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The Legacy of Cain

Édition BooksWhale en anglais par Wilkie Collins

A late Collins novel that questions whether crime is inherited, examining family history, moral responsibility, and the danger of judging a person by ancestry.

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Introduction du livre

The Legacy of Cain

The story follows a young man whose future seems shadowed by a notorious family past. Collins combines sensation fiction with a philosophical inquiry into nature, nurture, punishment, and the stories societies tell about hereditary guilt.

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Published in 1889; Wilkie Collins died in 1889. The original English text is public domain under the United States term and life-plus-70 rules.

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The Legacy of Cain

Wilkie Collins

Chapitre d'aperçuCHAPTER I. THE GOVERNOR EXPLAINS.Aperçu

At the request of a person who has claims on me that I must not disown, I consent to look back through a long interval of years and to describe events which took place within the walls of an English prison during the earlier period of my appointment as Governor.

Viewing my task by the light which later experience casts on it, I think I shall act wisely by exercising some control over the freedom of my pen.

I propose to pass over in silence the name of the town in which is situated the prison once confided to my care. I shall observe a similar discretion in alluding to individuals—some dead, some living, at the present time.

Being obliged to write of a woman who deservedly suffered the extreme penalty of the law, I think she will be sufficiently identified if I call her The Prisoner. Of the four persons present on the evening before her execution three may be distinguished one from the other by allusion to their vocations in life. I here introduce them as The Chaplain, The Minister, and The Doctor. The fourth was a young woman. She has no claim on my consideration; and, when she is mentioned, her name may appear. If these reserves excite suspicion, I declare beforehand that they influence in no way the sense of responsibility which commands an honest man to speak the truth.

Chapitre d'aperçuCHAPTER II. THE MURDERESS ASKS QUESTIONS.Aperçu

The first of the events which I must now relate was the conviction of The Prisoner for the murder of her husband.

They had lived together in matrimony for little more than two years. The husband, a gentleman by birth and education, had mortally offended his relations in marrying a woman of an inferior rank of life. He was fast declining into a state of poverty, through his own reckless extravagance, at the time when he met with his death at his wife’s hand.

Without attempting to excuse him, he deserved, to my mind, some tribute of regret. It is not to be denied that he was profligate in his habits and violent in his temper. But it is equally true that he was affectionate in the domestic circle, and, when moved by wisely applied remonstrance, sincerely penitent for sins committed under temptation that overpowered him. If his wife had killed him in a fit of jealous rage—under provocation, be it remembered, which the witnesses proved—she might have been convicted of manslaughter, and might have received a light sentence. But the evidence so undeniably revealed deliberate and merciless premeditation, that the only defense attempted by her counsel was madness, and the only alternative left to a righteous jury was a verdict which condemned the woman to death. Those mischievous members of the community, whose topsy-turvy sympathies feel for the living criminal and forget the dead victim, attempted to save her by means of high-flown petitions and contemptible correspondence in the newspapers. But the Judge held firm; and the Home Secretary held firm. They were entirely right; and the public were scandalously wrong.

Our Chaplain endeavored to offer the consolations of religion to the condemned wretch. She refused to accept his ministrations in language which filled him with grief and horror.

On the evening before the execution, the reverend gentleman laid on my table his own written report of a conversation which had passed between the Prisoner and himself.

“I see some hope, sir,” he said, “of inclining the heart of this woman to religious belief, before it is too late. Will you read my report, and say if you agree with me?”

