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1Elizabeth seemed happy; my tranquil demeanour contributed greatly to calm her mind. But on the day that was to fulfil my
2wishes and my destiny, she was melancholy, and a presentiment of evil pervaded her; and perhaps also she thought of the
3dreadful secret which I had promised to reveal to her on the following day. My father was in the meantime overjoyed,
4and, in the bustle of preparation, only recognised in the melancholy of his niece the diffidence of a bride. After the
5ceremony was performed a large party assembled at my father's, but it was agreed that Elizabeth and I should commence
6our journey by water, sleeping that night at Evian and continuing our voyage on the following day. The day was fair, the
7wind favourable; all smiled on our nuptial embarkation. Those were the last moments of my life during which I enjoyed
8the feeling of happiness. We passed rapidly along; the sun was hot, but we were sheltered from its rays by a kind of
9canopy while we enjoyed the beauty of the scene, sometimes on one side of the lake, where we saw Mont Salêve, the
10pleasant banks of Montalègre, and at a distance, surmounting all, the beautiful Mont Blanc, and the assemblage of snowy
11mountains that in vain endeavour to emulate her; sometimes coasting the opposite banks, we saw the mighty Jura opposing
12its dark side to the ambition that would quit its native country, and an almost insurmountable barrier to the invader
13who should wish to enslave it. I took the hand of Elizabeth. "You are sorrowful, my love. Ah! If you knew what I have
14suffered and what I may yet endure, you would endeavour to let me taste the quiet and freedom from despair that this one
15day at least permits me to enjoy." "Be happy, my dear Victor," replied Elizabeth; "there is, I hope, nothing to distress
16you; and be assured that if a lively joy is not painted in my face, my heart is contented. Something whispers to me not
17to depend too much on the prospect that is opened before us, but I will not listen to such a sinister voice. Observe how
18fast we move along and how the clouds, which sometimes obscure and sometimes rise above the dome of Mont Blanc, render
19this scene of beauty still more interesting. Look also at the innumerable fish that are swimming in the clear waters,
20where we can distinguish every pebble that lies at the bottom. What a divine day! How happy and serene all nature
21appears!" Thus Elizabeth endeavoured to divert her thoughts and mine from all reflection upon melancholy subjects. But
22her temper was fluctuating; joy for a few instants shone in her eyes, but it continually gave place to distraction and
23reverie. The sun sank lower in the heavens; we passed the river Drance and observed its path through the chasms of the
24higher and the glens of the lower hills. The Alps here come closer to the lake, and we approached the amphitheatre of
25mountains which forms its eastern boundary. The spire of Evian shone under the woods that surrounded it and the range of
26mountain above mountain by which it was overhung. The wind, which had hitherto carried us along with amazing rapidity,
27sank at sunset to a light breeze; the soft air just ruffled the water and caused a pleasant motion among the trees as we
28approached the shore, from which it wafted the most delightful scent of flowers and hay. The sun sank beneath the
29horizon as we landed, and as I touched the shore I felt those cares and fears revive which soon were to clasp me and
30cling to me for ever. Chapter 23 It was eight o'clock when we landed; we walked for a short time on the shore, enjoying
31the transitory light, and then retired to the inn and contemplated the lovely scene of waters, woods, and mountains,
32obscured in darkness, yet still displaying their black outlines. The wind, which had fallen in the south, now rose with
33great violence in the west. The moon had reached her summit in the heavens and was beginning to descend; the clouds
34swept across it swifter than the flight of the vulture and dimmed her rays, while the lake reflected the scene of the
35busy heavens, rendered still busier by the restless waves that were beginning to rise. Suddenly a heavy storm of rain
36descended. I had been calm during the day, but so soon as night obscured the shapes of objects, a thousand fears arose
37in my mind. I was anxious and watchful, while my right hand grasped a pistol which was hidden in my bosom; every sound
38terrified me, but I resolved that I would sell my life dearly and not shrink from the conflict until my own life or that
39of my adversary was extinguished. Elizabeth observed my agitation for some time in timid and fearful silence, but there
40was something in my glance which communicated terror to her, and trembling, she asked, "What is it that agitates you, my
41dear Victor? What is it you fear?" "Oh! Peace, peace, my love," replied I; "this night, and all will be safe; but this
42night is dreadful, very dreadful." I passed an hour in this state of mind, when suddenly I reflected how fearful the
43combat which I momentarily expected would be to my wife, and I earnestly entreated her to retire, resolving not to join
44her until I had obtained some knowledge as to the situation of my enemy. She left me, and I continued some time walking
45up and down the passages of the house and inspecting every corner that might afford a retreat to my adversary. But I
46discovered no trace of him and was beginning to conjecture that some fortunate chance had intervened to prevent the
47execution of his menaces when suddenly I heard a shrill and dreadful scream. It came from the room into which Elizabeth
48had retired. As I heard it, the whole truth rushed into my mind, my arms dropped, the motion of every muscle and fibre
49was suspended; I could feel the blood trickling in my veins and tingling in the extremities of my limbs. This state
50lasted but for an instant; the scream was repeated, and I rushed into the room. Great God! Why did I not then expire!
51Why am I here to relate the destruction of the best hope and the purest creature on earth? She was there, lifeless and
52inanimate, thrown across the bed, her head hanging down and her pale and distorted features half covered by her hair.
53Everywhere I turn I see the same figure--her bloodless arms and relaxed form flung by the murderer on its bridal bier.
54Could I behold this and live? Alas! Life is obstinate and clings closest where it is most hated. For a moment only did I
55lose recollection; I fell senseless on the ground. When I recovered I found myself surrounded by the people of the inn;
56their countenances expressed a breathless terror, but the horror of others appeared only as a mockery, a shadow of the
57feelings that oppressed me. I escaped from them to the room where lay the body of Elizabeth, my love, my wife, so lately
58living, so dear, so worthy. She had been moved from the posture in which I had first beheld her, and now, as she lay,
59her head upon her arm and a handkerchief thrown across her face and neck, I might have supposed her asleep. I rushed
60towards her and embraced her with ardour, but the deadly languor and coldness of the limbs told me that what I now held
61in my arms had ceased to be the Elizabeth whom I had loved and cherished. The murderous mark of the fiend's grasp was on
62her neck, and the breath had ceased to issue from her lips. While I still hung over her in the agony of despair, I
63happened to look up. The windows of the room had before been darkened, and I felt a kind of panic on seeing the pale
64yellow light of the moon illuminate the chamber. The shutters had been thrown back, and with a sensation of horror not
65to be described, I saw at the open window a figure the most hideous and abhorred. A grin was on the face of the monster;
66he seemed to jeer, as with his fiendish finger he pointed towards the corpse of my wife. I rushed towards the window,
67and drawing a pistol from my bosom, fired; but he eluded me, leaped from his station, and running with the swiftness of
68lightning, plunged into the lake.
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