Франкенштейн

           "Mydearfather,youaremistaken;Justineisinnocent."

           "Ifsheis,Godforbidthatsheshouldsufferasguilty.Sheistobetriedtoday,andIhope,Isincerelyhope,thatshewillbeacquitted."

           Thisspeechcalmedme.IwasfirmlyconvincedinmyownmindthatJustine,andindeedeveryhumanbeing,wasguiltlessofthismurder.Ihadnofear,therefore,thatanycircumstantialevidencecouldbebroughtforwardstrongenoughtoconvicther.Mytalewasnotonetoannouncepublicly;itsastoundinghorrorwouldbelookeduponasmadnessbythevulgar.Didanyoneindeedexist,exceptI,thecreator,whowouldbelieve,unlesshissensesconvincedhim,intheexistenceofthelivingmonumentofpresumptionandrashignorancewhichIhadletlooseupontheworld?

           WeweresoonjoinedbyElizabeth.TimehadalteredhersinceIlastbeheldher;ithadendowedherwithlovelinesssurpassingthebeautyofherchildishyears.Therewasthesamecandour,thesamevivacity,butitwasalliedtoanexpressionmorefullofsensibilityandintellect.Shewelcomedmewiththegreatestaffection."Yourarrival,mydearcousin,"saidshe,"fillsmewithhope.YouperhapswillfindsomemeanstojustifymypoorguiltlessJustine.Alas!whoissafe,ifshebeconvictedofcrime?IrelyonherinnocenceascertainlyasIdouponmyown.Ourmisfortuneisdoublyhardtous;wehavenotonlylostthatlovelydarlingboy,butthispoorgirl,whomIsincerelylove,istobetornawaybyevenaworsefate.Ifsheiscondemned,Inevershallknowjoymore.Butshewillnot,Iamsureshewillnot;andthenIshallbehappyagain,evenafterthesaddeathofmylittleWilliam."

           "Sheisinnocent,myElizabeth,"saidI,"andthatshallbeproved;fearnothing,butletyourspiritsbecheeredbytheassuranceofheracquittal."