Table des matières

Dans cette édition

  1. 01Full text
  2. 02CHAPTER I. THE GOVERNOR EXPLAINS.
  3. 03CHAPTER II. THE MURDERESS ASKS QUESTIONS.
  4. 04I read it, of course. It was called “A Memorandum,” and was thus written:
  5. 05CHAPTER III. THE CHILD APPEARS.
  6. 06CHAPTER IV. THE MINISTER SAYS YES.
  7. 07CHAPTER V. MISS CHANCE ASSERTS HERSELF.
  8. 08I was not without hope of a good result, and I said so.
  9. 09I had evidently given offense; I stopped directly.
  10. 10I forgot myself once more—I lost my temper.
  11. 11CHAPTER VI. THE DOCTOR DOUBTS.
  12. 12I was on the point of protesting against my friend’s interpretation, when the Minister stopped me.
  13. 13CHAPTER VII. THE MURDERESS CONSULTS THE AUTHORITIES.
  14. 14I replied as before, by a bow.
  15. 15I gave her my promise.
  16. 16I confessed that I was surprised.
  17. 17I objected to this that she had shown fondness for her child.
  18. 18CHAPTER VIII. THE MINISTER SAYS GOOD-BY.
  19. 19I congratulated the Minister on the good fortune which had befriended him, so far.
  20. 20CHAPTER IX. THE GOVERNOR RECEIVES A VISIT.
  21. 21I observed her with no ordinary attention when she entered the room.
  22. 22I asked the Doctor, when we were alone, what made him tell her not to go upstairs in a hurry.
  23. 23CHAPTER X. MISS CHANCE REAPPEARS.
  24. 24“MRS. TENBRUGGEN (OF SOUTH BEVELAND).”
  25. 25I was thinking of the Minister; but it seemed to be safest not to say so. ——
  26. 26Second Period: 1875. THE GIRLS AND THE JOURNALS.
  27. 27CHAPTER XI. HELENA’S DIARY.
  28. 28SECOND DAY.
  29. 29THIRD DAY.
  30. 30CHAPTER XII. EUNICE’S DIARY.
  31. 31I really could not stand that. “You must be mistaken,” I burst out.
  32. 32I said: “Helena knows a good deal; but she doesn’t know which of us is the oldest of the two.”
  33. 33I said: “Yes; we keep both our birthdays on the same day.”
  34. 34I said: “Papa will only tell you what he told us—years ago.”
  35. 35I said I didn’t know. She said: “You strange girl, what do you mean by that?”
  36. 36CHAPTER XIII. EUNICE’S DIARY.
  37. 37I foolishly put a wrong meaning on this. I said: “Is he idle?”
  38. 38I have no fortune. And Philip’s father is a rich man.
  39. 39I have a great mind to burn my Journal. It tells me that I had better not think of Philip any more.
  40. 40I wish I had never seen Philip.
  41. 41I answered: “It comes to an end the day after to-morrow.”
  42. 42CHAPTER XIV. HELENA’S DIARY.
  43. 43I was waiting for the interesting part of the story, and was wondering when he would get to it.
  44. 44I did wish. But I saw that he expected me to say No—so I said it.
  45. 45CHAPTER XV. HELENA’S DIARY.
  46. 46I was rude enough to interrupt her: “What is he, then?”
  47. 47CHAPTER XVI. HELENA’S DIARY.
  48. 48“ELIZABETH CHANCE.”
  49. 49“ABEL GRACEDIEU.” .......
  50. 50I declare he looked as if he suspected me!
  51. 51I could say “Yes” to this with a safe conscience.
  52. 52CHAPTER XVII. HELENA’S DIARY.
  53. 53CHAPTER XVIII. EUNICE’S DIARY.
  54. 54I have had my plans, and I have changed my plans.
  55. 55I showed myself, and asked what was the matter.
  56. 56CHAPTER XIX. EUNICE’S DIARY.
  57. 57“DEAR MISS EUNICE: .......
  58. 58I was as stupid and as disagreeable as I could possibly be: “No; I don’t!”
  59. 59CHAPTER XX. EUNICE’S DIARY.
  60. 60CHAPTER XXI. HELENA’S DIARY.
  61. 61CHAPTER XXII. EUNICE’S DIARY.
