Bridge Phase 6: fMS box c56 chapter 10Frankenstein Variorum Project2023—Distributed under a Creative Commons
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Chapter 10 Chapter 10 ¶ Night had closed ^in Night had closed ^^^in ^in
when I arrived
andandandthe gates of
Geneva
Geneva
were already
closed^shut closedclosed^^^shut ^shut
and I
determined
determined
to
remain that
remain that
night at
Secheron
Secheron
a village
half a league
half a league
to the east -ward of
to the east -ward of
the
city .
city .
The
nightsky nightnightsky ^sky
was
very fineserene and unablevery finevery fineserene ^serene and unableunable
as I was unable to
rest
rest
I resolved to
walk towardswalk towardwalk towardssvisit
^visit
visit
the spot where
m
m y
^y
y
poor William had been
murdered;
murdered;
as I
walked
walked
I
perceived
perceived
a
storm collecting on the other side of the lake.
storm collecting on the other side of the lake.
I saw the lightnings
play
play
in the most beautiful
figures and gained
figures and gained
a
summit
summit
that I might observe
the^thethe^^^its
^its
its
progress. It
advanced slowly and
advanced slowly andslowly and
and I soon felt the rain coming slowly in large
drops
drops
but its violence quickly
encreased.
encreased.
I quitted my
¶ I quitted my
seat
seat
and
walk
walk
on, although the darkness and storm
augmentedaugmented
every
minute
minute
and the thunder burst
violently over with a terrific crash over my
violently overviolently over with a terrific crash over my
head — ✗—William I ex cried aloud – dear angel this is thy funeral this thy dirge. —✗
head — ✗—William I ex cried aloud – dear angel this is thy funeral this thy dirge. —✗
It was echoed from
Salêve
Salêve ^^^^the
Jura ^the
Jura
Jura
and the Alps of
Savoy—
Savoy—
vivid flashes of lightning dazzled my eyes,
and illumin edating the lake; andandand illumin ededating ^ating the lake; andandthen for an instant every thing seemed of a pitchy
black^darkness til untill
blackblack^^^darkness ^darkness tiltil untill
the eye recovered itself from the
^preceeding ^^^preceeding ^preceeding
flash.
A The
AA The
storm
storm
as is often the case in
that countrySwitzerland that countrythat countrySwitzerland ^Switzerland
appeared at once in various parts of the heavens. The most violent storm
waswaswashung
^hung
hung
exactly
noth north of the
nothnoth north of the
town
town and atand atand atover ^over that part
wherewherewhereof the
^of the
of the
lake
^turns^^^turnsturnswhich
at^which
which
atatatlies between ^lies between the promontory of Belrive and
the promontory of Belrive and
changingthe changingchangingthe ^the village of
Copet ^village of
village of
Copet
Copet ✗—its course from South to north which it before p u rsue s d proceeds from west to east —✗ —
✗—its course from South to north which it before p u ^u rsue s ^s dd proceeds from west to east —✗ —
another storm enlightened Jura with faint
flashes
flashes
and another
appeared darkened and sometimes disclosed the
appearedappeared darkened and sometimes disclosed the
Mole – the name of
Mole – the name ofthe name ofa peaked mountain
to the east of
to the east of
the lake. ¶ While I watched the
storm –
storm –
so beautiful yet
terrific
terrific
I wandered
listlesslyon with a hasty
listlesslylistlesslyon with a hasty
step – I felt thatth ise
step – I felt thatI felt thatth isise ^e
noble war in the sky elevated my spirits; I clasped my
hands
hands
&
ex claimed aloud
ex claimed aloud
"William, dear
angel,
angel,
this is thy funeral, this thy
dirge!"–
dirge!"–
As I said
the se words a flash of lightning
the se ^se words a flash of lightninga flash of lightningI perceived in the gloom
^I perceived in the gloom
discovered to me a figure which stole from behind a clump of trees near
discovered to mediscovered to me a figure which stole from behind a clump of trees near
me –
me – XI stood
fixed
gazing
intently,
I could not be
mistaken
a flash of lightning
illumined
the
object,and
discovered
to me ^XXI stood
fixed
fixed
gazing
intently,
intently,
I could not be
mistakenmistaken
a flash of lightning
illumined
illumined
the
object,and
object,and
discovered
to me
to me ✗—I stood aghast —✗✗—I stood aghast —✗
its
gigantc sta n ture
gigantc sta nn ture , its, its, its& the ^& the deformity of its
aspect
^of its
aspect
aspect
more hideous
tha tn
tha ttn ^n aman could beaaman could beman could bebelongs to
humanity ^belongs to
humanity
humanity explainexplainexplain
instantly informed me
who
who
it
was. I t was the wretch, the filthy
was. I t ^t was the wretch, the filthy
dæmon
dæmon
to whom I had given life. What did he there? Could he be (I shuddered at the
conception
conception
the murderer of my
brother.
brother.
