Justwhenthesilencewasgettingunendurable，thebodyturnedoverandrolledawayfromthebasintothesideoftheroom，whereitlaystomachupTherewasafaint“plop“fromthebasin——exactlylikethenoiseafishmakeswhenittakesafly——andthegreenlightinthecentrerevived。
Ilookedatthebasin，andsaw，bobbinginthewater，thedried，shrivelled，blackheadofanativebaby——openeyes，openmouthandshavedscalpItwasworse，beingsoverysudden，thanthecrawlingexhibitionWehadnotimetosayanythingbeforeitbegantospeak。
ReadPoe’saccountofthevoicethatcamefromthemesmerizeddyingman，andyouwillrealizelessthanone-halfofthehorrorofthathead’svoice。
Therewasanintervalofasecondortwobetweeneachword，andasortof“ring，ring，ring。”inthenoteofthevoice，likethetimbreofabellItpealedslowly，asiftalkingtoitself，forseveralminutesbeforeIgotridofmycoldsweatThentheblessedsolutionstruckmeIlookedatthebodylyingnearthedoorway，andsaw，justwherethehollowofthethroatjoinsontheshoulders，amusclethathadnothingtodowithanyman’sregularbreathing，twitchingawaysteadilyThewholethingwasacarefulreproductionoftheEgyptianteraphinthatonereadaboutsometimesandthevoicewasascleverandasappallingapieceofventriloquismasonecouldwishtohearAllthistimetheheadwas“lip-lip-lapping“againstthesideofthebasin，andspeakingIttoldSuddhoo，onhisfaceagainwhining，ofhisson’sillnessandofthestateoftheillnessuptotheeveningofthatverynightIalwaysshallrespecttheseal-cutterforkeepingsofaithfullytothetimeofthePeshawartelegramsItwentontosaythatskilleddoctorswerenightanddaywatchingovertheman’slife；andthathewouldeventuallyrecoverifthefeetothepotentsorcerer，whoseservantwastheheadinthebasin，weredoubled。
HerethemistakefromtheartisticpointofviewcameinToaskfortwiceyourstipulatedfeeinavoicethatLazarusmighthaveusedwhenherosefromthedead，isabsurdJanoo，whoisreallyawomanofmasculineintellect，sawthisasquicklyasIdidIheardhersay“Aslinahin！Fareib！”scornfullyunderherbreath；andjustasshesaidso，thelightinthebasindiedout，theheadstoppedtalking，andweheardtheroomdoorcreakonitshingesThenJanoostruckamatch，litthelamp，andwesawthathead，basin，andseal-
cutterweregoneSuddhoowaswringinghishandsandexplainingtoanyonewhocaredtolisten，that，ifhischancesofeternalsalvationdependedonit，hecouldnotraiseanothertwohundredrupeesAzizunwasnearlyinhystericsinthecorner；whileJanoosatdowncomposedlyononeofthebedstodiscusstheprobabilitiesofthewholethingbeingabunao，or“make-up。”
IexplainedasmuchasIknewoftheseal-cutter’swayofjadoo；butherargumentwasmuchmoresimple：——“Themagicthatisalwaysdemandinggiftsisnotruemagic。”saidshe“Mymothertoldmethattheonlypotentlove-spellsarethosewhicharetoldyouforloveThisseal-cuttermanisaliarandadevilIdarenottell，doanything，orgetanythingdone，becauseIamindebttoBhagwanDassthebunniafortwogoldringsandaheavyankletImustgetmyfoodfromhisshopTheseal-cutteristhefriendofBhagwanDass，andhewouldpoisonmyfoodAfool’sjadoohasbeengoingonfortendays，andhascostSuddhoomanyrupeeseachnightTheseal-cutterusedblackhensandlemonsandmantrasbeforeHenevershowedusanythinglikethistillto-nightAzizunisafool，andwillbeapurdahnashinsoonSuddhoohaslosthisstrengthandhiswitsSeenow！IhadhopedtogetfromSuddhoomanyrupeeswhilehelived，andmanymoreafterhisdeath；andbehold，heisspendingeverythingonthatoffspringofadevilandashe-ass，theseal-
cutter！”
HereIsaid：——“ButwhatinducedSuddhootodragmeintothebusiness？OfcourseIcanspeaktotheseal-cutter，andheshallrefundThewholethingischild’stalk——shame——andsenseless。”
“SuddhooISanoldchild。”saidJanoo“Hehaslivedontheroofstheseseventyyearsandisassenselessasamilch-goatHebroughtyouheretoassurehimselfthathewasnotbreakinganylawoftheSirkar，whosesaltheatemanyyearsagoHeworshipsthedustoffthefeetoftheseal-cutter，andthatcow-devourerhasforbiddenhimtogoandseehissonWhatdoesSuddhooknowofyourlawsorthelightning-post？Ihavetowatchhismoneygoingdaybydaytothatlyingbeastbelow。”
