`` Girl , '' cried he , laughing bitterly , as he turned to Alice , `` have you brought hither your painter 's art , your Italian spirit of intrigue , your tricks of stage-effect , and think to influence the councils of rulers and the affairs of nations by such shallow contrivances ? See here ! '' `` Stay yet a while , '' said the selectman as Hutchinson again snatched the pen ; `` for if ever mortal man received a warning from a tormented soul , Your Honor is that man . '' `` Away ! '' answered Hutchinson , fiercely . `` Though yonder senseless picture cried ` Forbear ! ' it should not move me ! '' Casting a scowl of defiance at the pictured face -- which seemed at that moment to intensify the horror of its miserable and wicked look -- he scrawled on the paper , in characters that betokened it a deed of desperation , the name of Thomas Hutchinson . Then , it is said , he shuddered , as if that signature had granted away his salvation . `` It is done , '' said he , and placed his hand upon his brow . `` May Heaven forgive the deed ! '' said the soft , sad accents of Alice Vane , like the voice of a good spirit flitting away . When morning came , there was a stifled whisper through the household , and spreading thence about the town , that the dark mysterious picture had started from the wall and spoken face to face with Lieutenant-governor Hutchinson . If such a miracle had been wrought , however , no traces of it remained behind ; for within the antique frame nothing could be discerned save the impenetrable cloud which had covered the canvas since the memory of man . If the figure had , indeed , stepped forth , it had fled back , spirit-like , at the day-dawn , and hidden itself behind a century 's obscurity . The truth probably was that Alice Vane 's secret for restoring the hues of the picture had merely effected a temporary renovation . But those who in that brief interval had beheld the awful visage of Edward Randolph desired no second glance , and ever afterward trembled at the recollection of the scene , as if an evil spirit had appeared visibly among them . And , as for Hutchinson , when , far over the ocean , his dying-hour drew on , he gasped for breath and complained that he was choking with the blood of the Boston Massacre , and Francis Lincoln , the former captain of Castle William , who was standing at his bedside , perceived a likeness in his frenzied look to that of Edward Randolph . Did his broken spirit feel at that dread hour the tremendous burden of a people 's curse ? * * * * * At the conclusion of this miraculous legend I inquired of mine host whether the picture still remained in the chamber over our heads , but Mr. Tiffany informed me that it had long since been removed , and was supposed to be hidden in some out-of-the-way corner of the New England Museum .
Perchance some curious antiquary may light upon it there , and , with the assistance XXXXX Mr. Howorth , the picture-cleaner , may supply a not unnecessary proof of the authenticity of the facts here set down .
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