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rumbling¡¡in¡¡his¡¡very¡¡ear£»¡¡exclaimed£º¡¡¡¨Ye¡¡bloody£»¡¡murthering
Quaker£»¡¡I'll¡¡have¡¡that¡¡ivory¡¡ball£»¡¡or¡¡I'll¡¡have¡¡your¡¡life£¡¡¨

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his¡¡body¡£

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out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡element¡¡that¡¡had¡¡engulfed¡¡him¡£

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serene£»¡¡and¡¡enveloped¡¡in¡¡a¡¡profound¡¡and¡¡entire¡¡repose¡£

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and¡¡ran¡¡like¡¡one¡¡possessed£»¡¡up¡¡along¡¡the¡¡wharf£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡into¡¡the
moonlit¡¡town¡¡once¡¡more¡£




VI¡£¡¡The¡¡Conclusion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Adventure¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Lady¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Silver
Veil



Nor¡¡did¡¡he¡¡check¡¡his¡¡precipitous¡¡flight¡¡until¡¡suddenly£»¡¡being¡¡led
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master£»¡¡he¡¡discovered¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡be¡¡standing¡¡before¡¡the
garden¡­gate¡¡where¡¡not¡¡more¡¡than¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡before¡¡he¡¡had¡¡first
entered¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡series¡¡of¡¡monstrous¡¡adventures¡¡that¡¡had¡¡led¡¡to
such¡¡tremendous¡¡conclusions¡£

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nor¡¡control¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡neighborhood¡¡was
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was¡¡creating£»¡¡but¡¡continued¡¡without¡¡intermission¡¡his¡¡uproarious
pounding¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡gate¡£

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pock¡­pitted¡¡negress¡¡appeared¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡caught¡¡him¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sleeve¡¡of¡¡his
coat¡¡and¡¡drew¡¡him¡¡quickly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡garden¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Buckra£»¡¡Buckra£¡¡¨¡¡she
cried¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡you¡¡doing£¿¡¡¡¡You¡¡wake¡¡de¡¡whole¡¡town£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡observing
his¡¡dripping¡¡garments£º¡¡¡¨You¡¡been¡¡in¡¡de¡¡water¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡catch¡¡de¡¡fever
and¡¡shake¡¡till¡¡you¡¡die¡£¡¨

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his¡¡emotion£»¡¡¡¨take¡¡me¡¡to¡¡her¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡instant£»¡¡or¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡answer
for¡¡my¡¡not¡¡going¡¡entirely¡¡mad£¡¡¨

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in¡¡a¡¡loose¡¡and¡¡an¡¡elegant¡¡negligee£»¡¡infinitely¡¡becoming¡¡to¡¡her
graceful¡¡figure£»¡¡and¡¡still¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡the¡¡veil¡¡of¡¡silver¡¡gauze
that¡¡had¡¡before¡¡enveloped¡¡her¡£

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toward¡¡her¡¡the¡¡little¡¡ivory¡¡ball£»¡¡¡¨take¡¡again¡¡this¡¡which¡¡thou
gavest¡¡me£¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡has¡¡brought¡¡death¡¡to¡¡three¡¡men£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡know¡¡not¡¡what
terrible¡¡fate¡¡may¡¡befall¡¡me¡¡if¡¡I¡¡keep¡¡it¡¡longer¡¡in¡¡my¡¡possession¡£

¡¨What¡¡is¡¡it¡¡you¡¡say£¿¡¨¡¡cried¡¡she£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡piercing¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Did¡¡you
say¡¡it¡¡hath¡¡caused¡¡the¡¡death¡¡of¡¡three¡¡men£¿¡¡¡¡Quick£¡¡¡¡¡Tell¡¡me¡¡what
has¡¡happened£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡feel¡¡somehow¡¡a¡¡presage¡¡that¡¡you¡¡bring¡¡me¡¡news
of¡¡safety¡¡and¡¡release¡¡from¡¡all¡¡my¡¡dangers¡£¡¨

