The judge¹ was² an old， kind man， but his face was very serious⁴ as³ he looked at me． He asked a number of men to tell me what they had⁵ seen⁶ and found⁷ the night before．

The first man told his story．He and his son were coming home from a long day's fishing．It was a dark⁹ night，and on the beach they had fallen over the dead¹⁰ body of a man．They had carried the body to the nearest house，and found that it was a good-looking¹¹ young man about twenty－five years old．There were the marks¹² of fingers round his neck．When they spoke¹³ of the marks of fingers，I remembered the murder¹⁴ of my brother and I felt a terrible¹⁵ fear．

The son then told his story．He had seen a boat with a man in it， not far from the beach． He thought¹⁷ it was my boat．A woman had also seen a man in a boat sailing¹⁸ away from the beach．She thought I was the man．

Then I was taken to the room where the dead body lay．How can I tell you what I felt when I saw²⁰ the body？I put my arms round it and cried：‘What have I done？ My friend！My dear friend！’The body was Henry Clerval's，and so now I had destroyed²¹ another person．

This third death²³ was too much for me．I fell²⁴ down in a kind of madness，and they had to carry me from the room． For two months I was very ill and wished only to die．But slowly²⁷ my madness left me，and my health²⁸ began to return．At last I was able³⁰ to speak to Judge Kerwin，and I asked for news³¹ of my family．

‘There is someone³² here who can answer your question better than I can，’he said．‘Your father arrived a few³⁴ minutes ago，and is waiting to see you．’

For the first time since³⁵ Henry's death I felt some happiness．I held out my hands to my father as he came³⁷ into the room， and he took³⁸ me in his arms． He gave³⁹ me the good news that Elizabeth and Ernest were safe and well．

I was really too ill to travel，but I asked my father to take me home immediately．The police⁴¹ had found somebody⁴² who had seen me on my island at the time of the murder，and so the judge let me go free．

My father looked after me on the long journey⁴⁴ home，and sat⁴⁵ with me for every minute．Night after night while⁴⁷ I was asleep，I shouted that I was the murderer⁴⁸ of William，Justine，and Henry．My father asked me why I said³³ these awful⁴⁹ things．I wanted to answer his question，but I could⁵⁰ not tell him my terrible secret．He thought that I was still a little mad．

We stayed for a few days in Paris on the way home， and Elizabeth wrote⁵² to me at our hotel．This is what her letter said：

My dearest Victor，

I am so happy to know that you will soon be home．But I am afraid that Henry's death is not the only reason⁵³ for your sadness．Do you still want to marry⁵⁵ me， or do you love an-other woman？ You must tell me．

I love you，Victor，and I dream⁵⁶ of the day when I shall⁵⁷ be your wife．But I do not want you to marry me just because your parents wanted it．I can only be happy if you are happy．

Do not answer this letter．Wait until⁵⁹ you arrive before you give me your answer．But if you are well，and if I can make you smile，I need nothing more to make me happy．

With all my love，

Elizabeth

I replied⁶⁰ immediately．I told her that I loved her very much and wanted to marry her．

I remembered the monster's promise⁶¹ to be with me on the night of my wedding．Let him come．We would⁶³ fight⁶⁴ to the death on that night． And after that fight，I would either⁶⁵ be dead and at peace，or alive⁶⁶ and free… free⁴³ to be happy with Elizabeth．

We arrived in Geneva soon after my letter had reached⁶⁷ Elizabeth．It was wonderful to see her again．She ran⁶⁸ into my arms and I held her close．She cried when she saw how thin and old I looked．She， too， was thinner because she had worried⁶⁹ about me so much．But her gentleness⁷⁰ and her love made⁷¹ her as beautiful as ever．

We agreed⁷² that the wedding⁶² would be in ten days'time．As the day came nearer，I became⁷³ more and more afraid．I tried to hide⁷⁴ my fear，and laughed and smiled as often as I could．Elizabeth knew that I was unhappy， but she was sure she could give me happiness．She looked forward⁷⁶ to our wedding．

