1804-24 A DEED OF DARKNESS 23 



returned, and all other resolves and scruples were 

 forgotten. 



* My zeal and skill at assisting at post- 

 mortems had gained me the rarely bestowed 

 commendation of the doctor our preceptor. I 

 had already begun to form a small anatomical 

 collection, and had lately added a human cranium 

 to my series of the skulls of dogs and cats and 

 the skeletons of mice and "such small deer." It 

 happened also that on the day when a negro 

 patient in the gaol hospital had died, a treatise on 

 the " Varieties of the Human Race" fell into my 

 hands, and greatly increased my craniological 

 longings. The examination of the body was 

 over and the hurried inquest performed, when, 

 slipping some silver into the hand of the old 

 turnkey as we left the room, I told him I should 

 have to call again that evening to look a little 

 further into the matter, before the coffin was 

 finally screwed down. It was but six weeks from 

 the time of my first adventure in the old tower, 

 when, provided with a strong brown-paper bag, I 

 sallied forth on a fine frosty evening in January 

 to secure my specimen of the Ethiopian race. I 

 was now an habitue of the place, and an attendant 

 was no longer proffered to accompany me. 

 Taking my lantern and keys, I opened every door 

 and gate, duly locking them again after I had 

 passed through. As I ascended the spiral stairs 

 of Hadrian's Tower, speculations on "facial 



