# ■ 13

After the wedding a large number of our friends came to a party at our house． When the party had started，Elizabeth and I said goodbye and left for our honeymoon．We travelled first by boat， and planned to spend the night at a hotel on the other side of the lake． The mountains and the lake were calm and beautiful，and at last Elizabeth and I were together．For the first time for months， and for the last time ever，I enjoyed the feeling of happiness．

In the evening the wind became stronger and soon a great storm broke above us．Every noise frightened me，and I kept my hand on my gun under my coat．I saw the monster in every shadow．Suddenly I realized how terrible the fight would be for Elizabeth．I asked her to go to bed and I decided to search for the monster．I planned to join her when I was sure he was not in or around the hotel．

Elizabeth left me and I searched every corner of the hotel—every dark doorway and staircase．I could not find him，and I began to hope that he had not followed us to the hotel．But suddenly，I heard a loud and terrible scream．

It came from our room．

Then—too late—I understood．The monster had promised to be with me on my wedding night，but he had not planned to kill me．

The scream came again，and I ran to our room．Why did I 72not die there and then？

On the bed， Elizabeth lay still， in the cold sleep of death． I took her in my arms… and saw the marks of the murderer's fingers on her neck．

Other people in the hotel had heard the screams and came into our room． I sent one of them to call the police．The others left me alone with my misery．I held Elizabeth close， and as I held her， I saw the monster watching me through the open window of the room．There was an evil laugh on his face．I pulled my gun from my coat and fired at him． I missed， and he ran from the window and jumped into the lake．The other people heard the noise of the shot and came back into the room． I showed them the place where the monster had jumped into the lake．We searched the edge of the lake，but we could not find him．I returned to our room and lay on the bed next to my dear wife．

Suddenly I had another terrible thought．At this very moment perhaps my father was fighting the monster， with Ernest dead at his feet． I left the hotel and returned to Geneva as fast as I could．My father and Ernest were safe，but the awful news of Elizabeth's death killed my father．He had loved Elizabeth dearly． He be－came ill，and after a few days he died in my arms．So the evil monster had brought unhappiness and death to a dear old man who had never hurt anybody．

I do not know what happened next．I think I left the real world， and entered a dangerous world of dreams and madness．Later I found that they had put me in prison because of my madness．

After many months they let me free．I had only one wish—to find and kill the monster．

■ 13

婚禮之後我們的大批朋友都來我們家聚會。聚會開始後，我和伊麗莎白向他們道了別並離開度蜜月去了。我們首先乘船旅行，並計劃晚上在湖對岸的一家旅館過夜。群山和湖泊寧靜而美麗，我和伊麗莎白終於結合在了一起。我幾個月來第一次、也是最後一次享受到了幸福的感覺。

傍晚風颳得更猛了，不久還來了一場大的暴風雨。每一個聲響都讓我恐懼，我一直把手放在外套下面的槍上。我在每個陰暗處都看到了那個怪物。突然間我意識到這場搏鬥對於伊麗莎白來說將會是多麼恐怖。我讓她上床睡覺而我則決定去尋找那個怪物。我打算在確信怪物不在旅館及其附近後再回到伊麗莎白身邊。

伊麗莎白離開了我，我搜尋了旅館裡的每一個角落——每一個黑暗的門廳和樓梯。我沒能找到他，於是便開始希望他並沒有隨我們到旅館來。但是突然間我聽到了一聲可怕的尖叫。

那是從我們的房間裡傳出來的。

於是我明白過來了——但已經是太晚了。怪物曾許諾要在我的新婚之夜跟著我的，但他並未打算要殺了我。

尖叫聲又一次傳來，我於是跑到了我們的房間。我為什麼沒有在當時當地便死去呢？

床上，伊麗莎白靜靜地躺著，在冰冷中長眠。我把她抱在懷中……並看見了凶手在她脖子上留下的指痕。

旅館裡的其他人聽到了尖叫聲，他們走進了我們的房間。我讓其中的一人去報警。其他人走後，留下我一個人在痛苦中煎熬。我緊緊地摟著伊麗莎白，而我抱著她時看見怪物正透過開著的窗戶看著我。他的臉上掛著邪惡的笑容。我從外套中拔出槍朝他開了火。我沒有打中，他從窗戶處跑開並跳到了湖裡。其他人聽到了槍聲便又來到了那個房間。我將怪物跳湖之處指給他們看。我們在湖邊搜尋，但沒能找到他。我回到房間裡躺到我親愛的妻子身旁。

突然間我有了另外一個可怕的想法：也許我父親這時正在同那個怪物打鬥並且歐內斯特已死在他的腳邊。

我離開旅館並以盡最快的速度趕回了日內瓦。我父親和歐內斯特都平安無事，但伊麗莎白死去的噩耗奪去了我父親的生命。他曾深深地愛著伊麗莎白。他病倒了，幾天之後便死在了我的懷裡。這樣那個邪惡的怪物將不幸和死亡帶給了從未傷害過任何人的我那親愛的老人。

我不知道接下去會發生什麼。我想我當時離開了現實的世界而進入了夢幻和瘋狂的危險境界。後來我才知道他們當時因為我瘋狂而把我送進了監獄。

好幾個月之後他們釋放了我。我只有一個願望——找到並殺死那個怪物。