No sooner did that idea cross my
imagination
imagination
than I became convinced
^^^^of its
truth ^of its
of its
truth
truth —
—
my teeth
chattered
chattered
and I was forced to lean against
th a tree for
thth a tree for
support —
support —
The figure
quickly passed me
quickly passed me
and I lost it in the gloom.
AndhH e therefore was the murderer! I ^could not doubt' ed itnotmythethoughtwas agony ^I was agonized by the bare probability Nothing AndAndhhH ^H e therefore ^therefore was the murderer! I ^could not doubt' ed itI ^^^could not ^could not doubt' ed itnotnotmymythethethoughtthoughtwas agony ^I was agonized by the bare probability was agony ^^^I was agonized by the bare probability ^I was agonized by the bare probability Nothing in
^in
in
human shape could have destroyed that fair child.
He
He
was the murderer! I could not doubt it. The mere presence of the idea was an
irresistibleproof
irresistibleproof
of the
fact —
fact —
I thought of
pursueingpursueing
the
devil,
devil,
but
^^^^ it would have been
^ it would have been
it would have been
in
vain
vain
for another flash discovered him to me
✗—climbing up the steep and —✗✗—climbing up the steep and —✗hanging
among the rocks of the ^hanging
hanging
among the rocks of the nearly perpendicular ascent of
the Mont-Salêve;
the Mont-Salêve;
he soon reached the
summit
summit
and
dissap pe ared.
dissap ppe ^e ared.
¶ I remained
motionless
motionless
the thunder
ceased
ceased
but the rain still
continued &the
continued &the
scene was
inveloped
inveloped
in
a
a n pitchyn ^n pitchypitchy^^^^impenetrable ^impenetrable darkness. I
revolved in my mind ✗—I revolved in my mind —✗I resolved in my mind
revolved in my mind ✗—I revolved in my mind —✗I resolved in my mind ^I resolved in my mind
the events which I
u had, untill now,
uu had, untill now,
sought to
forget.
forget. ^The whole train of my progress towards
my creation ^^^The whole train of my progress towards
my creation
my creation
The appearance of
the creature^the creaturethe creature^^^the work of my own
hands,
alive ^the work of my own
the work of my own
hands,
hands,
alive at my
bed side – &
bed side – &^&
its departure.
ItsIt was now nearly two years
ItsItsIt was now nearlyIt was now nearly two years
^^^^had now nearly elapsed
^had now nearly elapsed
had now nearly elapsed
since the night
of on which he first received
ofof on which he first received
life,
life,
and was this his first
crime – ?
crime – ??
Alas! I
^^^^had
^had
had
turned loose
in
in
the world a depraved
wretch
wretch
whose delight was in
deatmurder
deatdeatmurder
&
wretchedness; Forfor
wretchedness; ForForfor ^for
had he not murdered my brother? ¶ No one can conceive
of the anguish I
of the anguish I
suff ere red
suff erere ^e red
during the remainder of the
night
night
which I
spent
spent ^^^^cold &
wet ^cold &
wet
wet
in the open air.
cold and wet . But I did not feel
cold and wetcold and wet . But I did not feel
th
th ie s^iie ^e ss^^^incovenience
of the
weather. ^incovenience
incovenience
of the
weather.
weather.
my imagination was busy
in in
in in
scene scenes of
scenescene scenes of
ev ei l
ev eei ^i l
and
despair
despair
I considered the
whwretchwhwhwretchwretchbeing
^being
being
whom I had cast
in among
in among
mankind
mankind for pufor pufor puand endowed with the will
&the
&the
power to effect purposes of
mischiefmischiefmischiefhorror
such as
this the deed which he had ^horror
horror
such as
this the deed which he had thisthis the deed which he had now done,
^now done,
now done,
nearly in the light of my
ow vampire;
owow vampire;
my own spirit let loose from the
grave
grave
and forced to destroy all
who were
who were
dear to me. ¶ Day
dawned
dawned
and I directed my steps towards the
town –
town –
the gates were
open
open
and I hastened to my
father's house s .–My n
father's house ss .–My nn
first thought was to discover what I knew of the
murderer
murderer
& cause instant
search pursuit to be made. But I paused when I reflectedsearchsearch pursuit to be made. But I paused when I reflected
what
what
the story
was that I had to tell. A
was that I had to tell. A
creaturecreaturecreaturebeing
^being
being
whom I myself had
created
created
and endued with life, had met me at midnight among the precipices of an inaccessible
mountain
mountain
The
storystorystorytale
^tale
was
was
utterly
improbable and
improbable and
I
knew well
knew well
that if any other had
relatedrelatedrelatedcommunicated
^communicated
communicated
such a
tale^taletale^^^relation
^relation
relation
to
me
me
I should have looked upon it as the ravings of
delirium Besides
delirium Besides
the strange nature of the animal would
elude all the uselude
elude all the uselude all the uselude
pursuit, even if I were so far
^so far
believedbelievedbelievedcredited
^credited
credited
which was^utterly impossiblewhich waswhich was^^^utterly impossibleutterly impossibleas to persuade
itsselfmy
relatives to commence
it ^as to persuade
as to persuade
itsselfitsitsselfselfmy
^my
my
relatives to commence
it
it – the com – the comthe com
of what use would be pursuit? Who could arrest a creature
that couldthat couldthat couldcapable of
^capable of
capable of
scal eing scal eeing ^ing
the
steepsteepsteepoverhanging
^overhanging
overhanging
sides of
Mont-Salêve?
