eachinturnshoulderedhisburdenandpassedout，thecaptainofhissectiongivinghimashepassedhisinstructionwheretogoandinwhatroute。Themethodhadbeenalreadypreparedinmyofficereadyforsuchadistributionwhenthearmsshouldarrive，anddescriptionsandquantitieshadbeennotedbythecaptains。Thewholeaffairwastreatedbyallasamatteroftheutmostsecrecy。Hardlyawordwasspokenbeyondthenecessarydirections，andtheseweregiveninwhispers。Allnightlongthestreamofmenwentandcame，andtowardsdawnthebulkoftheimportedmaterialwaslessenedbyhalf。
Onthefollowingnighttheremainderwasremoved，aftermyownmenhadstoredintheCastletheriflesandammunitionreservedforitsdefenceifnecessary。Itwasadvisabletokeepareservesupplyincaseitshouldeverberequired。ThefollowingnightRookewentawaysecretlyinthecharteredvessel。Hehadtobringbackwithhimthepurchasedcannonandheavyammunition，whichhadbeeninthemeantimestoredononeoftheGreekislands。Thesecondmorning，havinghadsecretwordthatthesteamerwasontheway，Ihadgiventhesignalfortheassemblingofthemountaineers。
Alittleafterdarkthevessel，showingnolight，stoleintothecreek。Thebarriergateswereonceagainclosed，andwhenasufficientnumberofmenhadarrivedtohandletheguns，webegantounload。Theactualdeportationwaseasyenough，forthedockhadallnecessaryappliancesquiteuptodate，includingapairofshearsforgun—liftingwhichcouldberaisedintopositioninaveryshorttime。
Thegunswerewellfurnishedwithtackleofallsorts，andbeforemanyhourshadpassedalittleprocessionofthemdisappearedintothewoodsinghostlysilence。Anumberofmensurroundedeach，andtheymovedaswellasifproperlysuppliedwithhorses。
Inthemeantime，andforaweekafterthearrivaloftheguns，thedrillingwentonwithoutpause。Thegun—drillwaswonderful。Inthearduousworknecessaryforitthegreatstrengthandstaminaofthemountaineersshowedoutwonderfully。Theydidnotseemtoknowfatigueanymorethantheyknewfear。
Foraweekthiswenton，tillaperfectdisciplineandmanagementwasobtained。Theydidnotpractisetheshooting，forthiswouldhavemadesecrecyimpossible。ItwasreportedallalongtheTurkishfrontierthattheSultan’stroopswerebeingmassed，andthoughthiswasnotonawarfooting，themovementwasmoreorlessdangerous。
Thereportsofourownspies，althoughvagueastothepurposeandextentofthemovement，weredefiniteastosomethingbeingonfoot。
AndTurkeydoesnotdosomethingwithoutapurposethatbodesilltosomeone。Certainlythesoundofcannon，whichisafar—reachingsound，wouldhavegiventhemwarningofourpreparations，andwouldsohavesadlyminimizedtheireffectiveness。
Whenthecannonhadallbeendisposedof——except，ofcourse，thosedestinedfordefenceoftheCastleortobestoredthere——Rookewentawaywiththeshipandcrew。Theshiphewastoreturntotheowners；themenwouldbeshippedonthewar—yacht，ofwhosecrewtheywouldformapart。TherestofthemhadbeencarefullyselectedbyRookehimself，andwerekeptinsecrecyatCattaro，readyforservicethemomentrequired。Theywereallgoodmen，andquitecapableofwhateverworktheymightbesetto。SoRooketoldme，andheoughttoknow。Theexperienceofhisyoungdaysasaprivatemadehimanexpertinsuchajob。
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
June24，1907。
LastnightIgotfrommyLadyasimilarmessagetothelast，anddeliveredinasimilarway。Thistime，however，ourmeetingwastobeontheleadsoftheKeep。