Janoostampedherfootonthefloorandnearlycriedwithvexation；
whileSuddhoowaswhimperingunderablanketinthecorner，andAzizunwastryingtoguidethepipe-stemtohisfoolisholdmouth……
NowthecasestandsthusUnthinkingly，Ihavelaidmyselfopentothechargeofaidingandabettingtheseal-cutterinobtainingmoneyunderfalsepretences，whichisforbiddenbySection420oftheIndianPenalCodeIamhelplessinthematterforthesereasons，I
cannotinformthePoliceWhatwitnesseswouldsupportmystatements？Janoorefusesflatly，AzizunisaveiledwomansomewherenearBareilly——lostinthisbigIndiaofoursIcannotagaintakethelawintomyownhands，andspeaktotheseal-cutter；
forcertainamIthat，notonlywouldSuddhoodisbelieveme，butthisstepwouldendinthepoisoningofJanoo，whoisboundhandandfootbyherdebttothebunniaSuddhooisanolddotard；andwheneverwemeetmumblesmyidioticjokethattheSirkarratherpatronizestheBlackArtthanotherwiseHissoniswellnow；butSuddhooiscompletelyundertheinfluenceoftheseal-cutter，bywhoseadviceheregulatestheaffairsofhislifeJanoowatchesdailythemoneythatshehopedtowheedleoutofSuddhootakenbytheseal-cutter，andbecomesdailymorefuriousandsullen。
Shewillnevertell，becauseshedarenot；but，unlesssomethinghappenstopreventher，Iamafraidthattheseal-cutterwilldieofcholera——thewhitearsenickind——aboutthemiddleofMayAndthusIshallhavetobeprivytoamurderintheHouseofSuddhoo。
HISWEDDEDWIFE。
Cry“Murder！”inthemarket-place，andeachWillturnuponhisneighboranxiouseyesThatask：——“Artthoutheman？”WehuntedCain，Somecenturiesago，acrosstheworld，ThatbredthefearourownmisdeedsmaintainTo-day。
Vibart’sMoralities。
Shakespearesayssomethingaboutworms，oritmaybegiantsorbeetles，turningifyoutreadonthemtooseverelyThesafestplanisnevertotreadonaworm——notevenonthelastnewsubalternfromHome，withhisbuttonshardlyoutoftheirtissuepaper，andtheredofsappyEnglishbeefinhischeeksThisisthestoryofthewormthatturnedForthesakeofbrevity，wewillcallHenryAugustusRamsayFaizanne，“TheWorm。”althoughhereallywasanexceedinglyprettyboy，withoutahaironhisface，andwithawaistlikeagirl’swhenhecameouttotheSecond“Shikarris“andwasmadeunhappyinseveralwaysThe“Shikarris“areahigh-casteregiment，andyoumustbeabletodothingswell——playabanjoorridemorethanalittle，orsing，oract——togetonwiththem。
TheWormdidnothingexceptfalloffhispony，andknockchipsoutofgate-postswithhistrapEventhatbecamemonotonousafteratimeHeobjectedtowhist，cuttheclothatbilliards，sangoutoftune，keptverymuchtohimself，andwrotetohisMammaandsistersatHomeFourofthesefivethingswereviceswhichthe“Shikarris“
objectedtoandsetthemselvestoeradicateEveryoneknowshowsubalternsare，bybrothersubalterns，softenedandnotpermittedtobeferociousItisgoodandwholesome，anddoesnooneanyharm，unlesstempersarelost；andthenthereistroubleTherewasamanonce——butthatisanotherstory。
The“Shikarris“shikarredTheWormverymuch，andheboreeverythingwithoutwinkingHewassogoodandsoanxioustolearn，andflushedsopink，thathiseducationwascutshort，andhewaslefttohisowndevicesbyeveryoneexcepttheSeniorSubaltern，whocontinuedtomakelifeaburdentoTheWormTheSeniorSubalternmeantnoharm；buthischaffwascoarse，andhedidn’tquiteunderstandwheretostopHehadbeenwaitingtoolongforhiscompany；andthatalwayssoursamanAlsohewasinlove，whichmadehimworse。
Oneday，afterhehadborrowedTheWorm’strapforaladywhoneverexisted，hadusedithimselfalltheafternoon，hadsentanotetoTheWormpurportingtocomefromthelady，andwastellingtheMessallaboutit，TheWormroseinhisplaceandsaid，inhisquiet，ladylikevoice：“Thatwasaveryprettysell；butI’lllayyouamonth’spaytoamonth’spaywhenyougetyourstep，thatIworkasellonyouthatyou’llrememberfortherestofyourdays，andtheRegimentafteryouwhenyou’redeadorbroke。”TheWormwasn’tangryintheleast，andtherestoftheMessshoutedThentheSeniorSubalternlookedatTheWormfromthebootsupwards，anddownagain，andsaid，“Done，Baby。”TheWormtooktherestoftheMesstowitnessthatthebethadbeentaken，andretiredintoabookwithasweetsmile。
