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lame。
Slinkton pulled out his handkerchief； assuaged the pain in his smarting
eyes； and dabbled the blood on his forehead。 He was a long time about it；
and I saw that in the doing of it； a tremendous change came over him；
occasioned by the change in Beckwith； … who ceased to pant and tremble；
sat upright； and never took his eyes off him。 I never in my life saw a face
in which abhorrence and determination were so forcibly painted as in
Beckwith's then。
'Look at me； you villain；' said Beckwith； 'and see me as I really am。 I
took these rooms； to make them a trap for you。 I came into them as a
drunkard； to bait the trap for you。 You fell into the trap； and you will
never leave it alive。 On the morning when you last went to Mr。
Sampson's office； I had seen him first。 Your plot has been known to both
of us； all along； and you have been counter… plotted all along。 What？
Having been cajoled into putting that prize of two thousand pounds in
your power； I was to be done to death with brandy； and； brandy not
proving quick enough； with something quicker？ Have I never seen you；
when you thought my senses gone； pouring from your little bottle into my
glass？ Why； you Murderer and Forger； alone here with you in the dead
of night； as I have so often been； I have had my hand upon the trigger of a
pistol； twenty times； to blow your brains out！'
This sudden starting up of the thing that he had supposed to be his
imbecile victim into a determined man； with a settled resolution to hunt
him down and be the death of him； mercilessly expressed from head to
foot； was； in the first shock； too much for him。 Without any figure of
speech； he staggered under it。 But there is no greater mistake than to
suppose that a man who is a calculating criminal； is； in any phase of his
guilt； otherwise than true to himself； and perfectly consistent with his
whole character。 Such a man commits murder； and murder is the natural
culmination of his course； such a man has to outface murder； and will do it
with hardihood and effrontery。 It is a sort of fashion to express surprise
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that any notorious criminal； having such crime upon his conscience； can so
brave it out。 Do you think that if he had it on his conscience at all； or had
a conscience to have it upon； he would ever have committed the crime？
Perfectly consistent with himself； as I believe all such monsters to be；
this Slinkton recovered himself； and showed a defiance that was
sufficiently cold and quiet。 He was white； he was haggard； he was
changed； but only as a sharper who had played for a great stake and had
been outwitted and had lost the game。
'Listen to me； you villain；' said Beckwith； 'and let every word you hear
me say be a stab in your wicked heart。 When I took these rooms； to
throw myself in your way and lead you on to the scheme that I knew my
appearance and supposed character and habits would suggest to such a
devil； how did I know that？ Because you were no stranger to me。 I
knew you well。 And I knew you to be the cruel wretch who； for so much
money； had killed one innocent girl while she trusted him implicitly； and
who was by inches killing another。'
Slinkton took out a snuff…box； took a pinch of snuff； and laughed。
'But see here；' said Beckwith； never looking away； never raising his
voice； never relaxing his face； never unclenching his hand。 'See what a
dull wolf you have been； after all！ The infatuated drunkard who never
drank a fiftieth part of the liquor you plied him with； but poured it away；
here； there； everywhere … almost before your eyes； who bought over the
fellow you set to watch him and to ply him； by outbidding you in his bribe；
before he had been at his work three days … with whom you have observed
no caution； yet who was so bent on ridding the earth of you as a wild beast；
that he would have defeated you if you had been ever so prudent … that
drunkard whom you have； many a time； left on the floor of this room； and
who has even let you go out of it； alive and undeceived； when you have
turned him over with your foot … has； almost as often； on the same night；
within an hour； within a few minutes； watched you awake； had his hand at
your pillow when you were asleep； turned over your papers； taken samples
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from your bottles and packets of powder； changed their contents； rifled
every secret of your life！'
He had had another pinch of snuff in his hand； but had gradually let it
drop from between his fingers to the floor； where he now smoothed it out
with his foot； looking down at it the while。
'That drunkard；' said Beckwith； 'who had free access to your rooms at
all times； that he might drink the strong drinks that you left in his way and
be the sooner ended； holding no more terms with you than he would hold
with a tiger； has had his master…key for all your locks； his test for all your
poisons； his clue to your cipher… writing。 He can tell you； as well as you
can tell him； how long it took to complete that deed； what doses there were；
what intervals； what signs of gradual decay upon mind and body； what
distempered fancies were produced； what observable changes； what
physical pain。 He can tell you； as well as you can tell him； that all this was
recorded day by day； as a lesson of experience for future service。 He can
tell you； better than you can tell him； where that journal is at this moment。'
Slinkton stopped the action of his foot； and looked at Beckwith。
'No；' said the latter； as if answering a question from him。 'Not in the
drawer of the writing…desk that opens with a spring； it is not there； and it
never will be there again。'
'Then you are a thief！' said Slinkton。
Without any change whatever in the inflexible purpose； which it was
quite terrific even to me to contemplate； and from the power of which I
had always felt convinced it was impossible for this wretch to escape；
Beckwith returned；
'And I am your niece's shadow； too。'
With an imprecation Slinkton put his hand to his head； tore out some
hair； and flung it to the ground。 It was the end of the smooth walk； he
destroyed it in the action； and it will soon be seen that his use for it was
past。
Beckwith went on： 'Whenever you left here； I left here。 Although I
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understood that you found it necessary to pause in the completion of that
purpose； to avert suspicion； still I watched you close； with the poor
confiding girl。 When I had the diary； and could read it word by word； … it
was only about the night before your last visit to Scarborough； … you
remember the night？ you slept with a small flat vial tied to your wrist； … I
sent to Mr。 Sampson； who was kept out of view。 This is Mr。 Sampson's
trusty servant standing by the door。 We three saved your niece among
us。'
Slinkton looked at us all； took an uncertain step or two from the place
where he had stood； returned to it； and glanced about him in a very curious
way； … as one of the meaner reptiles might； looking for a hole to hide in。 I
noticed at the same time； that a singular change took place in the figure of
the man； … as if it collapsed within his clothes； and they consequently
became ill…shapen and ill…fitting。
'You shall know；' said Beckwith； 'for I hope the knowledge will be
bitter and terrible to you； why you have been pursued by one man； and