Idressedmyselfverycarefullybeforegoingonthisadventure，lestbyanychanceofhouseholdconcern，anyoftheservantsshouldseeme；forifthisshouldhappen，AuntJanetwouldbesuretohearofit，whichwouldgiverisetoendlesssurmisesandquestionings——athingIwasfarfromdesiring。
IconfessthatinthinkingthematteroverduringthetimeIwasmakingmyhurriedpreparationsIwasatalosstounderstandhowanyhumanbody，eventhoughitbeofthedead，couldgoorbeconveyedtosuchaplacewithoutsomesortofassistance，or，atleast，collusion，onthepartofsomeoftheinmates。AtthevisittotheFlagstaffcircumstancesweredifferent。ThisspotwasactuallyoutsidetheCastle，andinordertoreachitImyselfhadtoleavetheCastleprivately，andfromthegardenascendtotheramparts。
Butherewasnosuchpossibility。TheKeepwasanimperiuminimperio。ItstoodwithintheCastle，thoughseparatedfromit，andithaditsowndefencesagainstintrusion。Theroofofitwas，sofarasIknew，aslittleapproachableasthemagazine。
Thedifficultydidnot，however，troublemebeyondamerepassingthought。Inthejoyofthecomingmeetingandthelongingraptureatthemerethoughtofit，alldifficultiesdisappeared。Lovemakesitsownfaith，andIneverdoubtedthatmyLadywouldbewaitingformeattheplacedesignated。WhenIhadpassedthroughthelittlearchedpassages，andupthedoubly—gratedstairwayscontrivedinthemassivenessofthewalls，Iletmyselfoutontheleads。Itwaswellthatasyetthetimesweresufficientlypeacefulnottonecessitateguardsorsentriesatallsuchpoints。
There，inadimcornerwherethemoonlightandthepassingcloudsthrewdeepshadows，Isawher，clothedaseverinhershroud。Why，I
knownot。Ifeltsomehowthatthesituationwasevenmoreseriousthanever。ButIwassteeledtowhatevermightcome。Mymindhadbeenalreadymadeup。TocarryoutmyresolvetowinthewomanI
lovedIwasreadytofacedeath。Butnow，afterwehadforafewbriefmomentsheldeachotherinourarms，Iwaswillingtoacceptdeath——ormorethandeath。Now，morethanbefore，wasshesweetanddeartome。Whateverqualmstheremighthavebeenatthebeginningofourlove—making，orduringtheprogressofit，didnotnowexist。
Wehadexchangedvowsandconfidences，andacknowledgedourloves。
What，then，couldtherebeofdistrust，orevendoubt，thatthepresentmightnotsetatnaught？Butevenhadtherebeensuchdoubtsorqualms，theymusthavedisappearedintheardourofourmutualembrace。Iwasbynowmadforher，andwascontenttobesomad。
Whenshehadbreathtospeakafterthestrictnessofourembrace，shesaid：
\"Ihavecometowarnyoutobemorethanevercareful。\"Itwas，I
confess，apangtome，whothoughtonlyoflove，tohearthatanythingelseshouldhavebeentheinitiativepowerofhercoming，eventhoughithadbeenherconcernformyownsafety。IcouldnotbutnoticethebitternoteofchagrininmyvoiceasIanswered：
\"Itwasforlove’ssakethat_I_came。\"She，too，evidentlyfelttheundercurrentofpain，forshesaidquickly：
\"Ah，dearest，I，too，cameforlove’ssake。ItisbecauseIloveyouthatIamsoanxiousaboutyou。Whatwouldtheworld——ay，orheaven—
—betomewithoutyou？\"
Therewassuchearnesttruthinhertonethatthesenseandrealizationofmyownharshnesssmoteme。Inthepresenceofsuchloveasthisevenalover’sselfishnessmustbecomeabashed。Icouldnotexpressmyselfinwords，sosimplyraisedherslimhandinmineandkissedit。AsitlaywarminmyownIcouldnotbutnotice，aswellasitsfineness，itsstrengthandthefirmnessofitsclasp。
