The ill-suppressed violence of my temper, irritated by the
dangers of my situation, has already caused you many a sorrowful
moment; and the increase of gloom you must have lately perceived, has
originated in the fresh difficulties arising to me from the death of
the husband of Alice; and the dread of her own approaching
dissolution. From these causes my present visit to this dreary abode
was determined, and to them I am indebted for the premature
disclosure which has made her life as wretched as my own. The
sickness of her surviving attendant has latterly allowed more liberty
to the unhappy Theresa than her condition renders safe either to her
or me. I could not on my arrival here collect sufficient resolution
to look upon her; and to adopt those measures of security which the
weakness of Alice has left disregarded. To this infirmity of purpose
on my part must be ascribed the dreadful shock you sustained by the
sudden appearance of the unfortunate maniac, who I conclude was
attracted to your apartment by the long-forgotten sound of music. On
that fatal evening your fall awoke me from my sleep; and I then
perceived my Helen lying insensible on the floor; and Theresa--yes--
the altered and to me terrible figure of Theresa, bending over her.
For one dreadful moment I believed that you had fallen a victim to
her insanity.
"And now Helen--my injured, but fondly beloved Helen, now that my
tale of evil is fully disclosed, resolve at once the doom of my
future being.
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