No one noticed him, for all gazed intently at Bill, who drew from his
pocket a paper and presented it to Dr. Lacey. In a calm, clear voice, Dr.
Lacey read aloud the confession, in the midst of thunder, lightning,
groans, cries and oaths, the latter of which were the spontaneous
production of Uncle Joshua, who sat still in his chair until the
confession was read through; then with one bound he reached Julia, and
raising her from the floor, said, "Speak, Satan, and tell if this is
true!"
Julia was overtaken, surrounded on all sides, and there was no way of
escape. Mechanically, she answered, "I am guilty," while a burst of
execration ran round the room. A stifled moan of agony came from Dr.
Lacey's parted lips, and he asked in a voice which plainly told his
suffering, "Oh, why was I suffered to go thus far? Why, why did no one
write?"
"I did," answered Mrs. Miller.
"And I, too," repeated Mrs. Carrington, "but you spurned my letter and
treated me with contempt."
"Never, never," scarcely articulated Dr. Lacey. "I never received them;
but call Rondeau; he must know something of it."
Rondeau, who had accompanied his master, was called. Explanation followed
explanation, testimony crowded upon testimony, and Julia acknowledged all,
until at length Dr. Lacey, frantic with the sense of wrong done him,
turned to her and said, "Base woman, why have you done this? Your sin has
found you out ere it was too late; for, thank God, you are not my wife,
nor ever will be!"
Julia now lost all command of herself. Tearing the bridal veil from her
brow, she rent it in twain; then from her arm she snatched her diamond
bracelet, and trampled it under her feet, while a stream of blood issued
from her mouth and stained her white satin dress. A moment more, and she
too was extended on the floor by the side of her ally.
Where during this exciting scene was Fanny? The direful sounds had reached
her ear, and now at the head of the stairs she listened to the Babel which
reigned in the parlor. High above all other voices she distinguished her
father's, who, in his uncontrollable fury, was calling to use all the
oaths he had ever heard of, besides manufacturing some expressly for the
occasion! Then there was a heavy fall, accompanied by a cry from Mrs.
Middleton of, "Lift her up--carry her out. Don't you see she is dying?"
Fanny hesitated no longer, but quickly descending the stairs, she forced
her way through the blacks into the parlor, where she stood appalled at
the scene before her. On the floor lay Julia, who a few moments before
stood there resplendent in beauty. Near her sat the maniac, Joseph Dunn.
He had recovered from his fainting fit, and was now crouching over the
prostrate form of Julia, laughing in delirious glee, as he wiped from her
lips the red drops of blood! In a corner of the room a group had gathered,
near an open window, through which they were bearing an inanimate object.
It was Florence, who had fainted, and as it seemed impossible to effect a
passage through the hall, so filled was it with terrified servants, they
had sought the window as the best means of egress.