Франкенштейн

           Themagistrateobservedmewithakeeneyeandofcoursedrewanunfavourableauguryfrommymanner.

           Thesonconfirmedhisfather’saccount,butwhenDanielNugentwascalledhesworepositivelythatjustbeforethefallofhiscompanion,hesawaboat,withasinglemaninit,atashortdistancefromtheshore;andasfarashecouldjudgebythelightofafewstars,itwasthesameboatinwhichIhadjustlanded.Awomandeposedthatshelivednearthebeachandwasstandingatthedoorofhercottage,waitingforthereturnofthefishermen,aboutanhourbeforesheheardofthediscoveryofthebody,whenshesawaboatwithonlyonemaninitpushofffromthatpartoftheshorewherethecorpsewasafterwardsfound.

           Anotherwomanconfirmedtheaccountofthefishermenhavingbroughtthebodyintoherhouse;itwasnotcold.Theyputitintoabedandrubbedit,andDanielwenttothetownforanapothecary,butlifewasquitegone.

           Severalothermenwereexaminedconcerningmylanding,andtheyagreedthat,withthestrongnorthwindthathadarisenduringthenight,itwasveryprobablethatIhadbeatenaboutformanyhoursandhadbeenobligedtoreturnnearlytothesamespotfromwhichIhaddeparted.Besides,theyobservedthatitappearedthatIhadbroughtthebodyfromanotherplace,anditwaslikelythatasIdidnotappeartoknowtheshore,Imighthaveputintotheharbourignorantofthedistanceofthetownof——fromtheplacewhereIhaddepositedthecorpse.

           Mr.Kirwin,onhearingthisevidence,desiredthatIshouldbetakenintotheroomwherethebodylayforinterment,thatitmightbeobservedwhateffectthesightofitwouldproduceuponme.ThisideawasprobablysuggestedbytheextremeagitationIhadexhibitedwhenthemodeofthemurderhadbeendescribed.