Itswarmthandfervourstruckintomyheart——andmybrain。ThereuponIpouredouttoheroncemoremyloveforher，shelisteningallafire。Whenpassionhadhaditssay，thecalmeremotionshadopportunityofexpression。WhenIwassatisfiedafreshofheraffection，Ibegantovaluehercareformysafety，andsoIwentbacktothesubject。Herveryinsistence，basedonpersonalaffection，gavememoresolidgroundforfear。InthemomentoflovetransportsIhadforgotten，ordidnotthink，ofwhatwonderfulpowerorknowledgeshemusthavetobeabletomoveinsuchstrangewaysasshedid。Why，atthisverymomentshewaswithinmyowngates。
Locksandbars，eventheverysealofdeathitself，seemedunabletomakeforheraprison—house。Withsuchfreedomofactionandmovement，goingwhenshewouldintosecretplaces，whatmightshenotknowthatwasknowntoothers？Howcouldanyonekeepsecretfromsuchanoneevenanillintent？Suchthoughts，suchsurmises，hadoftenflashedthroughmymindinmomentsofexcitementratherthanofreflection，butneverlongenoughtobecomefixedintobelief。Butyettheconsequences，theconvictions，ofthemwerewithme，thoughunconsciously，thoughthethoughtsthemselveswereperhapsforgottenorwitheredbeforedevelopment。
\"Andyou？\"Iaskedherearnestly。\"Whataboutdangertoyou？\"Shesmiled，herlittlepearl—whiteteethgleaminginthemoonlight，asshespoke：
\"Thereisnodangerforme。Iamsafe。Iamthesafestperson，perhapstheonlysafeperson，inallthisland。\"Thefullsignificanceofherwordsdidnotseemtocometomeallatonce。
Somebaseforunderstandingsuchanassertionseemedtobewanting。
ItwasnotthatIdidnottrustorbelieveher，butthatIthoughtshemightbemistaken。Iwantedtoreassuremyself，soinmydistressIaskedunthinkingly：
\"Howthesafest？Whatisyourprotection？\"Forseveralmomentsthatspunthemselvesoutendlesslyshelookedmestraightintheface，thestarsinhereyesseemingtoglowlikefire；then，loweringherhead，shetookafoldofhershroudandheldituptome。
\"This！\"
Themeaningwascompleteandunderstandablenow。Icouldnotspeakatonceforthewaveofemotionwhichchokedme。Idroppedonmyknees，andtakingherinmyarms，heldherclosetome。ShesawthatIwasmoved，andtenderlystrokedmyhair，andwithdelicatetouchpresseddownmyheadonherbosom，asamothermighthavedonetocomfortafrightenedchild。
Presentlywegotbacktotherealitiesoflifeagain。Imurmured：
\"Yoursafety，yourlife，yourhappinessareall—in—alltome。Whenwillyouletthembemycare？\"Shetrembledinmyarms，nestlingevenclosertome。Herownarmsseemedtoquiverwithdelightasshesaid：
\"Wouldyouindeedlikemetobealwayswithyou？Tomeitwouldbeahappinessunspeakable；andtoyou，whatwoulditbe？\"
Ithoughtthatshewishedtohearmespeakmylovetoher，andthat，woman—like，shehadledmetotheutterance，andsoIspokeagainofthepassionthatnowragedinme，shelisteningeagerlyaswestrainedeachothertightinourarms。Atlasttherecameapause，along，longpause，andourheartsbeatconsciouslyinunisonaswestoodtogether。Presentlyshesaidinasweet，low，intensewhisper，assoftasthesighingofsummerwind：
\"Itshallbeasyouwish；butoh，mydear，youwillhavetofirstgothroughanordealwhichmaytryyouterribly！Donotaskmeanything！Youmustnotask，becauseImaynotanswer，anditwouldbepaintometodenyyouanything。MarriagewithsuchanoneasI
amhasitsownritual，whichmaynotbeforegone。Itmay……\"I
brokepassionatelyintoherspeaking：
\"ThereisnoritualthatIfear，solongasitbethatitisforyourgood，andyourlastinghappiness。AndiftheendofitbethatImaycallyoumine，thereisnohorrorinlifeordeaththatIshallnotgladlyface。Dear，Iaskyounothing。Iamcontenttoleavemyselfinyourhands。Youshalladvisemewhenthetimecomes，andIshallbesatisfied，contenttoobey。Content！ItisbutapoorwordtoexpresswhatIlongfor！Ishallshirknothingwhichmaycometomefromthisoranyotherworld，solongasitistomakeyoumine！\"
