Due to his uniform! The livery of his degradation! I turned my eyes

upon him - I could not help it - but I spoke not a word.

I saw the sudden change that came upon him beneath my gaze. He

was a bold man, but the colour faded from his face, and he drew back

his chair. I dragged mine nearer to him; and I laughed - I was very

merry then - I saw him shudder. I felt the madness rising within me.

He was afraid of me.

‘You were very fond of your sister when she was alive,’ I said. - ’Very.’

He looked uneasily round him, and I saw his hand grasp the back of

his chair; but he said nothing.

‘You villain,’ said I, ‘I found you out: I discovered your hellish plots

against me; I know her heart was fixed on some one else before you

compelled her to marry me. I know it - I know it.’

'He jumped suddenly from his chair, brandished it aloft, and bid me

stand back - for I took care to be getting closer to him all the time I

spoke.

I screamed rather than talked, for I felt tumultuous passions eddying

through my veins, and the old spirits whispering and taunting me to

tear his heart out.

‘Damn you,’ said I, starting up, and rushing upon him; ‘I killed her. I

am a madman. Down with you. Blood, blood! I will have it!’

I turned aside with one blow the chair he hurled at me in his terror,

and closed with him; and with a heavy crash we rolled upon the floor

together. 'It was a fine struggle that; for he was a tall, strong man,

fighting for his life; and I, a powerful madman, thirsting to destroy

him. I knew no strength could equal mine, and I was right. Right

again, though a madman! His struggles grew fainter. I knelt upon his

chest, and clasped his brawny throat firmly with both hands. His face

grew purple; his eyes were starting from his head, and with protruded

tongue, he seemed to mock me. I squeezed the tighter. 'The door was

suddenly burst open with a loud noise, and a crowd of people rushed

forward, crying aloud to each other to secure the madman.

'My secret was out; and my only struggle now was for liberty and

freedom. I gained my feet before a hand was on me, threw myself

among my assailants, and cleared my way with my strong arm, as if I

bore a hatchet in my hand, and hewed them down before me. I gained

the door, dropped over the banisters, and in an instant was in the

street.

The Pickwick Papers