  62. 62I said so to Miss Jillgall, and I say it again here. Nothing will induce me to think ill of Helena.
  63. 63CHAPTER XXIII. EUNICE’S DIARY.
  64. 64CHAPTER XXIV. EUNICE’S DIARY.
  65. 65CHAPTER XXV. HELENA’S DIARY.
  66. 66I have been ill; ill of my own wickedness.
  67. 67CHAPTER XXVI. HELENA’S DIARY.
  68. 68CHAPTER XXVII. EUNICE’S DIARY.
  69. 69I promised not to tell. Selina suddenly left off playing.
  70. 70I rang for Maria once more: “Do you know where my sister is?”
  71. 71I really could not bear it. I went up to him. I said: “Papa, have you forgotten Eunice?”
  72. 72I told him that she had gone out, and begged leave to try what I could do to supply her place.
  73. 73CHAPTER XXVIII. HELENA’S DIARY.
  74. 74CHAPTER XXIX. HELENA’S DIARY.
  75. 75CHAPTER XXX. EUNICE’S DIARY.
  76. 76I said: “Yes.”
  77. 77I walked toward home by a roundabout way; feeling as if want of sleep was killing me by inches.
  78. 78I found Selina waiting to speak with me, on the subject of poor papa.
  79. 79I had arrived at the same conclusion years since. But I shrank from confessing it.
  80. 80CHAPTER XXXI. EUNICE’S DIARY.
  81. 81My restless nights are passed in Selina’s room.
  82. 82I answered: “No.”
  83. 83I answered: “My mother.”
  84. 84I was standing in Helena’s room, looking at her as she lay asleep in her bed.
  85. 85Second Period (continued).
  86. 86EVENTS IN THE FAMILY, RELATED BY THE GOVERNOR. ——
  87. 87CHAPTER XXXII. THE MIDDLE-AGED LADY.
  88. 88CHAPTER XXXIII. THE MINISTER’S MISFORTUNE.
  89. 89“Do you know that lady?” Miss Helena asked, as we entered the house.
  90. 90I had no more to say, and I was obliged to answer him to that effect.
  91. 91I did a rash thing; I asked what it was that he most wanted to know.
  92. 92I was afraid to tell him what I really did think.
  93. 93CHAPTER XXXIV. THE LIVELY OLD MAID.
  94. 94I took a liberty. “May I ask what Miss Helena has done?” I said.
  95. 95CHAPTER XXXV. THE FUTURE LOOKS GLOOMY.
  96. 96I felt inclined to be harder on Philip than ever. “Where is he?” I asked.
  97. 97I was petrified.
  98. 98I waited anxiously for what he might say to me next.
  99. 99CHAPTER XXXVI. THE WANDERING MIND.
  100. 100For the moment, the Minister disappointed me.
  101. 101I placed them before him. He took up the pen; he arranged the paper; he was eager to begin.
  102. 102CHAPTER XXXVII. THE SHAMELESS SISTER.
  103. 103I got up to go. With an ironical gesture of remonstrance, she signed to me to sit down again.
  104. 104I returned to my chair.
  105. 105I begged her to interpret my silence in the sense most agreeable to herself.
  106. 106CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE GIRLS’ AGES.
  107. 107CHAPTER XXXIX. THE ADOPTED CHILD
  108. 108I opened the door.
  109. 109I believe I should have lied again, if Mr. Gracedieu had not called me to the bedside.
  110. 110CHAPTER XL. THE BRUISED HEART.
  111. 111I had seen it—and, after a moment’s doubt, I said I had seen it.
  112. 112CHAPTER XLI. THE WHISPERING VOICE.
  113. 113I resumed my place at her side.
  114. 114I privately determined to watch for the doctor’s arrival, and to consult with him. Eunice went on:
  115. 115CHAPTER XLII. THE QUAINT PHILOSOPHER.
  116. 116EXTRACTS FROM MR. PHILIP DUNBOYNE’S LETTERS.
  117. 117CHAPTER XLIII. THE MASTERFUL MASSEUSE.
  118. 118Second Extract.
  119. 119I gave her what she wanted. I said: “Certainly not.”