Onceagainhermurmuredhappinesswasmusictomyears：
\"Oh，howyouloveme！howyouloveme，dear，dear！\"Shetookmeinherarms，andforafewsecondswehungtogether。Suddenlyshetoreherselfapartfromme，andstooddrawnuptothefullheight，withadignityIcannotdescribeorexpress。Hervoicehadanewdominance，aswithfirmutteranceandinstaccatomannershesaid：
\"RupertSentLeger，beforewegoastepfurtherImustsaysomethingtoyou，askyousomething，andIchargeyou，onyourmostsacredhonourandbelief，toanswermetruly。Doyoubelievemetobeoneofthoseunhappybeingswhomaynotdie，buthavetoliveinshamefulexistencebetweenearthandthenetherworld，andwhosehellishmissionistodestroy，bodyandsoul，thosewholovethemtilltheyfalltotheirlevel？Youareagentleman，andabraveone。Ihavefoundyoufearless。Answermeinsternesttruth，nomatterwhattheissuemaybe！\"
Shestoodthereintheglamorousmoonlightwithacommandingdignitywhichseemedmorethanhuman。Inthatmysticlightherwhiteshroudseemeddiaphanous，andsheappearedlikeaspiritofpower。WhatwasItosay？HowcouldIadmittosuchabeingthatIhadactuallyhadatmoments，ifnotabelief，apassingdoubt？ItwasaconvictionwithmethatifIspokewronglyIshouldloseherforever。Iwasinadesperatestrait。Insuchacasethereisbutonesolidgroundwhichonemayreston——theTruth。
IreallyfeltIwasbetweenthedevilandthedeepsea。Therewasnoavoidingtheissue，andso，outofthisall—embracing，all—compellingconvictionoftruth，Ispoke。
ForafleetingmomentIfeltthatmytonewastruculent，andalmosthesitated；butasIsawnoangerorindignationonmyLady’sface，butratheraneagerapproval，Iwasreassured。Awoman，afterall，isgladtoseeamanstrong，forallbeliefinhimmustbebasedonthat。
\"Ishallspeakthetruth。RememberthatIhavenowishtohurtyourfeelings，butasyouconjuremebymyhonour，youmustforgivemeifIpain。ItistruethatIhadatfirst——ay，andlater，whenIcametothinkmattersoverafteryouhadgone，whenreasoncametotheaidofimpression——apassingbeliefthatyouareaVampire。HowcanI
failtohave，evennow，thoughIloveyouwithallmysoul，thoughI
haveheldyouinmyarmsandkissedyouonthemouth，adoubt，whenalltheevidencesseemtopointtoonething？RememberthatIhaveonlyseenyouatnight，exceptthatbittermomentwhen，inthebroadnoondayoftheupperworld，Isawyou，cladaseverinashroud，lyingseeminglydeadinatombinthecryptofSt。Sava’sChurch……Butletthatpass。SuchbeliefasIhaveisallinyou。BeyouwomanorVampire，itisallthesametome。ItisYOUwhomIlove！
Shoulditbethatyouare——youarenotwoman，whichIcannotbelieve，thenitwillbemyglorytobreakyourfetters，toopenyourprison，andsetyoufree。TothatIconsecratemylife。\"ForafewsecondsIstoodsilent，vibratingwiththepassionwhichhadbeenawakenedinme。Shehadbynowlostthemeasureofherhaughtyisolation，andhadsoftenedintowomanhoodagain。ItwasreallylikearealizationoftheoldthemeofPygmalion’sstatue。Itwaswithratherapleadingthanacommandingvoicethatshesaid：
\"Andshallyoualwaysbetruetome？\"
\"Always——sohelpme，God！\"Ianswered，andIfeltthattherecouldbenolackofconvictioninmyvoice。
Indeed，therewasnocauseforsuchlack。Shealsostoodforalittlewhilestone—still，andIwasbeginningtoexpandtotherapturewhichwasinstoreformewhensheshouldtakemeagaininherarms。
Buttherewasnosuchmomentofsoftness。Allatonceshestartedasifshehadsuddenlywakenedfromadream，andonthespurofthemomentsaid：
