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the universal excitement。 But I knew that a verdict of Wilful Murder had
been found against the suspected murderer； and that he had been
committed to Newgate for trial。 I also knew that his trial had been
postponed over one Sessions of the Central Criminal Court； on the ground
of general prejudice and want of time for the preparation of the defence。 I
may further have known； but I believe I did not； when； or about when； the
Sessions to which his trial stood postponed would come on。
My sitting…room； bedroom； and dressing…room； are all on one floor。
With the last there is no communication but through the bedroom。 True；
there is a door in it； once communicating with the staircase； but a part of
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the fitting of my bath has beenand had then been for some yearsfixed
across it。 At the same period； and as a part of the same arrangement；the
door had been nailed up and canvased over。
I was standing in my bedroom late one night； giving some directions to
my servant before he went to bed。 My face was towards the only available
door of communication with the dressing…room； and it was closed。 My
servant's back was towards that door。 While I was speaking to him； I saw it
open； and a man look in； who very earnestly and mysteriously beckoned to
me。 That man was the man who had gone second of the two along
Piccadilly； and whose face was of the colour of impure wax。
The figure； having beckoned； drew back； and closed the door。 With no
longer pause than was made by my crossing the bedroom； I opened the
dressing…room door； and looked in。 I had a lighted candle already in my
hand。 I felt no inward expectation of seeing the figure in the dressing…
room； and I did not see it there。
Conscious that my servant stood amazed； I turned round to him； and
said： 〃Derrick； could you believe that in my cool senses I fancied I saw a
〃 As I there laid my hand upon his breast； with a sudden start he trembled
violently； and said； 〃O Lord； yes； sir！ A dead man beckoning！〃
Now I do not believe that this John Derrick； my trusty and attached
servant for more than twenty years； had any impression whatever of
having seen any such figure； until I touched him。 The change in him was
so startling； when I touched him； that I fully believe he derived his
impression in some occult manner from me at that instant。
I bade John Derrick bring some brandy； and I gave him a dram； and
was glad to take one myself。 Of what had preceded that night's
phenomenon； I told him not a single word。 Reflecting on it； I was
absolutely certain that I had never seen that face before； except on the one
occasion in Piccadilly。 Comparing its expression when beckoning at the
door with its expression when it had stared up at me as I stood at my
window； I came to the conclusion that on the first occasion it had sought to
fasten itself upon my memory； and that on the second occasion it had
made sure of being immediately remembered。
I was not very comfortable that night； though I felt a certainty； difficult
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to explain； that the figure would not return。 At daylight I fell into a heavy
sleep； from which I was awakened by John Derrick's coming to my
bedside with a paper in his hand。
This paper； it appeared； had been the subject of an altercation at the
door between its bearer and my servant。 It was a summons to me to serve
upon a Jury at the forthcoming Sessions of the Central Criminal Court at
the Old Bailey。 I had never before been summoned on such a Jury； as John
Derrick well knew。 He believedI am not certain at this hour whether with
reason or otherwisethat that class of Jurors were customarily chosen on a
lower qualification than mine； and he had at first refused to accept the
summons。 The man who served it had taken the matter very coolly。 He had
said that my attendance or non…attendance was nothing to him； there the
summons was； and I should deal with it at my own peril； and not at his。
For a day or two I was undecided whether to respond to this call； or
take no notice of it。 I was not conscious of the slightest mysterious bias；
influence； or attraction； one way or other。 Of that I am as strictly sure as of
every other statement that I make here。 Ultimately I decided； as a break in
the monotony of my life； that I would go。
The appointed morning was a raw morning in the month of November。
There was a dense brown fog in Piccadilly； and it became positively black
and in the last degree oppressive East of Temple Bar。 I found the passages
and staircases of the Court…House flaringly lighted with gas； and the Court
itself similarly illuminated。 I THINK that； until I was conducted by
officers into the Old Court and saw its crowded state； I did not know that
the Murderer was to be tried that day。 I THINK that； until I was so helped
into the Old Court with considerable difficulty； I did not know into which
of the two Courts sitting my summons would take me。 But this must not
be received as a positive assertion； for I am not completely satisfied in my
mind on either point。
I took my seat in the place appropriated to Jurors in waiting； and I
looked about the Court as well as I could through the cloud of fog and
breath that was heavy in it。 I noticed the black vapour hanging like a
murky curtain outside the great windows； and I noticed the stifled sound
of wheels on the straw or tan that was littered in the street； also； the hum
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of the people gathered there； which a shrill whistle； or a louder song or
hail than the rest； occasionally pierced。 Soon afterwards the Judges； two in
number； entered； and took their seats。 The buzz in the Court was awfully
hushed。 The direction was given to put the Murderer to the bar。 He
appeared there。 And in that same instant I recognised in him the first of the
two men who had gone down Piccadilly。
If my name had been called then； I doubt if I could have answered to it
audibly。 But it was called about sixth or eighth in the panel； and I was by
that time able to say； 〃Here！〃 Now； observe。 As I stepped into the box； the
prisoner； who had been looking on attentively； but with no sign of concern；
became violently agitated； and beckoned to his attorney。 The prisoner's
wish to challenge me was so manifest； that it occasioned a pause； during
which the attorney； with his hand upon the dock； whispered with his client；
and shook his head。 I afterwards had it from that gentleman； that the
prisoner's first affrighted words to him were； 〃AT ALL HAZARDS；
CHALLENGE THAT MAN！〃 But that； as he would give no reason for it；
and admitted that he had not even known my name until he heard it called
and I appeared； it was not done。
Both on the ground already explained； that I wish to avoid reviving the
unwholesome memory of that Murderer； and also because a detailed
account of his long trial is by no means indispensable to my narrative； I
shall confine myself closely to such incidents in the ten days and nights
during which we； the Jury； were kept together； as directly bear on my own
curious personal experience。 It is in that； and not in the Murderer； that I
seek to interest my reader。 It is to that； and not to a page of the Newgate
Calendar； that I beg attention。
I was chosen Foreman of the Jury。 On the second morning of the trial；
after evidence had been taken for two hours （I heard the church clocks
strike）； happening to cast my eyes over my brother jurymen； I found an
inexplicable difficulty in counting them。 I counted them several times； yet
always with the same difficulty。 In short； I made them one too many。
I touched the brother jurymen whose place was next me； and I
whispered to him； 〃Oblige me by counting us。〃 He looked surprised by the
request； but turned his he