CHAPTER XX.

fe.Confess?Diditmeanthathewastoconfess?Togivehimselfupandbeputtodeath?Helaughed.Hefeltthattheideawasmonstrous.Besides,evenifhedidconfess,whowouldbelievehim?Therewasnotraceofthemurderedmananywhere.Everythingbelongingtohimhadbeendestroyed.Hehimselfhadburnedwhathadbeenbelow-stairs.Theworldwouldsimplysaythathewasmad.Theywouldshuthimupifhepersistedinhisstory....Yetitwashisdutytoconfess,tosufferpublicshame,andtomakepublicatonement.TherewasaGodwhocalleduponmentotelltheirsinstoearthaswellastoheaven.Nothingthathecoulddowouldcleansehimtillhehadtoldhisownsin.Hissin?Heshruggedhisshoulders.ThedeathofBasilHallwardseemedverylittletohim.HewasthinkingofHettyMerton.Foritwasanunjustmirror,thismirrorofhissoulthathewaslookingat.Vanity?Curiosity?Hypocrisy?Hadtherebeennothingmoreinhisrenunciationthanthat?Therehadbeensomethingmore.Atleasthethoughtso.Butwhocouldtell?...No.Therehadbeennothingmore.Throughvanityhehadsparedher.Inhypocrisyhehadwornthemaskofgoodness.Forcuriosity’ssakehehadtriedthedenialofself.Herecognizedthatnow. Butthismurder—wasittodoghimallhislife?Washealwaystobeburdenedbyhispast?Washereallytoconfess?Never.Therewasonlyonebitofevidenceleftagainsthim.Thepictureitself—thatwasevidence.Hewoulddestroyit.Whyhadhekeptitsolong?Onceithadgivenhimpleasuretowatchitchangingandgrowingold.Oflatehehadfeltnosuchpleasure.Ithadkepthimawakeatnight.Whenhehadbeenaway,hehadbeenfilledwithterrorlestothereyesshouldlookuponit.Ithadbroughtmelancholyacrosshispassions.Itsmerememoryhadmarredmanymomentsofjoy.Ithadbeenlikeconsciencetohim.Yes,ithadbeenconscience.Hewoulddestroyit. HelookedroundandsawtheknifethathadstabbedBasilHallward.Hehadcleaneditmanytimes,tilltherewasn