¡¨I¡¡know¡¡not¡¡what¡¡thou¡¡meanest£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡Jonathan£»¡¡still¡¡panting
with¡¡agitation¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡this¡¡I¡¡do¡¡know£º¡¡that¡¡when¡¡I¡¡went¡¡away¡¡from
thee¡¡I¡¡departed¡¡an¡¡innocent¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡I¡¡come¡¡back¡¡to¡¡thee
burdened¡¡with¡¡the¡¡weight¡¡of¡¡three¡¡lives£»¡¡which£»¡¡though¡¡innocent¡¡I
have¡¡been¡¡instrumental¡¡in¡¡taking¡£¡¨

¡¨Explain£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡exclaimed¡¡the¡¡lady£»¡¡tapping¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡with¡¡her¡¡foot¡£
¡¨Explain£¡¡¡explain£¡¡¡explain£¡¡¨

¡¨That¡¡I¡¡will£»¡¨¡¡cried¡¡Jonathan£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡I¡¡am¡¡able£¡¡¡¡¡When
I¡¡left¡¡thee¡¡and¡¡went¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡street¡¡I¡¡was¡¡accosted¡¡by¡¡a
little¡¡gentleman¡¡clad¡¡in¡¡black¡£¡¨

¡¨Indeed£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡the¡¡lady£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡had¡¡he¡¡but¡¡one¡¡eye£»¡¡and¡¡did¡¡he
carry¡¡a¡¡gold¡­headed¡¡cane£¿¡¨

¡¨Exactly£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jonathan£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡he¡¡claimed¡¡acquaintance¡¡with
friend¡¡Jeremiah¡¡Doolittle¡£¡¨

¡¨He¡¡never¡¡knew¡¡him£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡the¡¡lady£»¡¡vehemently£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡I¡¡must¡¡tell
you¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡villain¡¡named¡¡Hunt£»¡¡who¡¡at¡¡one¡¡time¡¡was¡¡the
intimate¡¡consort¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pirate¡¡Keitt¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡it¡¡was¡¡who¡¡plunged¡¡a
deadly¡¡knife¡¡into¡¡his¡¡captain's¡¡bosom£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡murdered¡¡him¡¡in
this¡¡very¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡himself¡¡or¡¡his¡¡agents£»¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been
watching¡¡my¡¡gate¡¡when¡¡you¡¡went¡¡forth¡£¡¨

¡¨I¡¡know¡¡not¡¡how¡¡that¡¡may¡¡be£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jonathan£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡he¡¡took¡¡me¡¡to
his¡¡apartment£»¡¡and¡¡there£»¡¡obtaining¡¡a¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trust¡¡thou
didst¡¡burden¡¡me¡¡with£»¡¡he¡¡demanded¡¡it¡¡of¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡refusing
to¡¡deliver¡¡it¡¡to¡¡him¡¡he¡¡presently¡¡fell¡¡to¡¡attacking¡¡me¡¡with¡¡a
dagger¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡my¡¡efforts¡¡to¡¡protect¡¡my¡¡life¡¡I¡¡inadvertently¡¡caused
him¡¡to¡¡plunge¡¡the¡¡knife¡¡into¡¡his¡¡own¡¡bosom¡¡and¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡himself¡£¡¨

¡¨And¡¡what¡¡then£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡cried¡¡the¡¡lady£»¡¡who¡¡appeared¡¡well¡­nigh
distracted¡¡with¡¡her¡¡emotions¡£

¡¨Then£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jonathan£»¡¡¡¨there¡¡came¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡mana
foreignerwho¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡part¡¡assaulted¡¡me¡¡with¡¡a¡¡pistol£»¡¡with
every¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡murdering¡¡me¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡obtaining¡¡possession¡¡of
that¡¡same¡¡little¡¡trifle¡£¡¨

And¡¡did¡¡he£»¡¨¡¡exclaimed¡¡the¡¡lady£»¡¡¡¨have¡¡long£»¡¡black¡¡mustachios£»
and¡¡did¡¡he¡¡have¡¡silver¡¡ear¡­rings¡¡in¡¡his¡¡ears£¿¡¨

¡¨Yes£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jonathan£»¡¡¡¨he¡¡did¡£¡¨

¡¨That£»¡¨¡¡cried¡¡the¡¡lady£»¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡none¡¡other¡¡than¡¡Captain
Keitt's¡¡Portuguese¡¡sailing¡­master£»¡¡who¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡spying¡¡upon
Hunt£¡¡¡¡¡Tell¡¡me¡¡what¡¡happened¡¡next£¡¡¨

