me in
England。 I said to myself： 'I'll have a try for my life； for her
sake； though the chances are dead against me。'
〃I put a letter from that person I have mentioned into one of the
stoppered bottles of my dressing…case； along with the mate's
warning； in case I lived to see him again。 I hung this； and a
flask of whisky； in a sling round my neck； and； after first
dressing myself in my confusion； thought better of it； and
stripped； again； for swimming； to my shirt and drawers。 By the
time I had done that the hammering was over and there was such a
silence that I could hear the water bubbling into the scuttled
vessel amidships。 The next noise was the noise of the boat and
the villains in her （always excepting my friend； the mate）
shoving off from the starboard side。 I waited for the splash of
the oars in the water； and then got my back under the hatch。 The
mate had kept his promise。 I lifted it easilycrept across the
deck； under cover of the bulwarks； on all foursand slipped into
the sea on the port side。 Lots of things were floating about。 I
took the first thing I came toa hen…coopand swam away with it
about a couple of hundred yards； keeping the yacht between me and
the boat。 Having got that distance； I was seized with a shivering
fit； and I stopped （fearing the cramp next） to take a pull at my
flask。 When I had closed the flask again； I turned for a moment
to look back； and saw the yacht in the act of sinking。 In a
minute more there was nothing between me and the boat but the
pieces of wreck that had been purposely thrown out to float。 The
moon was shining； and； if they had had a glass in the boat； I
believe they might have seen my head； though I carefully kept the
hen…coop between me and them。
〃As it was； they laid on their oars； and I heard loud voices
among them disputing。 After what seemed an age to me； I
discovered what the dispute was about。 The boat's head was
suddenly turned my way。 Some cleverer scoundrel than the rest
（the sailing…master； I dare say） had evidently persuaded them to
row back over the place where the yacht had gone down； and make
quite sure that I had gone down with her。
〃They were more than half…way across the distance that separated
us； and I had given myself up for lost； when I heard a cry from
one of them； and saw the boat's progress suddenly checked。 In a
minute or two more the boat's head was turned again； and they
rowed straight away from me like men rowing for their lives。
〃I looked on one side toward the land； and saw nothing。 I looked
on the other toward the sea； and discovered what the boat's crew
had discovered before mea sail in the distance； growing
steadily brighter and bigger in the moonlight the longer I looked
at it。 In a quarter of an hour more the vessel was within hail of
me； and the crew had got me on board。
〃They were all foreigners； and they quite deafened me by their
jabber。 I tried signs； but before I could make them understand me
I was seized with another shivering fit； and was carried below。
The vessel held on her course； I have no doubt； but I was in no
condition to know anything about it。 Before morning I was in a
fever； and from that time I can remember nothing clearly till I
came to my senses at this place； and found myself under the care
of a Hungarian merchant； the consignee （as they call it） of the
coasting vessel that had picked me up。 He speaks English as well
or better than I do； and he has treated me with a kindness which
I can find no words to praise。 When he was a young man he was in
England himself； learning business； and he says he has
remembrances of our country which make his heart warm toward an
Englishman。 He has fitted me out with clothes； and has lent me
the money to travel with； as soon as the doctor allows me to
start for home。 Supposing I don't get a relapse； I shall be fit
to travel in a week's time from this。 If I can catch the mail at
Trieste； and stand the fatigue； I shall be back again at Thorpe
Ambrose in a week or ten days at most after you get my letter。
You will agree with me that it is a terribly long letter。 But I
can't help that。 I seem to have lost my old knack at putting
things short； and finishing on the first page。 However； I am near
the end now； for I have nothing left to mention but the reason
why I write about what has happened to me； instead of waiting
till I get home； and telling it all by word of mouth。
〃I fancy my head is still muddled by my illness。 At any rate； it
only struck me this morning that there is barely a chance of some
