"Gentlemen," , in low, distinct, and never-to-be-forgotten whisper which thrilled very marrow bones, "Gentlemen, I make no apology behaviour, because in thus behaving, but fulfilling duty , beyond doubt, uninformed true character person who -night won at ecarte large sum of money from Lord Glendinning therefore put you upon an expeditious and decisive plan of obtaining this very necessary information Please to examine, at your leisure, the inner linings cuff left sleeve, several little packages found somewhat capacious pockets embroidered morning wrapper "

While he spoke, so profound stillness that one heard pin drop floor In ceasing, he departed at once, and as abruptly as he had entered Can I -- shall I describe my sensations ? -- must that all the horrors damned ? Most assuredly I had little time given for reflection Many hands roughly seized me spot, and lights were immediately reprocured search ensued lining sleeve were found all the court cards essential in ecarte, and, pockets wrapper, number of packs, facsimiles used at our sittings, single exception that mine were species called, technically, arrondees; the honours being slightly convex ends, the lower cards slightly convex sides disposition, the dupe who cuts, as customary, length pack, will invariably find that he cuts his antagonist an honor; while the gambler, cutting breadth, will, as certainly, cut nothing victim count records game

Any burst of indignation discovery affected me silent contempt, or the sarcastic composure, received

" Mr Wilson," said our host, stooping to remove from beneath his feet an exceedingly luxurious cloak of rare furs, " Mr Wilson, your property " (The weather was cold; and, upon quitting my own room, I had thrown cloak over my dressing wrapper, putting it off upon reaching the scene of play ) "I presume supererogatory to seek here (eyeing the folds garment with bitter smile) for any farther evidence of your skill Indeed, enough the necessity, , of quitting Oxford -- at all events, of quitting instantly my chambers "

Abased, humbled dust as I then was, probable that resented this galling language by immediate personal violence, my whole attention been moment arrested by fact most startling character The cloak which I had worn was of rare description of fur; how rare, how extravagantly costly, venture Its fashion, too, was own fantastic invention; for fastidious to an absurd degree of coxcombry, in matters frivolous nature When, therefore, Mr Preston reached me that which he had picked up floor, and near the folding doors apartment, with an astonishment nearly bordering upon terror, that I perceived my own already hanging on my arm, (where I had unwittingly placed it,) and one presented me was but its exact counterpart in every, in even the minutest possible particular The singular being who had so disastrously exposed me, muffled, I remembered, in cloak; and none worn at all by any members party exception of myself Retaining some presence of mind, the one offered me by Preston; placed it, unnoticed, over my own; left the apartment with resolute scowl of defiance; and, next morning ere dawn of day, commenced hurried journey from Oxford continent, in perfect agony of horror and of shame

I fled in vain My evil destiny pursued me in exultation, and proved, indeed, exercise mysterious dominion had only begun Scarcely had I set foot in Paris ere I had fresh evidence detestable interest taken Wilson in my concerns Years flew, while I experienced no relief Villain ! -- at Rome, with how untimely, yet with how spectral an officiousness, stepped he in between me and my ambition ! At Vienna, too -- at Berlin -- and at Moscow ! Where, in truth, had I not bitter cause to curse him within my heart ? inscrutable tyranny did I flee, panic-stricken, as from pestilence; and very ends earth I fled in vain

And again, and again, in secret communion with my own spirit, would I demand the questions " he ? -- whence came he ? -- and his objects ? " But no answer was there found And then I scrutinized, with minute scrutiny, the forms, methods, leading traits impertinent supervision But even here very little to base conjecture noticeable, indeed, that, in no multiplied instances he had of late crossed my path, had he so crossed it except to frustrate those schemes, or to disturb those actions, which, if fully carried out, resulted in bitter mischief Poor justification this, in truth, for an authority so imperiously assumed ! Poor indemnity for natural rights of self-agency so pertinaciously, so insultingly denied !