\"Nowgo，go！\"Ifelttheconvictionofnecessitytoobey，andturnedatonce。AsImovedtowardsthedoorbywhichIhadentered，I
asked：
\"WhenshallIseeyouagain？\"
\"Soon！\"cameheranswer。\"Ishallletyouknowsoon——whenandwhere。
Oh，go，go！\"Shealmostpushedmefromher。
WhenIhadpassedthroughthelowdoorwayandlockedandbarreditbehindme，IfeltapangthatIshouldhavehadtoshutheroutlikethat；butIfearedlestthereshouldarisesomeembarrassingsuspicionifthedoorshouldbefoundopen。Latercamethecomfortingthoughtthat，asshehadgottotheroofthoughthedoorhadbeenshut，shewouldbeabletogetawaybythesamemeans。ShehadevidentlyknowledgeofsomesecretwayintotheCastle。Thealternativewasthatshemusthavesomesupernaturalqualityorfacultywhichgaveherstrangepowers。Ididnotwishtopursuethattrainofthought，andso，afteraneffort，shutitoutfrommymind。
WhenIgotbacktomyroomIlockedthedoorbehindme，andwenttosleepinthedark。Ididnotwantlightjustthen——couldnotbearit。
ThismorningIwoke，alittlelaterthanusual，withakindofapprehensionwhichIcouldnotatonceunderstand。Presently，however，whenmyfacultiesbecamefullyawakeandinworkingorder，I
realizedthatIfeared，halfexpected，thatAuntJanetwouldcometomeinaworsestateofalarmthaneveraproposofsomenewSecond—
Sightexperienceofmorethanusualferocity。
But，strangetosay，Ihadnosuchvisit。Lateroninthemorning，when，afterbreakfast，wewalkedtogetherthroughthegarden，Iaskedherhowshehadslept，andifshehaddreamt。Sheansweredmethatshehadsleptwithoutwaking，andifshehadhadanydreams，theymusthavebeenpleasantones，forshedidnotrememberthem。\"Andyouknow，Rupert，\"sheadded，\"thatiftherebeanythingbadorfearsomeorwarningindreams，Ialwaysrememberthem。\"
Laterstill，whenIwasbymyselfonthecliffbeyondthecreek，I
couldnothelpcommentingontheabsenceofherpowerofSecondSightontheoccasion。Surely，ifevertherewasatimewhenshemighthavehadcauseofapprehension，itmightwellhavebeenwhenIaskedtheLadywhomshedidnotknowtomarryme——theLadyofwhoseidentityIknewnothing，evenwhosenameIdidnotknow——whomIlovedwithallmyheartandsoul——myLadyoftheShroud。
IhavelostfaithinSecondSight。
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
July1，1907。
Anotherweekgone。Ihavewaitedpatiently，andIamatlastrewardedbyanotherletter。Iwaspreparingforbedalittlewhileago，whenIheardthesamemysterioussoundatthedoorasonthelasttwooccasions。Ihurriedtotheglassdoor，andtherefoundanotherclose—foldedletter。ButIcouldseenosignofmyLady，orofanyotherlivingbeing。Theletter，whichwaswithoutdirection，ranasfollows：
\"Ifyouarestillofthesamemind，andfeelnomisgivings，meetmeattheChurchofSt。SavabeyondtheCreekto—morrownightataquarterbeforemidnight。Ifyoucome，comeinsecret，and，ofcourse，alone。Donotcomeatallunlessyouarepreparedforaterribleordeal。Butifyouloveme，andhaveneitherdoubtsnorfears，come。Come！\"
Needlesstosay，Ididnotsleeplastnight。Itriedto，butwithoutsuccess。Itwasnomorbidhappinessthatkeptmeawake，nodoubting，nofear。IwassimplyoverwhelmedwiththeideaofthecomingrapturewhenIshouldcallmyLadymyvery，veryown。Inthisseaofhappyexpectationalllesserthingsweresubmerged。Evensleep，whichisanimperativeforcewithme，failedinitsusualeffectiveness，andIlaystill，calm，content。
