Foramoment，althoughweweretwicetheirnumber，wefellbackbeforetheirvalorousfame，andthepoweroftheironset。Formypart，admiringtheircouragegreatly，andcountingitsluruponmanlinessthattwoshouldbedownupononeso，Iwithheldmyhandawhile；
forIcaredtomeetnonebutCarver；andhewasnotamongthem。Thewhirlandhurryofthisfight，andthehardblowsrainingdown——fornowallgunswereempty——tookawaymypowerofseeing，orreasoninguponanything。YetonethingIsaw，whichdwelledlongwithme；andthatwasChristopherBadcockspendinghislifetogetCharley’s。
Howhehadfoundout，nonemaytell；bothbeingdeadsolongago；but，atanyrate，hehadfoundoutthatCharleywasthemanwhohadrobbedhimofhiswifeandhonour。ItwasCarverDoonewhotookheraway，butCharleworthDoonewasbesidehim；and，accordingtocastofdice，shefelltoCharley’sshare。AllthisKitBadcockwhowasmad，accordingtoourmeasures
haddiscovered，andtreasuredup；andnowwashisrevenge-time。
Hehadcomeintotheconflictwithoutaweaponofanykind；onlybeggingmetolethimbeintheverythickofit。Forhim，hesaid，lifewasnomatter，afterthelossofhiswifeandchild；butdeathwasmattertohim，andhemeanttomakethemostofit。SuchafaceIneversaw，andneverhopetoseeagain，aswhenpoorKitBadcockspiedCharleycomingtowardsus。
Wehadthoughtthismanapatientfool，aphilosopherofalittlesort，oronewhocouldfeelnothing。Andhisquietmannerofgoingabout，andthegentlenessofhisanswerswhensomebrutesaskedhimwherehiswifewas，andwhetherhisbabyhadbeenwell-trussed，thesehadmisledustothinkthatthemanwouldturnthemildcheektoeverything。ButI，inthelonelinessofourbarn，hadlistened，andhadweptwithhim。
ThereforewasInotsurprised，somuchasalltherestofus，when，intheforemostofredlight，KitwentuptoCharleworthDoone，asiftosomeinheritance；andtookhisseisinofrightuponhim，beinghimselfapowerfulman；andbeggedawordasidewithhim。Whattheysaidaside，Iknownot；allIknowisthatwithoutweapon，eachmankilledtheother。AndMargeryBadcockcame，andwept，andhunguponherpoorhusband；anddied，thatsummer，ofheart-disease。
NowfortheseandotherthingswhereofIcouldtellathousandwasthereckoningcomethatnight；andnotalinewemissedofit；soonasourbadbloodwasup。I
likenottotellofslaughter，thoughitmightbeofwolvesandtigers；andthatwasanightoffireandslaughter，andofverylong-harbouredrevenge。EnoughthaterethedaylightbrokeuponthatwanMarchmorning，theonlyDoonesstillleftaliveweretheCounsellorandCarver。AndofallthedwellingsoftheDoonesinhabitedwithluxury，andluscioustaste，andlicentiousnessnotevenonewasleft，butallmadepotashintheriver。
Thismayseemaviolentandunholyrevengeuponthem。
AndIwholedtheheartofithaveinthesemylatteryearsdoubtedhowIshallbejudged，notofmen——forGodonlyknowstheerrorsofman’sjudgments——butbythatgreatGodHimself，thefrontofwhoseforeheadismercy。
Fromthatgreatconfusion——fornothingcanbebrokenup，whetherlawfulorunlawful，withoutavastamountofdust，andmanypeoplegrumbling，andmourningforthegoodoldtimes，whenalltheworldwashappiness，andeverymanagentleman，andthesunhimselffarbrighterthansincethebrassyidoluponwhichheshonewasbroken——fromallthislossofancientlandmarksasunrobbedmenbegantocallourclearanceofthosemurdererswereturnedonthefollowingday，almostasfullofanxietyaswewereoftriumph。Inthefirstplace，whatcouldwepossiblydowithallthesewomenandchildren，thrownonourhandsasonemightsay，withnonetoprotectandcareforthem？Againhowshouldweanswertothejusticesofthepeace，orperhapseventoLordJeffreys，forhaving，withoutevenawarrant，takenthelawintoourownhands，andabatedournuisancesoforcibly？Andthen，whatwastobedonewiththespoil，whichwasofgreatvalue；thoughthediamondnecklacecamenottopubliclight？Forwesawamightyhostofclaimantsalreadyleapingupforbooty。Everymanwhohadeverbeenrobbed，expectedusuryonhisloss；thelordsofthemanorsdemandedthewhole；andsodidtheKing’sCommissionerofrevenueatPorlock；andsodidthemenwhohadfoughtourbattle；
