lookingperson，whowasneverseenelsewhere，orunderothercircumstances。Itwasremarked，too，thatthisman，whoserelationtoSirRobertwasneverdistinctlyascertained，wastheonlypersontowhomheseemedtospeakunnecessarily；itwasobservedthatwhilewiththecountrygentryheexchangednofurthercommunicationthanwhatwasunavoidableinarranginghissportingtransactions，withthispersonhewouldconverseearnestlyandfrequently。Traditionassertsthat，toenhancethecuriositywhichthisunaccountableandexclusivepreferenceexcited，thestrangerpossessedsomestrikingandunpleasantpeculiaritiesofpersonandofgarb——shedoesnotsay，however，whatthesewere——butthey，inconjunctionwithSirRobert’ssecludedhabitsandextraordinaryrunofluck——asuccesswhichwassupposedtoresultfromthesuggestionsandimmediateadviceoftheunknown——weresufficienttowarrantreportinpronouncingthattherewassomethingQUEERinthewind，andinsurmisingthatSirRobertwasplayingafearfulandahazardousgame，andthat，inshort，hisstrangecompanionwaslittlebetterthanthedevilhimselfYears，however，rolledquietlyaway，andnothingnoveloccurredinthearrangementsofCastleArdagh，exceptingthatSirRobertpartedwithhisoddcompanion，butasnobodycouldtellwhencehecame，sonobodycouldsaywhitherhehadgone。SirRobert’shabits，however，underwentnoconsequentchange；hecontinuedregularlytofrequenttheracemeetings，withoutmixingatallintheconvivialitiesofthegentry，andimmediatelyafterwardstorelapseintothesecludedmonotonyofhisordinarylife。
Itwassaidthathehadaccumulatedvastsumsofmoney——and，ashisbetswerealwayssuccessful，andalwayslarge，suchmusthavebeenthecase。Hedidnotsuffertheacquisitionofwealth，however，toinfluencehishospitalityorhishousekeeping——heneitherpurchasedland，norextendedhisestablishment；andhismodeofenjoyinghismoneymusthavebeenaltogetherthatofthemiser——consistingmerelyinthepleasureoftouchingandtellinghisgold，andintheconsciousnessofwealth。
SirRobert’stemper，sofarfromimproving，becamemorethanevergloomyandmorose。Hesometimescarriedtheindulgenceofhisevildispositionstosuchaheightthatitbordereduponinsanity。
Duringtheseparoxysmshewouldneithereat，drink，norsleep。Onsuchoccasionsheinsistedonperfectprivacy，evenfromtheintrusionofhismosttrustedservants；
hisvoicewasfrequentlyheard，sometimesinearnestsupplication，sometimeasifinloudandangryaltercationwithsomeunknownvisitant；sometimeshewould，forhourstogether，walktoandfrothroughoutthelongoakwainscotedapartment，whichhegenerallyoccupied，withwildgesticulationsandagitatedpace，inthemannerofonewhohasbeenrousedtoastateofunnaturalexcitementbysomesuddenandappallingintimation。
Theseparoxysmsofapparentlunacyweresofrightful，thatduringtheircontinuanceevenhisoldestandmost-faithfuldomesticsdarednotapproachhim；
consequently，hishoursofagonywereneverintrudedupon，andthemysteriouscausesofhissufferingsappearedlikelytoremainhiddenforever。
Ononeoccasionafitofthiskindcontinuedforanunusualtime，theordinarytermoftheirduration——abouttwodays——hadbeenlongpast，andtheoldservantwhogenerallywaiteduponSirRobertafterthesevisitations，havinginvainlistenedforthewell-knowntinkleofhismaster’shand-bell，begantofeelextremelyanxious；hefearedthathismastermighthavediedfromsheerexhaustion，orperhapsputanendtohisownexistenceduringhismiserabledepression。Thesefearsatlengthbecamesostrong，thathavinginvainurgedsomeofhisbrotherservantstoaccompanyhim，hedeterminedtogoupalone，andhimselfseewhetheranyaccidenthadbefallenSirRobert。
Hetraversedtheseveralpassageswhichconductedfromthenewtothemoreancientpartsofthemansion，andhavingarrivedintheoldhallofthecastle，theuttersilenceofthehour，foritwasverylateinthenight，theideaofthenatureoftheenterpriseinwhichhewasengaginghimself，asensationofremotenessfromanythinglikehumancompanionship，but，morethanall，thevividbutundefinedanticipationofsomethinghorrible，cameuponhimwithsuchoppressiveweightthathehesitatedastowhetherheshouldproceed。Realuneasiness，however，respectingthefateofhismaster，forwhomhefeltthatkindofattachmentwhichtheforceofhabitualintercoursenotunfrequentlyengendersrespectingobjectsnotinthemselvesamiable，andalsoalatentunwillingnesstoexposehisweaknesstotheridiculeofhisfellow-servants，combinedtoovercomehisreluctance；andhehadjustplacedhisfootuponthefirststepofthestaircasewhichconductedtohismaster’schamber，whenhisattentionwasarrestedbyalowbutdistinctknockingatthehall-door。