Withthecomingofthemorning，however，restlessnessbegan。Ididnotknowwhattodo，howtorestrainmyself，wheretolookforananodyne。HappilythelattercameintheshapeofRooke，whoturnedupshortlyafterbreakfast。Hehadasatisfactorytaletotellmeofthearmouredyacht，whichhadlainoffCattaroonthepreviousnight，andtowhichhehadbroughthiscontingentofcrewwhichhadwaitedforhercoming。Hedidnotliketotaketheriskofgoingintoanyportwithsuchavessel，lesthemightbedetainedorotherwisehamperedbyforms，andhadgoneoutupontheopenseabeforedaylight。Therewasonboardtheyachtatinytorpedo—boat，forwhichprovisionwasmadebothforhoistingondeckandhousingthere。
Thislastwouldrunintothecreekatteno’clockthatevening，atwhichtimeitwouldbedark。TheyachtwouldthenruntonearOtranto，towhichshewouldsendaboattogetanymessageImightsend。Thiswastobeinacode，whichwearranged，andwouldconveyinstructionsastowhatnightandapproximatehourtheyachtwouldcometothecreek。
Thedaywaswellonbeforewehadmadecertainarrangementsforthefuture；andnottillthendidIfeelagainthepressureofmypersonalrestlessness。Rooke，likeawisecommander，tookrestwhilsthecould。Wellheknewthatforacoupleofdaysandnightsatleasttherewouldbelittle，ifany，sleepforhim。
Formyself，thehabitofself—controlstoodtome，andImanagedtogetthroughthedaysomehowwithoutexcitingtheattentionofanyoneelse。Thearrivalofthetorpedo—boatandthedepartureofRookemadeformeawelcomebreakinmyuneasiness。AnhouragoIsaidgood—nighttoAuntJanet，andshutmyselfupalonehere。Mywatchisonthetablebeforeme，sothatImaymakesureofstartingtothemoment。IhaveallowedmyselfhalfanhourtoreachSt。Sava。Myskiffiswaiting，mooredatthefootofthecliffonthehitherside，wherethezigzagcomesclosetothewater。Itisnowtenminutespasteleven。
Ishalladdtheoddfiveminutestothetimeformyjourneysoastomakesafe。Igounarmedandwithoutalight。
Ishallshownodistrustofanyoneoranythingthisnight。
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
July2，1907。
WhenIwasoutsidethechurch，Ilookedatmywatchinthebrightmoonlight，andfoundIhadoneminutetowait。SoIstoodintheshadowofthedoorwayandlookedoutatthescenebeforeme。Notasignoflifewasvisiblearoundme，eitheronlandorsea。Onthebroadplateauonwhichthechurchstandstherewasnomovementofanykind。Thewind，whichhadbeenpleasantinthenoontide，hadfallencompletely，andnotaleafwasstirring。IcouldseeacrossthecreekandnotethehardlinewherethebattlementsoftheCastlecutthesky，andwherethekeeptoweredabovethelineofblackrock，whichintheshadowofthelandmadeanebonframeforthepicture。
WhenIhadseenthesameviewonformeroccasions，thelinewheretherockrosefromtheseawasafringeofwhitefoam。Butthen，inthedaylight，theseawassapphireblue；nowitwasanexpanseofdarkblue——sodarkastoseemalmostblack。Ithadnoteventhereliefofwavesorripples——simplyadark，cold，lifelessexpanse，withnogleamoflightanywhere，oflighthouseorship；neitherwasthereanyspecialsoundtobeheardthatonecoulddistinguish——nothingbutthedistanthumofthemyriadvoicesofthedarkminglinginoneceaselessinarticulatesound。ItwaswellIhadnottimetodwellonit，orImighthavereachedsomespiritually—disturbingmelancholy。
LetmesayherethateversinceIhadreceivedmyLady’smessageconcerningthisvisittoSt。Sava’sIhadbeenallonfire——not，perhaps，ateverymomentconsciouslyoractuallyso，butalways，asitwere，preparedtobreakoutintoflame。DidIwantasimile，I