whileeventheparsons，bothBowdenandPowell，andanotherwhohadnoparishinit，threateneduswiththejustwrathoftheChurch，unlesseachhadtithesofthewholeofit。
Nowthiswasnotasitoughttobe；anditseemedasifbyburningthenestofrobbers，wehadbuthatchedtheireggs；untilbeingmadesoleguardianofthecapturedtreasurebyreasonofmyknownhonestyIhituponaplan，whichgaveverylittlesatisfaction；yetcarriedthisadvantage，thatthegrumblersarguedagainstoneanotherandforthemostpartcametoblows；whichrenewedtheirgoodwilltome，asbeingabusedbytheadversary。
Andmyplanwasnomorethanthis——nottopayafarthingtolordofmanor，parson，orevenKing’sCommissioner，butaftermakinggoodsomeoftherecentandprovenlosses——wherethemencouldnotaffordtolose——topaytheresiduewhichmightbeworthsomefiftythousandpoundsintotheExchequeratWestminster；andthenletalltheclaimantsfilewhatwillstheypleasedinChancery。
Nowthiswasaverynobledevice，forthemerenameofChancery，andthehighreputeofthefeestherein，andlowreputeofthelawyers，andthecomfortableknowledgethatthewoolsackitselfisthegoldenfleece，absorbinggoldforever，ifthestandardbebutpure；considerationofthesethingsstavedoffatoncethelordsofthemanors，andallthelittlefarmers，andeventhosewhommostIfeared；videlicet，theparsons。AndtheKing’sCommissionerwascompelledtoprofesshimselfcontented，althoughofallhewasmostaggrieved；forhispickingswouldhavebeengoodly。
Moreover，bythisplanImade——althoughIneverthoughtofthat——amightyfriendworthalltheenemies，whomthelossofmoneymoved。Thefirstmannowinthekingdombyvirtueperhapsofenergy，ratherthanofexcellencewasthegreatLordJeffreys，appointedtheheadoftheEquity，aswellasthelawoftherealm，forhiskindnessinhangingfivehundredpeople，withoutthemerebriefoftrial。Nineoutoftenofthesepeoplewereinnocent，itwastrue；butthatprovedthemeritoftheLordChiefJusticesomuchthegreaterforhangingthem，asshowingwhatmightbeexpectedofhim，whenhetrulygotholdofaguiltyman。NowtheKinghadseentheforceofthisargument；
andnotbeingwithoutgratitudeforahigh-seasoneddishofcruelty，hadpromotedtheonlymaninEngland，combiningthegiftsofbothbutcherandcook。
Nevertheless，Idobegyoualltobelieveofme——andI
thinkthat，afterfollowingmesolong，youmustbelieveit——thatIdidnotevenknowatthetimeofLordJeffreys’shighpromotion。Notthatmyknowledgeofthiswouldhaveledmetoactotherwiseinthematter；formyobjectwastopayintoanoffice，andnottoanyofficial；neitherifIhadknownthefact，couldIhaveseenitsbearinguponthereceiptofmymoney。FortheKing’sExchequeris，meseemeth，oftheCommonLaw；whileChanceryisofEquity，andwellnamedforitsmanychances。Butthetrueresultofthethingwasthis——LordJeffreysbeingnowheadofthelaw，andalmostheadofthekingdom，gotpossessionofthatmoney，andwaskindlypleasedwithit。
Andthismetourseconddifficulty；forthelawhavingwonandlaughedoverthespoil，musthaveinjureditsowntitlebyimpugningourlegality。
Next，withregardtothewomenandchildren，wewerelonginastateofperplexity。Wedidourverybestatthefarm，andsodidmanyotherstoprovideforthem，untiltheyshouldmanageabouttheirownsubsistence。
Andafterawhilethistroublewent，asnearlyalltroublesgowithtime。Someofthewomenweretakenbackbytheirparents，ortheirhusbands，oritmaybetheirsweethearts；andthosewhofailedofthis，wentforth，someupontheirownaccounttotheNewWorldplantations，wherethefairersexisvaluable；andsometoEnglishcities；andtheplaineronestofieldwork。
Andmostofthechildrenwentwiththeirmothers，orwereboundapprentices；onlyCarverDoone’shandsomechildhadlosthismotherandstayedwithme。
