"The short statement that I wish you to hear from his own lips, Mr. Chuzzlewit," John pursued: looking attentively at him, and not at Martin: "he made to me for the first time yesterday, and repeated to me this morning, without the least variation of any essential particular. I have already told you that he informed me before he was removed from the Inn, that he had a secret to disclose to me which lay heavy on his mind. But fluctuating between sickness and health; and between his desire to relieve himself of it, and his dread of involving himself by revealing it; he has, until yesterday, avoided the disclosure. I never pressed him for it (having no idea of its weight or import, or of my right to do so), until within a few days past; when understanding from him, on his own voluntary avowal, in a letter from the country, that it related to a person whose name was Jonas Chuzzlewit; and thinking that it might throw some light on that little mystery which made Tom anxious now and then; I urged the point upon him, and heard his statement as you will now, from his own lips. It is due to him to say, that in the apprehension of death, he committed it to writing sometime since, and folded it in a sealed paper, addressed to me; which he could not resolve, however, to place of his own act in my hands. He has the paper in his breast, I believe, at this moment."
The young man touched it hastily; in corroboration of the fact.
"It will be well to leave that in our charge, perhaps," said John. "But do not mind it now."
As he said this, he held up his hand to bespeak Martin's attention. It was already fixed upon the man before him, who, after a short silence said, in a low, weak, hollow voice:
"What relation was Mr. Anthony Chuzzlewit, who—"
"—Who died—to me?" said Mariin. "He was my grandfather's brother."
"I fear he was made away with. Murdered!"
"My God!" said Martin. "By whom?"
The young man, Lewsome, looked up in his face, and casting down his eyes again, replied:
"I fear, by me."
"By you?" cried Martin.
"Not by my act, but I fear by my means."
"Speak out!" said Martin, "and speak the truth."
"I fear this is the truth."
Martin was about to interrupt him again, but John Westlock saying softly, "Let him tell his story in his own way," Lewsome went on thus:
"I have been bred a surgeon, and for the last few years have served a general practitioner in the city, as his assistant. While I was in his employment I became acquainted with Jonas Chuzzlewit. He is the principal in this deed."
"What do you mean?" demanded Martin, sternly. "Do you know he is the son of the old man of whom you have spoken?"
"I do," he answered.
He remained silent for some moments; when he resumed at the point where he had left off.