mightcomparemyselftoawell—bankedfurnace，whosepresentfunctionitistocontainheatratherthantocreateit；whosecrustcanatanymomentbebrokenbyaforceexternaltoitself，andburstintoraging，all—compellingheat。Nothoughtoffearreallyenteredmymind。Everyotheremotiontherewas，comingandgoingasoccasionexcitedorlulled，butnotfear。WellIknewinthedepthsofmyheartthepurposewhichthatsecretquestwastoserve。IknewnotonlyfrommyLady’swords，butfromtheteachingsofmyownsensesandexperiences，thatsomedreadfulordealmusttakeplacebeforehappinessofanykindcouldbewon。Andthatordeal，thoughmethodordetailwasunknowntome，Iwaspreparedtoundertake。Thiswasoneofthoseoccasionswhenamanmustundertake，blindfold，waysthatmayleadtotortureordeath，orunknownterrorsbeyond。But，then，aman——if，indeed，hehavetheheartofaman——canalwaysundertake；hecanatleastmakethefirststep，thoughitmayturnoutthatthroughtheweaknessofmortalityhemaybeunabletofulfilhisownintent，orjustifyhisbeliefinhisownpowers。Such，I
takeit，wastheintellectualattitudeofthebravesoulswhoofoldfacedthetorturesoftheInquisition。
Butthoughtherewasnoimmediatefear，therewasacertaindoubt。
Fordoubtisoneofthosementalconditionswhosecallingwecannotcontrol。Theendofthedoubtingmaynotbearealitytous，orbeacceptedasapossibility。Thesethingscannotforegotheexistenceofthedoubt。\"Forevenifaman，\"saysVictorCousin，\"doubteverythingelse，atleasthecannotdoubtthathedoubts。\"ThedoubthadattimesbeenonmethatmyLadyoftheShroudwasaVampire。
Muchthathadhappenedseemedtopointthatway，andhere，ontheverythresholdoftheUnknown，when，throughthedoorwhichIwaspushingopen，myeyesmetonlyanexpanseofabsoluteblackness，alldoubtswhichhadeverbeenseemedtosurroundmeinalegion。Ihaveheardthat，whenamanisdrowning，therecomesatimewhenhiswholelifepassesinreviewduringthespaceoftimewhichcannotbecomputedasevenapartofasecond。Soitwastomeinthemomentofmybodypassingintothechurch。Inthatmomentcametomymindallthathadbeen，whichboreontheknowledgeofmyLady；andthegeneraltendencywastoproveorconvincethatshewasindeedaVampire。Muchthathadhappened，orbecomeknowntome，seemedtojustifytheresolvingofdoubtintobelief。EvenmyownreadingofthebooksinAuntJanet’slittlelibrary，andthedearlady’scommentsonthem，mingledwithherownuncannybeliefs，leftlittleopeningfordoubt。MyhavingtohelpmyLadyoverthethresholdofmyhouseonherfirstentrywasinaccordwithVampiretradition；so，too，herflyingatcock—crowfromthewarmthinwhichsherevelledonthatstrangefirstnightofourmeeting；so，too，herswiftdepartureatmidnightonthesecond。IntothesamecategorycamethefactsofherconstantwearingofherShroud，evenherpledgingherself，andmealso，onthefragmenttornfromit，whichshehadgiventomeasasouvenir；herlyingstillintheglass—coveredtomb；hercomingalonetothemostsecretplacesinafortifiedCastlewhereeveryaperturewassecuredbyunopenedlocksandbolts；herverymovements，thoughallofgrace，assheflittednoiselesslythroughthegloomofnight。
Allthesethings，andathousandothersoflesserimport，seemed，forthemoment，tohaveconsolidatedaninitialbelief。Butthencamethesupremerecollectionsofhowshehadlaininmyarms；ofherkissesonmylips；ofthebeatingofherheartagainstmyown；ofhersweetwordsofbeliefandfaithbreathedinmyearinintoxicatingwhispers；of……Ipaused。No！Icouldnotacceptbeliefastoherbeingotherthanalivingwomanofsoulandsense，offleshandblood，ofallthesweetandpassionateinstinctsoftrueandperfectwomanhood。