Not，perhaps，verysorryatfindingthusanexcuseevenfordeferringhisintendedexpedition，heplacedthecandleuponastoneblockwhichlayinthehall，andapproachedthedoor，uncertainwhetherhisearshadnotdeceivedhim。Thisdoubtwasjustifiedbythecircumstancethatthehallentrancehadbeenfornearlyfiftyyearsdisusedasamodeofingresstothecastle。
Thesituationofthisgatealso，whichwehaveendeavouredtodescribe，openinguponanarrowledgeofrockwhichoverhangsaperilouscliff，rendereditatalltimes，butparticularlyatnight，adangerousentrance。Thisshelvingplatformofrock，whichformedtheonlyavenuetothedoor，wasdivided，asIhavealreadystated，byabroadchasm，theplanksacrosswhichhadlongdisappearedbydecayorotherwise，sothatitseemedatleasthighlyim-
probablethatanymancouldhavefoundhiswayacrossthepassageinsafetytothedoor，moreparticularlyonanightlikethat，ofsingulardarkness。Theoldman，therefore，listenedattentively，toascertainwhetherthefirstapplicationshouldbefollowedbyanother。Hehadnotlongtowait；thesamelowbutsingularlydistinctknockingwasrepeated；solowthatitseemedasiftheapplicanthademployednoharderorheavierinstrumentthanhishand，andyet，despitetheimmensethicknessofthedoor，withsuchstrengththatthesoundwasdistinctlyaudible。
Theknockwasrepeatedathirdtime，withoutanyincreaseofloudness；andtheoldman，obeyinganimpulseforwhichtohisdyinghourhecouldneveraccount，proceededtoremove，onebyone，thethreegreatoakenbarswhichsecuredthedoor。Timeanddamphadeffectuallycorrodedtheironchambersofthelock，sothatitaffordedlittleresistance。Withsomeeffort，ashebelieved，assistedfromwithout，theoldservantsucceededinopeningthedoor；
andalow，square-builtfigure，apparentlythatofamanwrappedinalargeblackcloak，enteredthehall。Theservantcouldnotseemuchofthisvisitantwithanydistinctness；hisdressappearedforeign，theskirtofhisamplecloakwasthrownoveroneshoulder；heworealargefelthat，withaveryheavyleaf，fromunderwhichescapedwhatappearedtobeamassoflongsooty-blackhair；hisfeetwerecasedinheavyriding-boots。Suchwerethefewparticularswhichtheservanthadtimeandlighttoobserve。Thestrangerdesiredhimtolethismasterknowinstantlythatafriendhadcome，byappointment，tosettlesomebusinesswithhim。Theservanthesitated，butaslightmotiononthepartofhisvisitor，asiftopossesshimselfofthecandle，determinedhim；so，takingitinhishand，heascendedthecastlestairs，leavinghisguestinthehall。
Onreachingtheapartmentwhichopenedupontheoak-chamberhewassurprisedtoobservethedoorofthatroompartlyopen，andtheroomitselflitup。Hepaused，buttherewasnosound；helookedin，andsawSirRobert，hisheadandtheupperpartofhisbodyrecliningonatable，uponwhichburnedalamp；hisarmswerestretchedforwardoneitherside，andperfectlymotionless；itappearedthat，havingbeensittingatthetable，hehadthussunkforward，eitherdeadorinaswoon。Therewasnosoundofbreathing；allwassilent，exceptthesharptickingofawatch，whichlaybesidethelamp。Theservantcoughedtwiceorthrice，butwithnoeffect；hisfearsnowalmostamountedtocertainty，andhewasapproachingthetableonwhichhismasterpartlylay，tosatisfyhimselfofhisdeath，whenSirRobertslowlyraisedhishead，andthrowinghimselfbackinhischair，fixedhiseyesinaghastlyanduncertaingazeuponhisattendant。Atlengthhesaid，slowlyandpainfully，asifhedreadedtheanswer：
’InGod’sname，whatareyou？“
’Sir，’saidtheservant，’astrangegentlemanwantstoseeyoubelow。’
AtthisintimationSirRobert，startingonhisfeetandtossinghisarmswildlyupwards，utteredashriekofsuchappallinganddespairingterrorthatitwasalmosttoofearfulforhumanendurance；andlongafterthesoundhadceaseditseemedtotheterrifiedimaginationoftheoldservanttorollthroughthedesertedpassagesinburstsofunnaturallaughter。AfterafewmomentsSirRobertsaid：
’Can’tyousendhimaway？Whydoeshecomesosoon？OGod!OGod!lethimleavemeforanhour；alittletime。
Ican’tseehimnow；trytogethimaway。
YouseeIcan’tgodownnow；Ihavenotstrength。OGod!OGod!lethimcomebackinanhour；itisnotlongtowait。
Hecannotloseanythingbyit；nothing，nothing，nothing。Tellhimthat；sayanythingtohim。’
Theservantwentdown。Inhisownwords，hedidnotfeelthestairsunderhimtillhegottothehall。Thefigurestoodexactlyashehadleftit。Hedeliveredhismaster’smessageascoherentlyashecould。