I began to carry a gun⁷⁷ and a knife with me everywhere I went．

法官是个善良的老人，但他在看着我时表情非常严峻。他叫了好几个人来告诉我他们在前一天晚上都看到了并发现了什么。

第一个人讲了他的故事。他和他的儿子钓了一天的鱼后正往家里走。那是个黑暗的夜晚，他们在海滩上被一具男尸绊倒了。他们把尸体扛到最近的一所房子，发现那是一个二十五岁左右的、面貌英俊的男人。他的脖子上有指痕。当他们说起指痕时，我想起了杀害我弟弟的凶手，于是便不寒而栗。

之后，那个儿子讲起了他的故事。他曾在离海岸不远的地方看到过上边有一个男人的一只船。他认为那是我的船。一个女人也曾看到有个男人驾着一只船朝海里划去。她认为我就是那个人。

然后我被带到尸体停放的那个房间。我该怎么形容我看到那具尸体时的感觉呢？我抱住尸体哭道：“我都干了什么啦？我的朋友！我亲爱的朋友！”那是亨利·克勒沃的尸体，这样我又毁了另一个人的生命。

这第三起死亡事件对我打击太大了。我近乎疯狂地倒在了地上，他们不得不把我从房间里抬走。我大病了两个月的时间，一心只想去死。但渐渐地我不再疯狂，身体也开始恢复了。最后我可以同克文法官谈话并问起我家人的情况。

“这儿有更好的人来回答你的问题。”他说道，“你父亲几分钟前来了，正等着看你呢。”

自从亨利死后，我首次感到了些许的快乐。我父亲走进屋时我朝他伸出了双手，他把我搂进了怀里。他告诉我一个好消息说伊丽莎白和欧内斯特均健康平安。

我病得实在是太重，路也走不动了，但我要我父亲立刻把我带回家去。警察已查到在谋杀发生时有人看见过我正在岛上，这样法官便释放了我。

我父亲在回家的漫长旅途中一直照顾着我，每时每刻都坐在我的身边。一个个晚上，我在熟睡时都大声说我是杀害威廉、贾斯汀和亨利的凶手。我父亲问我为什么说出这些可怕的话。我想要回答他的问题，但又不能告诉他我那可怕的秘密。他认为我的大脑仍有些不正常。

回家途中我们在巴黎逗留了几天，伊丽莎白给我写了封信寄到了旅店。信是这样写的：

我最亲爱的维克多：

知道你很快就要回家了我非常高兴。可是我担心亨利的死并不是你伤心的唯一原因。你是仍然想要娶我，还是爱上了另外一个女人？你必须告诉我。

我爱你，维克多；我梦想着成为你的妻子的那一天。但是我不希望你只是因为你父母的意愿而娶我。只有在你幸福时我才会幸福。

不要回信。等你回来再给我答复。但是如果你身体健康或者我能让你微笑的话，那么我就再高兴不过了。

爱你的，

伊丽莎白

我立刻回了信。我告诉她我非常爱她并想和她结婚。

我想起了怪物许过的要在我的新婚之夜同我在一起的诺言。就让他来吧，我们可以在那天晚上拼死搏斗。搏斗之后，我要么安祥地死去，要么自由地活着……自由而幸福地同伊丽莎白呆在一起。

伊丽莎白收到我的信后不久我们便到了日内瓦。再见到她真是太美好了。她扑到我的怀里，我紧紧地搂住了她。当她看到我又瘦削又显老时哭了。她因为一直非常牵挂我也瘦了。但是她的温柔和爱意使她永远美丽。

我们商定十天后举行婚礼。这一天越是临近，我越是害怕。我竭力隐藏我的恐惧之感，尽量露出欢声笑语。伊丽莎白知道我不高兴，但她确信她可以给我幸福。她期盼着我们的婚礼。

我开始随身携带着一把枪和一把刀子。