¡¨He¡¡would¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡my¡¡life£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jonathan£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡in¡¡the
struggle¡¡that¡¡followed¡¡he¡¡shot¡¡himself¡¡accidentally¡¡with¡¡his¡¡own
pistol£»¡¡and¡¡died¡¡at¡¡my¡¡very¡¡feet¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡¡what¡¡would¡¡have
happened¡¡to¡¡me¡¡if¡¡a¡¡sea¡­captain¡¡had¡¡not¡¡come¡¡and¡¡proffered¡¡his
assistance¡£¡¨

¡¨A¡¡sea¡­captain£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡exclaimed£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡had¡¡he¡¡a¡¡flat¡¡face¡¡and¡¡a
broken¡¡nose£¿¡¨

¡¨Indeed¡¡he¡¡had£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡Jonathan¡£

¡¨That£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡the¡¡lady£»¡¡¡¨must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡Captain¡¡Keitt's¡¡pirate
partnerCaptain¡¡Willitts£»¡¡of¡¡The¡¡Bloody¡¡Hand¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡doubtless
spying¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Portuguese¡£¡¨

¡¨He¡¡induced¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jonathan£»¡¡¡¨to¡¡carry¡¡the¡¡two¡¡bodies¡¡down¡¡to
the¡¡wharf¡£¡¡¡¡Having¡¡inveigled¡¡me¡¡therewhere£»¡¡I¡¡suppose£»¡¡he
thought¡¡no¡¡one¡¡could¡¡interferehe¡¡assaulted¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡endeavored
to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡ivory¡¡ball¡¡away¡¡from¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡my¡¡efforts¡¡to¡¡escape¡¡we
both¡¡fell¡¡into¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡and¡¡he£»¡¡striking¡¡his¡¡head¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡edge
of¡¡the¡¡wharf£»¡¡was¡¡first¡¡stunned¡¡and¡¡then¡¡drowned¡£¡¨

¡¨Thank¡¡God£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡the¡¡lady£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡transport¡¡of¡¡fervor£»¡¡and
clasping¡¡her¡¡jewelled¡¡hands¡¡together¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨At¡¡last¡¡I¡¡am¡¡free¡¡of¡¡those
who¡¡have¡¡heretofore¡¡persecuted¡¡me¡¡and¡¡threatened¡¡my¡¡very¡¡life
itself£¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡have¡¡asked¡¡to¡¡behold¡¡my¡¡face£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡now¡¡show¡¡it¡¡to
you£¡¡¡¡¡Heretofore¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡it¡¡concealed¡¡lest£»
recognizing¡¡me£»¡¡my¡¡enemies¡¡should¡¡have¡¡slain¡¡me¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡As¡¡she¡¡spoke
she¡¡drew¡¡aside¡¡her¡¡veil£»¡¡and¡¡disclosed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡vision¡¡of¡¡our¡¡hero
a¡¡countenance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡extraordinary¡¡and¡¡striking¡¡beauty¡£¡¡¡¡Her
luminous¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡like¡¡those¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Jawa£»¡¡and¡¡set¡¡beneath
exquisitely¡¡arched¡¡and¡¡pencilled¡¡brows¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡forehead¡¡was¡¡like
lustrous¡¡ivory¡¡and¡¡her¡¡lips¡¡like¡¡rose¡­leaves¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡hair£»¡¡which¡¡was
as¡¡soft¡¡as¡¡the¡¡finest¡¡silk£»¡¡was¡¡fastened¡¡up¡¡in¡¡masses¡¡of
ravishing¡¡abundance¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡she£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡that
unfortunate¡¡Captain¡¡Keitt£»¡¡who£»¡¡though¡¡weak¡¡and¡¡a¡¡pirate£»¡¡was¡¡not
so¡¡wicked£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡you¡¡know£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡has¡¡been¡¡painted¡£¡¡¡¡He
would£»¡¡doubtless£»¡¡have¡¡been¡¡an¡¡honest¡¡man¡¡had¡¡he¡¡not¡¡been¡¡led
astray¡¡by¡¡the¡¡villain¡¡Hunt£»¡¡who¡¡so¡¡nearly¡¡compassed¡¡your¡¡own
destruction¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡this¡¡island¡¡before¡¡his¡¡death£»¡¡and
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