Twomonthspassed，andtheSeniorSubalternstilleducatedTheWorm，whobegantomoveaboutalittlemoreasthehotweathercameon。
I
havesaidthattheSeniorSubalternwasinloveThecuriousthingisthatagirlwasinlovewiththeSeniorSubalternThoughtheColonelsaidawfulthings，andtheMajorssnorted，andmarriedCaptainslookedunutterablewisdom，andthejuniorsscoffed，thosetwowereengaged。
TheSeniorSubalternwassopleasedwithgettinghisCompanyandhisacceptanceatthesametimethatheforgottobotherTheWorm。
Thegirlwasaprettygirl，andhadmoneyofherownShedoesnotcomeintothisstoryatall。
Onenight，atthebeginningofthehotweather，alltheMess，exceptTheWorm，whohadgonetohisownroomtowriteHomeletters，weresittingontheplatformoutsidetheMessHouseTheBandhadfinishedplaying，butnoonewantedtogoinAndtheCaptains’
wivesweretherealsoThefollyofamaninloveisunlimited。
TheSeniorSubalternhadbeenholdingforthonthemeritsofthegirlhewasengagedto，andtheladieswerepurringapproval，whilethemenyawned，whentherewasarustleofskirtsinthedark，andatired，faintvoicelifteditself：
“Where’smyhusband？”
Idonotwishintheleasttoreflectonthemoralityofthe“Shikarris；“butitisonrecordthatfourmenjumpedupasiftheyhadbeenshotThreeofthemweremarriedmenPerhapstheywereafraidthattheirwiveshadcomefromHomeunbeknownstThefourthsaidthathehadactedontheimpulseofthemomentHeexplainedthisafterwards。
Thenthevoicecried：——“Oh，Lionel！”LionelwastheSeniorSubaltern’snameAwomancameintothelittlecircleoflightbythecandlesonthepeg-tables，stretchingoutherhandstothedarkwheretheSeniorSubalternwas，andsobbingWerosetoourfeet，feelingthatthingsweregoingtohappenandreadytobelievetheworstInthisbad，smallworldofours，oneknowssolittleofthelifeofthenextman——which，afterall，isentirelyhisownconcern——
thatoneisnotsurprisedwhenacrashcomesAnythingmightturnupanydayforanyonePerhapstheSeniorSubalternhadbeentrappedinhisyouthMenarecrippledthatwayoccasionallyWedidn’tknow；wewantedtohear；andtheCaptains’wiveswereasanxiousasweIfheHADbeentrapped，hewastobeexcused；forthewomanfromnowhere，inthedustyshoes，andgraytravellingdress，wasverylovely，withblackhairandgreateyesfulloftearsShewastall，withafinefigure，andhervoicehadarunningsobinitpitifultohearAssoonastheSeniorSubalternstoodup，shethrewherarmsroundhisneck，andcalledhim“mydarling。”andsaidshecouldnotbearwaitingaloneinEngland，andhislettersweresoshortandcold，andshewashistotheendoftheworld，andwouldheforgiveherThisdidnotsoundquitelikealady’swayofspeakingItwastoodemonstrative。
Thingsseemedblackindeed，andtheCaptains’wivespeeredundertheireyebrowsattheSeniorSubaltern，andtheColonel’sfacesetliketheDayofJudgmentframedingraybristles，andnoonespokeforawhile。
NexttheColonelsaid，veryshortly：——“Well，Sir？”andthewomansobbedafreshTheSeniorSubalternwashalfchokedwiththearmsroundhisneck，buthegaspedout：——“It’sad——dlie！Ineverhadawifeinmylife！”“Don’tswear。”saidtheColonel“ComeintotheMessWemustsiftthisclearsomehow。”andhesighedtohimself，forhebelievedinhis“Shikarris。”didtheColonel。
Wetroopedintotheante-room，underthefulllights，andtherewesawhowbeautifulthewomanwasShestoodupinthemiddleofusall，sometimeschokingwithcrying，thenhardandproud，andthenholdingoutherarmstotheSeniorSubalternItwaslikethefourthactofatragedyShetoldushowtheSeniorSubalternhadmarriedherwhenhewasHomeonleaveeighteenmonthsbefore；
andsheseemedtoknowallthatweknew，andmoretoo，ofhispeopleandhispastlifeHewaswhiteandashygray，tryingnowandagaintobreakintothetorrentofherwords；andwe，notinghowlovelyshewasandwhatacriminalhelooked，esteemedhimabeastoftheworstkindWefeltsorryforhim，though。
IshallneverforgettheindictmentoftheSeniorSubalternbyhiswifeNorwillheItwassosudden，rushingoutofthedark，unannounced，intoourdulllivesTheCaptains’wivesstoodback；