Thestrangerrepliedinacarelesstone：
’IfSirRobertwillnotcomedowntome，Imustgouptohim。’
Themanreturned，andtohissurprisehefoundhismastermuchmorecomposedinmanner。Helistenedtothemessage，andthoughthecoldperspirationroseindropsuponhisforeheadfasterthanhecouldwipeitaway，hismannerhadlostthedreadfulagitationwhichhadmarkeditbefore。Herosefeebly，andcastingalastlookofagonybehindhim，passedfromtheroomtothelobby，wherehesignedtohisattendantnottofollowhim。Themanmovedasfarastheheadofthestaircase，fromwhencehehadatolerablydistinctviewofthehall，whichwasimperfectlylightedbythecandlehehadleftthere。
Hesawhismasterreel，ratherthanwalkdownthestairs，clingingallthewaytothebanisters。Hewalkedon，asifabouttosinkeverymomentfromweakness。
Thefigureadvancedasiftomeethim，andinpassingstruckdownthelight。
Theservantcouldseenomore；buttherewasasoundofstruggling，renewedatintervalswithsilentbutfearfulenergy。Itwasevident，however，thatthepartieswereapproachingthedoor，forheheardthesolidoaksoundtwiceorthrice，asthefeetofthecombatants，inshufflinghitherandthitheroverthefloor，struckuponit。
Afteraslightpauseheheardthedoorthrownopenwithsuchviolencethattheleafseemedtostriketheside-wallofthehall，foritwassodarkwithoutthatthiscouldonlybesurmisedbythesound。
Thestrugglewasrenewedwithanagonyandintensenessofenergythatbetrayeditselfindeep-drawngasps。Onedesperateeffort，whichterminatedinthebreakingofsomepartofthedoor，producingasoundasifthedoor-postwaswrenchedfromitsposition，wasfollowedbyanotherwrestle，evidentlyuponthenarrowledgewhichranoutsidethedoor，overtoppingtheprecipice。
Thisprovedtobethefinalstruggle，foritwasfollowedbyacrashingsoundasifsomeheavybodyhadfallenover，andwasrushingdowntheprecipice，throughthelightboughsthatcrossednearthetop。Allthenbecamestillasthegrave，exceptwhenthemoanofthenightwindsighedupthewoodedglen。
Theoldservanthadnotnervetoreturnthroughthehall，andtohimthedarknessseemedallbutendless；butmorningatlengthcame，andwithitthedisclosureoftheeventsofthenight。Nearthedoor，upontheground，laySirRobert’ssword-
belt，whichhadgivenwayinthescuffle。
Ahugesplinterfromthemassivedoor-
posthadbeenwrenchedoffbyanalmostsuperhumaneffort——onewhichnothingbutthegripeofadespairingmancouldhavesevered——andontherockoutsidewereleftthemarksoftheslippingandslidingoffeet。
Atthefootoftheprecipice，notimmediatelyunderthecastle，butdraggedsomewayuptheglen，werefoundtheremainsofSirRobert，withhardlyavestigeofalimborfeatureleftdistinguishable。Therighthand，however，wasuninjured，andinitsfingerswereclutched，withthefixednessofdeath，alonglockofcoarsesootyhair——theonlydirectcircumstantialevidenceofthepresenceofasecondperson。
Sosaystradition。
Thisstory，asIhavementioned，wascurrentamongthedealersinsuchlore；
buttheoriginalfactsaresodissimilarinallbutthenameoftheprincipalpersonmentionedandhismodeoflife，andthefactthathisdeathwasaccompaniedwithcircumstancesofextraordinarymystery，thatthetwonarrativesaretotallyirreconcilableevenallowingtheutmostfortheexaggeratinginfluenceoftradition，exceptbysupposingreporttohavecombinedandblendedtogetherthefabuloushistoriesofseveraldistinctbearersofthefamilyname。Howeverthismaybe，Ishalllaybeforethereaderadistinctrecitaloftheeventsfromwhichtheforegoingtraditionarose。Withrespecttothesetherecanbenomistake；theyareauthenticatedasfullyasanythingcanbebyhumantestimony；andIstatethemprincipallyupontheevidenceofaladywhoherselfboreaprominentpartinthestrangeeventswhichsherelated，andwhichInowrecordasbeingamongthefewwell-attestedtalesofthemarvellouswhichithasbeenmyfatetohear。I
shall，asfarasIamable，arrangeinonecombinednarrativetheevidenceofseveraldistinctpersonswhowereeye-witnessesofwhattheyrelated，andwiththetruthofwhosetestimonyIamsolemnlyanddeeplyimpressed。
SirRobertArdagh，aswechoosetocallhim，wastheheirandrepresentativeofthefamilywhosenamehebore；butowingtotheprodigalityofhisfather，theestatesdescendedtohiminaveryimpairedcondition。Urgedbytherestlessspiritofyouth，ormoreprobablybyafeelingofpridewhichcouldnotsubmittowitness，inthepaternalmansion，whatheconsideredahumiliatingalterationinthestyleandhospitalitywhichuptothattimehaddistinguishedhisfamily，SirRobertleftIrelandandwentabroad。