I had also been forced to notice that my tormentor, for very long period , (while scrupulously and with miraculous dexterity maintaining his whim of an identity of apparel with myself,) had so contrived it, execution varied interference with my will, that not, at any moment, the features face Be Wilson what he might, this, , was but the veriest of affectation, or of folly Could he, for an instant, have supposed that, in my admonisher at Eton -- destroyer honor at Oxford, -- in him who thwarted my ambition at Rome, my revenge at Paris, my passionate love at Naples, or what he falsely termed my avarice in Egypt, -- that , my arch-enemy and evil genius, could fall to recognise the William Wilson school boy days, -- the namesake, the companion, the rival, -- the hated and dreaded rival at Dr Bransby's ? Impossible ! -- But let me hasten last eventful scene drama

Thus far I had succumbed supinely imperious domination The sentiment of deep awe I habitually regarded the elevated character, the majestic wisdom, the apparent omnipresence and omnipotence of Wilson, added to feeling of even terror, certain other traits nature and assumptions inspired me, had operated, hitherto, to impress me with an idea own utter weakness and helplessness, and to suggest an implicit, although bitterly reluctant submission arbitrary will But, of late days, I had given myself up entirely to wine; and its maddening influence upon my hereditary temper rendered me more and more impatient of control I began to murmur, -- to hesitate, -- to resist And only fancy which induced me that, increase own firmness, that tormentor underwent proportional diminution ? Be this as it may, I now began the inspiration of burning hope, and nurtured in my secret thoughts stern and desperate resolution that submit no longer enslaved

at Rome, during the Carnival of 18 -- , that I attended masquerade palazzo Neapolitan Duke Di Broglio I had indulged more freely than usual excesses wine-table; and now the suffocating atmosphere crowded rooms irritated me beyond endurance The difficulty, too, of forcing my way mazes company contributed not little ruffling temper; for anxiously seeking, (let me not say with what unworthy motive) the young, the gay, the beautiful wife aged and doting Di Broglio With too unscrupulous confidence she had previously communicated the secret costume be habited, and now, having caught glimpse of her person, hurrying my way into her presence -- moment light hand placed upon my shoulder, ever-remembered, low, damnable whisper within my ear

In an absolute phrenzy of wrath, I turned at once upon him who had thus interrupted me, and seized him violently by tile collar attired, as I had expected, in costume altogether similar to my own; wearing Spanish cloak of blue velvet, begirt waist with crimson belt sustaining rapier mask of black silk entirely covered his face

"Scoundrel ! " , in voice husky with rage, while every syllable I uttered seemed as new fuel to my fury, "scoundrel ! impostor ! accursed villain ! you -- you dog me unto death ! Follow me, or I stab you where you stand ! " -- and I broke my way ball-room into small ante-chamber adjoining -- dragging him unresistingly with me as I went

Upon entering, I thrust him furiously from me He staggered against the wall, while I closed the door with an oath, and commanded him to draw He hesitated but for an instant; then, with slight sigh, drew in silence, and put himself upon his defence

The contest was brief indeed frantic with every species of wild excitement, and felt within my single arm the energy and power of multitude In few seconds I forced him by sheer strength against the wainscoting, and thus, getting him at mercy, plunged my sword, with brute ferocity, repeatedly through and through his bosom

instant some person tried the latch door I hastened an intrusion, and then immediately returned to my dying antagonist But what human language can adequately portray that astonishment, that horror which possessed me spectacle then presented to view ? The brief moment I averted my eyes sufficient , apparently, material change arrangements upper or farther end room large mirror, -- so at first it seemed in my confusion -- now stood where none perceptible before; and, as I stepped up in extremity of terror, mine own image, but with features all pale and dabbled in blood, advanced to meet me with feeble and tottering gait

Thus it appeared, , but was not my antagonist -- Wilson, who then stood before me agonies dissolution His mask and cloak lay, where he had thrown them, floor Not thread in all his raiment -- not line in all the marked and singular lineaments face not, even most absolute identity, mine own !

Wilson; but he spoke no longer in whisper, and fancied that I myself was speaking while :

" conquered, and I yield Yet, henceforward art thou also dead -- dead World, to Heaven and to Hope ! In me didst thou exist -- and, in my death, see image, thine own, how utterly thou hast murdered thyself "