Chapter 62 - Page 2

a€˜Let it be, will you?a€™ he retorted in a hurried voice. a€˜It hangs there yet.a€™

The blind man turned a wistful and inquisitive face towards him, but he continued to speak, without noticing him.

a€˜I went to Chigwell, in search of the mob. I have been so hunted and beset by this man, that I knew my only hope of safety lay in joining them. They had gone on before; I followed them when it left off.a€™

a€˜When what left off?a€™

a€˜The Bell. They had quitted the place. I hoped that some of them might be still lingering among the ruins, and was searching for them when I hearda€"a€™ he drew a long breath, and wiped his forehead with his sleevea€"a€™his voice.a€™

a€˜Saying what?a€™

a€˜No matter what. I dona€™t know. I was then at the foot of the turret, where I did thea€"a€™

a€˜Aye,a€™ said the blind man, nodding his head with perfect composure, a€˜I understand.a€™

a€˜I climbed the stair, or so much of it as was left; meaning to hide till he had gone. But he heard me; and followed almost as soon as I set foot upon the ashes.a€™

a€˜You might have hidden in the wall, and thrown him down, or stabbed him,a€™ said the blind man.

a€˜Might I? Between that man and me, was one who led him ona€"I saw it, though he did nota€"and raised above his head a bloody hand. It was in the room above that he and I stood glaring at each other on the night of the murder, and before he fell he raised his hand like that, and fixed his eyes on me. I knew the chase would end there.a€™

a€˜You have a strong fancy,a€™ said the blind man, with a smile.

a€˜Strengthen yours with blood, and see what it will come to.a€™

He groaned, and rocked himself, and looking up for the first time, said, in a low, hollow voice, a€˜Eight-and-twenty years! Eight-and-twenty years! He has never changed in all that time, never grown older, nor altered in the least degree. He has been before me in the dark night, and the broad sunny day; in the twilight, the moonlight, the sunlight, the light of fire, and lamp, and candle; and in the deepest gloom. Always the same! In company, in solitude, on land, on shipboard; sometimes leaving me alone for months, and sometimes always with me. I have seen him, at sea, come gliding in the dead of night along the bright reflection of the moon in the calm water; and I have seen him, on quays and market-places, with his hand uplifted, towering, the centre of a busy crowd, unconscious of the terrible form that had its silent stand among them. Fancy! Are you real? Am I?