Mont-Salêve?
These reflections determined me, and I resolved to
be^bebe^^^remain
^remain
remain
silent. ¶ It was about five in the morning when I entered my
fathers
fathers
house. I told the servants ^s not to disturb the family, ^, and went into the library to attend their usual
time
time
of rising.
Five
Five
years had
elapsed–passed
elapsed–passed
as a dream but for one indelible trace, and I stood in the same place where I had last embraced my father before my departure for Ingolstadt. Beloved and
respectable
respectable
parent!
✗—His chair was before the reading desk and a book open —✗ He still remained to me. I gazed on
✗—His chair was before the reading desk and a book open —✗ He still remained to me. I gazed on
a
a
picture of my
mother
mother
which stood over the
mantlepiece.
mantlepiece.
It was an historical
piece
piece
painted
to please
to please
my
father
father
and represented Caroline
Beaumont
Beaumont
in an agony of
despair
despair
kneeling by the coffin of her dead father. Her garb was rustic, ^, & her cheek
pale
pale
but there was an air of dignity and
beauty
beauty
that hardly
allowed of^allowed ofallowed of^^^permitted
^permitted
permitted
the
feelingfeelingfeelingsentiment
^sentiment
sentiment
of pity. Below this picture was a miniature of
William,
William,
and my tears flowed when I
look ed
look ed ^ed
upon
it—While
it—While
I was thus
engaged
engaged
Ernest
entered–
entered–
he had heard me
arrive
arrive
and hastened to welcome me. He expressed
the greatest
the greatest
delight
on seeing me – "Welcome
on seeing me – "Welcome
my dearest Victor," said
he, ah
he, ah
I wish you had come three
weeksmonths
weeksweeksmonths
ago
ago
and then you would have
✗—been welcomed as you ought —✗found
✗—been welcomed as you ought —✗found
us all
joyous&delighted –
joyous&delighted –
But we are now
But we are now
all of us so unhappy that
all of usall of us so unhappy that
I am
I am
afraid
afraid
tears instead of smiles
tears instead of smiles
for^forfor^^^will be
^will be
will be
your
your
welcome my^our father looks so sorrowful and it seems to have revived in his mind his sorrow for the death of Mamma and poor Elizabeth is quite inconsolable."
welcome mymy^^^our ^our father looks so sorrowful and it seems to have revived in his mind his sorrow for the death of Mamma and poor Elizabeth is quite inconsolable."
Ernest began to weep as he said these words. "Do
Ernest began to weep as he said these words. ¶ "Do
not ^you"
not ^^^you" ^you"
said
said
I," welcome
I," welcome
me thus; try to be more
me thus; try to be more
calm andnot let preveng m ey be ing
calm andandnot let preveng not let preveng ^preveng m ey be ing m eey ^y be ing ^ing that I may not be absolutely miserable the moment I enter my
that I may not be ^that I may not be absolutely miserable the moment I enter my
fathers
fathers
house after so long an absence.
house after so long an absence.
But tell me, How does my father support✗—s it and if Elizabeth —✗ his f misfortunes; and how is my poor Elizabeth?" But tell me, How does ^does my father support✗—s it and if Elizabeth —✗ his ff misfortunes; and how is my poor Elizabeth?"¶ She indeed
She indeed
requires
consolation," replied Ernest–"
consolation," replied Ernest–"
She accused herself of having caused the death of my
brother
brother
and that made her
very, very wretched;
very, very wretched;
but since the murderer has been
discovered"——"
discovered"——"
¶ "The murderer
discovered!" Exclaimed I– "Good God
discovered!" Exclaimed I– "Good God
how can that be? Who could attempt to pursue him? It is
impossible,
impossible,
one might as well try to overtake the
winds
winds
or confine a
mountain stream
mountain stream
with a
straw!
straw!