Thisboywentaboutwithmeeverywhere。Hehadtakenasmuchoflikingtome——firstshowninhiseyesbythefirelight——ashisfatherhadofhatred；andI，perceivinghisnoblecourage，scornoflies，andhighspirit，becamealmostasfondofEnsieashewasofme。
Hetoldusthathisnamewas’Ensie，’meantfor’Ensor，’Isuppose，fromhisfather’sgrandfather，theoldSirEnsorDoone。AndthisboyappearedtobeCarver’sheir，havingbeenborninwedlock，contrarytothegeneralmannerandcustomoftheDoones。
However，althoughIlovedthepoorchild，Icouldnothelpfeelingveryuneasyabouttheescapeofhisfather，thesavageandbrutalCarver。Thismanwaslefttoroamthecountry，homeless，foodless，anddesperate，withhisgiantstrength，andgreatskillinarms，andthewholeworldtoberevengedupon。Forhisescapetheminers，asIshallshow，wereanswerable；
butoftheCounsellor’ssafedeparturetheburdenlayonmyselfalone。Andinasmuchastherearepeoplewhoconsiderthemselvesill-used，unlessonetellsthemeverything，straitenedthoughIamforspace，Iwillglanceatthistransaction。
AfterthedesperatechargeofyoungDooneshadbeenmetbyus，andbroken，andjustasPoorKitBadcockdiedinthearmsofthedeadCharley，Ihappenedtodescryapatchofwhiteonthegrassofthemeadow，liketheheadofasheepafterwashing-day。Observingwithsomecuriosityhowcarefullythiswhitethingmovedalongthebarsofdarknessbetwixtthepanelsoffirelight，I
ranuptointerceptit，beforeitreachedthelittleposternwhichweusedtocallGwenny’sdoor。
Perceivingme，thewhitethingstopped，andwasformakingbackagain；butIranupatfullspeed；andlo，itwastheflowingsilveryhairofthatsagetheCounsellor，whowasscuttlingawayuponallfours；butnowroseandconfrontedme。
’John，’hesaid，’SirJohn，youwillnotplayfalselywithyourancientfriend，amongtheseviolentfellows，Ilooktoyoutoprotectme，John。’
’Honouredsir，youareright，’Ireplied；’butsurelythatposturewasunworthyofyourself，andyourmanyresources。Itismyintentiontoletyougofree。’
’Iknewit。Icouldhavesworntoit。Youareanoblefellow，John。Isaidso，fromtheveryfirst；youareanoblefellow，andanornamenttoanyrank。’
’Butupontwoconditions，’Iadded，gentlytakinghimbythearm；forinsteadofdisplayinganydesiretocommunewithmynobility，hewasedgingawaytowardthepostern；’thefirstisthatyoutellmetrulyfornowitcanmattertononeofyouwhoitwasthatslewmyfather。’
’Iwilltellyoutrulyandfrankly，John；howeverpainfultometoconfessit。Itwasmyson，Carver。’
’Ithoughtasmuch，orIfeltasmuchallalong，’I
answered；’butthefaultwasnoneofyours，sir；foryouwerenotevenpresent。’
’IfIhadbeenthere，itwouldnothavehappened。Iamalwaysopposedtoviolence。Therefore，letmehasteaway；thissceneisagainstmynature。’
’Youshallgodirectly，SirCounsellor，aftermeetingmyothercondition；whichis，thatyouplaceinmyhandsLadyLorna’sdiamondnecklace。’
’Ah，howoftenIhavewished，’saidtheoldmanwithaheavysigh，’thatitmightyetbeinmypowertoeasemymindinthatrespect，andtodoathoroughlygooddeedbylawfulrestitution。’
’Thentrytohaveitinyourpower，sir。Surely，withmyencouragement，youmightsummonresolution。’
’Alas，John，theresolutionhasbeenreadylongago。
Butthethingisnotinmypossession。Carver，myson，whoslewyourfather，uponhimyouwillfindthenecklace。Whatarejewelstome，youngman，atmytimeoflife？Baublesandtrash，——Idetestthem，fromthesinstheyhaveledmetoanswerfor。Whenyoucometomyage，goodSirJohn，youwillscornalljewels，andcareonlyforapureandbrightconscience。Ah!ah!
Letmego。IhavemademypeacewithGod。’
Helookedsohoary，andsosilvery，andsereneinthemoonlight，thatverilyImusthavebelievedhim，ifhehadnotdrawninhisbreast。ButIhappenedtohavenoticedthatwhenanhonestmangivesventtonobleandgreatsentiments，hespreadshisbreast，andthrowsitout，asifhisheartwereswelling；whereasIhadseenthisoldgentlemandrawinhisbreastmorethanonce，asifithappenedtocontainbettergoodsthansentiment。