  120. 120CHAPTER XLIV. THE RESURRECTION OF THE PAST.
  121. 121I looked it over. The memorandum follows which I made for my own use:
  122. 122I found Miss Jillgall waiting in the passage to see me come out.
  123. 123CHAPTER XLV. THE FATAL PORTRAIT.
  124. 124I knocked at the bedroom door.
  125. 125I opened the paper. “Am I to read this to myself?” I asked. “Or am I to read it aloud?”
  126. 126I gave him the paper.
  127. 127I placed the picture with its back to him.
  128. 128CHAPTER XLVI. THE CUMBERSOME LADIES.
  129. 129I cannot prevail upon myself to dwell at any length on the events that followed.
  130. 130I signed to her to go on. If I had answered in words, I should have told her to leave the room.
  131. 131I rang for the waiter. “Show this lady out,” I said.
  132. 132CHAPTER XLVII. THE JOURNEY TO THE FARM.
  133. 133CHAPTER XLVIII. THE DECISION OF EUNICE.
  134. 134I tried—very gently—to remonstrate. “At your age, and at his age,” I said, “surely there is hope?”
  135. 135CHAPTER XLIX. THE GOVERNOR ON HIS GUARD.
  136. 136I began to be interested.
  137. 137I started for London by the early train in the morning.
  138. 138CHAPTER L. THE NEWS FROM THE FARM.
  139. 139CHAPTER LI. THE TRIUMPH OF MRS. TENBRUGGEN.
  140. 140Third period: 1876. HELENA’S DIARY RESUMED.
  141. 141CHAPTER LII. HELENA’S DIARY RESUMED.
  142. 142CHAPTER LIII. HELENA’S DIARY RESUMED.
  143. 143CHAPTER LIV. HELENA’S DIARY RESUMED.
  144. 144I must say this for Mrs. Tenbruggen: she kept her temper perfectly.
  145. 145CHAPTER LV. HELENA’S DIARY RESUMED.
  146. 146I did think of it. Philip came to us, and lived in our house.
  147. 147I slept last night.
  148. 148CHAPTER LVI. HELENA’S DIARY RESUMED.
  149. 149CHAPTER LVII. HELENA’S DIARY RESUMED.
  150. 150I heard no more of their talk. With that last, worst outrage burning in my memory, I left the place.
  151. 151I went back to my bedroom, and opened my Diary, and read the story again.
  152. 152EVENTS IN THE FAMILY, RELATED BY MISS JILLGALL.
  153. 153CHAPTER LVIII. DANGER.
  154. 154I have news of Mrs. Tenbruggen which will, I think, surprise you.
  155. 155I have just received some overwhelming news, in the form of a neat parcel, addressed to myself.
  156. 156I ventured to remind him that he might speak to Helena as well as to myself.
  157. 157CHAPTER LIX. DEFENSE.
  158. 158I was obstinate. “Go back!” I persisted. “Go back to the farm!”
  159. 159I begged her to forgive me; I said I meant no harm.
  160. 160I looked.
  161. 161CHAPTER LX. DISCOVERY.
  162. 162CHAPTER LXI. ATROCITY.
  163. 163TROUBLES AND TRIUMPHS OF THE FAMILY, RELATED BY THE GOVERNOR.
  164. 164CHAPTER LXII. THE SENTENCE PRONOUNCED.
  165. 165I arrived in the town, as well as I can remember, about a week after the trial had taken place.
  166. 166CHAPTER LXIII. THE OBSTACLE REMOVED.
  167. 167I suppose I must have looked glad to hear that. Anyway, Philip shook hands with me again.
  168. 168I made him sit down and compose himself.
  169. 169I pressed him without mercy. “You own yourself,” I said, “that it was a rascally action?”
  170. 170CHAPTER LXIV. THE TRUTH TRIUMPHANT.
  171. 171I could honestly satisfy her, so far. “Certainly not!” I said.
  172. 172I hardly knew what to say. My face must have expressed disappointment and surprise.
  173. 173POSTSCRIPT.
  174. 174I read: “The Reverend Miss Gracedieu.”

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