¶ "I do not know what you
mean" replied Ernest, But we were all very unhappy when she was discovered–
mean" replied Ernest, But we were all very unhappy when she was discovered–
No one would
one believe it at
oneone believe it at
first
first
and even now
^can Elizabeth will
^^^can can ^can Elizabeth will
Myrtella willMyrtella willMyrtella will not be
not be
convinced notwith standing
convinced notwith standing
all the evidence.
Indeed
Indeed
who
could have believed
could have believed
that Justine Moritz, who was so
amiable
amiable
and fond of all the
family
family
could
all at once become
all at once become
so
extremely wicked."
extremely wicked."
¶ "Justine
Moritz!" cried I, "im "poor,
Moritz!" cried I, "im"im "poor,
poor
girl
girl
is she
then accused –
then accused –
but it is
wrongfully
wrongfully
every one knows
that.
that.
No one
bell believes
bellbell believes
it
it
surely, Ernest?" ¶ "No one did at
first," said my brother, "but
first," said my brother, "but
several
things^thingsthings^^^circumstances
^circumstances
circumstances
came out,
will
will
forced conviction upon
us
us
and her
"own
"own
behaviour
was so^was sowas so^^^has been
such so
^has been
has been
such so
suchsuch so
confused ^^and
as to add to the evidence of facts a weight
that
I
fear
leaves no hope for
doubt: ^^^and^^andand
as to add to the evidence of facts a weight
that
that
I
fear
fear
leaves no hope for
doubt:
doubt:
but she
"will
"will
tried
today
today
and you will then hear
"all?" ✗—He then related that after some days of useless e search t one of the magis trates opened waited on my father and informed of his desire to search & examine the servants of the house –To this my father readily agreed being persuaded that nothingcou all his domestics were perfectly innocent. Justine had been taken very ill the day after morning that the murder of William had been discovered and been obliged to confine herself to her bed— Her apparel was exami—✗"all?" ¶ ✗—He then related that after some days of useless ee search tt one of the magis trates openedopened waited on my father and informed of his desire to search &search & examine the servants of the house –To this my father readily agreed being persuaded that nothingnothingcoucou all his domestics were perfectly innocent. Justine had been taken very ill the day afterday after morning that the murder of William had been discovered and been obliged to confine herself to her bed— Her apparel was examiher bed— Her apparel was exami—✗¶ He
then related
thenthen related
that
that
the morning
afterafterafteron which
^on which
on which
the murder of poor William
h ad
hh ad
been
discovered Justine o✗—on the bod —✗
discovered Justine oJustine o✗—on the bod —✗
Justine had been taken
ill
ill
and confined to her
bed, and after
bed, and after
several
days
days
one of the
servants happen sed ing
servants happen sed ssed ^ed ing ^ing
to examine the apparel she had worn on the night of the
murder & h ardad
murder && h ardardad ^ad
discovered in her pocket the picture of my
mother
mother
which had been judged to be the
temptation
temptation
of the
murderer.
murderer.
The servant instantly
shewed
shewed
it to one of the others,
andwho andandwho ^who
without saying a word to any of the
family they
family theytheywent to a
magistrate who sent to apprehend Justine. who
magistrate who sent to apprehend Justine. whowho
on being charged with the
fact she
fact she ^she
confirmed the suspicion
toa in a great measure by her extreme
totoaa in a great measure by her extreme
confusion.
confusion.
¶ This was a strange
tale
tale
but it did not shake my
faith
faith
and I replied
earnestly.
earnestly.
"You are all
mistaken.
mistaken.
I know the
murderer
murderer
Justine, poor, good
Justine
Justine
is innocent." ¶ At that instant my father
enteredX✗—After our first mournful greetings had past I —✗andenteredX✗—After our first mournful greetings had past I —✗X✗—After our first mournful greetings had past I —✗^X✗—After our first mournful greetings had past I —✗andand
Ernest
exclaimed Good
exclaimed Good
God, Papa! Victor says that he
ha ds k knows
ha ds ha dds ^s kk knows
the murderer of poor
William.
William.
¶ " And We
" AndAnd We
do also, unfortunately," replied my
father for
father for
indeed I had rather have been
^^^^for ever
^for ever
for ever
ignorant
than,
than,
have discovered so much depravity & ingratitude in one
whom I valued so
whom I valued so
highly.
highly.
¶ "My dear
father" exclaimed I–"You
father" exclaimed I–"You
are
mistaken.
mistaken.
Justine is innocent." ¶ "If she
is" replied my father "God
is" replied my father "God
forbid that she should suffer as
innocentguilty –
innocentinnocentguilty –
She is to be tried
today
today
and I
hope
hope
I sincerely
hope
hope
that she will be
acquitted
acquitted
¶ This speech calmed me. I was firmly convinced in my own mind that
Justine
Justine
and indeed every human
being
being
was guiltless of this murder. I had no
fear therefore
fear therefore
that any circumstantial evidence could be brought forward strong enough to convict
