The last precaution adopted was to have the face of the corpse photographed,before the coffin was closed.On the same day the jury agreed on their verdict:"Willful murder against some person unknown.".
Two days later,Emily found a last allusion to the crime--extracted from the columns of the South Hampshire Gazette.
A relative of the deceased,seeing the report of the adjourned inquest,had appeared (accompanied by a medical gentleman);had seen the photograph;and had declared the identification by Henry Forth to be correct.
Among other particulars,now communicated for the first time,it was stated that the late Mr.James Brown had been unreasonably sensitive on the subject of his false teeth,and that the one member of his family who knew of his wearing them was the relative who now claimed his remains.
The claim having been established to the satisfaction of the authorities,the corpse was removed by railroad the same day.No further light had been thrown on the murder.The Handbill offering the reward,and describing the suspected man,had failed to prove of any assistance to the investigations of the police.
From that date,no further notice of the crime committed at the Hand-in-Hand inn appeared in the public journals.
Emily closed the volume which she had been consulting,and thankfully acknowledged the services of the librarian.
The new reader had excited this gentleman's interest.Noticing how carefully she examined the numbers of the old newspaper,he looked at her,from time to time,wondering whether it was good news or bad of which she was in search.She read steadily and continuously;but she never rewarded his curiosity by any outward sign of the impression that had been produced on her.When she left the room there was nothing to remark in her manner;she looked quietly thoughtful--and that was all.
The librarian smiled--amused by his own folly.Because a stranger's appearance had attracted him,he had taken it for granted that circumstances of romantic interest must be connected with her visit to the library.Far from misleading him,as he supposed,his fancy might have been employed to better purpose,if it had taken a higher flight still--and had associated Emily with the fateful gloom of tragedy,in place of the brighter interest of romance.
There,among the ordinary readers of the day,was a dutiful and affectionate daughter following the dreadful story of the death of her father by murder,and believing it to be the story of a stranger--because she loved and trusted the person whose short-sighted mercy had deceived her.That very discovery,the dread of which had shaken the good doctor's firm nerves,had forced Alban to exclude from his confidence the woman whom he loved,and had driven the faithful old servant from the bedside of her dying mistress--that very discovery Emily had now made,with a face which never changed color,and a heart which beat at ease.Was the deception that had won this cruel victory over truth destined still to triumph in the days which were to come?
Yes--if the life of earth is a foretaste of the life of hell.
No--if a lie isa lie,be the merciful motive for the falsehood what it may.No--if all deceit contains in it the seed of retribution,to be ripened inexorably in the lapse of time.