vessel having passed the place where the yacht foundered； and
having picked up the furniture； and other things wrenched out of
her and left to float。 Some false report of my being drowned may；
in that case； have reached England。 If this has happened （which I
hope to God may be an unfounded fear on my part）； go directly to
Major Milroy at the cottage。 Show him this letterI have written
it quite as much for his eye as for yoursand then give him the
inclosed note； and ask him if he doesn't think the circumstances
justify me in hoping he will send it to Miss Milroy。 I can't
explain why I don't write directly to the major； or to Miss
Milroy； instead of to you。 I can only say there are
considerations I am bound in honor to respect； which oblige me to
act in this roundabout way。
〃I don't ask you to answer this； for I shall be on my way home； I
hope； long before your letter could reach me in this
out…of…the…way place。 Whatever you do； don't lose a moment in
going to Major Milroy。 Go； on second thoughts； whether the loss
of the yacht is known in England or not。
〃Yours truly； ALLAN ARMADALE。〃
〃I looked up when I had come to the end of the letter； and saw；
for the first time； that Bashwood had left his chair and had
placed himself opposite to me。 He was intently studying my face；
with the inquiring expression of a man who was trying to read my
thoughts。 His eyes fell guiltily when they met mine； and he
shrank away to his chair。 Believing； as he did； that I was really
married to Armadale； was he trying to discover whether the news
of Armadale's rescue from the sea was good news or bad news in my
estimation？ It was no time then for entering into explanations
with him。 The first thing to be done was to communicate instantly
with the doctor。 I called Bashwood back to me and gave him my
hand。
〃 'You have done me a service；' I said； 'which makes us closer
friends than ever。 I shall say more about this； and about other
matters of some interest to both of us； later in the day。 I want
you now to lend me Mr。 Armadale's letter （which I promise to
bring back） and to wait here till I return。 Will you do that for
me； Mr。 Bashwood？'
〃He would do anything I asked him； he said。 I went into the
bedroom and put on my bonnet and shawl。
〃 'Let me be quite sure of the facts before I leave you；' I
resumed； when I was ready to go out。 'You have not shown this
letter to anybody but me？'
〃 'Not a living soul has seen it but our two selves。'
〃'What have you done with the note inclosed to Miss Milroy？'
〃He produced it from his pocket。 I ran it over rapidlysaw that
there was nothing in it of the slightest importanceand put it
in the fi re on the spot。 That done； I left Bashwood in the
sitting…room； and went to the Sanitarium； with Armadale's letter
in my hand。
〃The doctor had gone out； and the servant was unable to say
positively at what time he would be back。 I went into his study；
and wrote a line preparing him for the news I had brought with
me； which I sealed up； with Armadale's letter； in an envelope； to
await his return。 Having told the servant I would call again in
an hour； I left the place。
〃It was useless to go back to my lodgings and speak to Bashwood；
until I knew first what the doctor meant to do。 I walked about
the neighborhood； up and down new streets and crescents and
squares； with a kind of dull； numbed feeling in me； which
prevented； not only all voluntary exercise of thought； but all
sensation of bodily fatigue。 I remembered the same feeling
overpowering me； years ago； on the morning when the people of the
prison came to take me into court to be tried for my life。 All
that frightful scene came back again to my mind in the strangest
manner； as if it had been a scene in which some other person had
figured。 Once or twice I wondered； in a heavy； senseless way； why
they had not hanged me！
〃When I went back to the Sanitarium； I was informed that the
doctor had returned half an hour since； and that he was in his
own room anxiously waiting to see me。
〃I went into the study； and found him sitting close by the fire
with his head down and his hands on his knees。 On the table near
him； beside Armadale's letter and my note； I saw； in the little
circle of light thrown by the reading…lamp； an open railway
guide。 Was he meditating flight？ It was impossible to tell from
his face； when he looked up at me； what he was meditating； or how
the shock had struck him when he first discovered that Armadale
was a living man。
〃 'Take a seat near the