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Frankenstein by Mary Shelley PROLOGUE Robert Walton lived at the end of the eighteenth century and had one great ambition in life — lo sail the seas surrounding the North Pole and to discover a passage through them. He travelled to the port of Archangel, in the north-cast of Russia, bought a ship, chose a suitable erew and set off on his voyage. One day, as they were sailing through the ice, lhey saw a strange sight. A sledge, pulled by dogs, was travelling northward. In (he sledge, guiding the dogs, sat a huge man. They watched him through their telescopes until he was out of sight. The next morning, on a block of ice floating beside their boat, (hey found a similar sledge. On the sledge was a man, almost frozen to death, exhausted and very thin. The crew carried him onto the ship and looked after him until he was better. The man's name was Victor Frankenstein and (his is the story he told Robert Walton when he was able to talk. A strange and tragic story told by a dying man on a ship surrounded by ice... VICTOR'S EARLY YEARS Frankenstein begins his story CHAPTER ONE — Victor”s Early Years Frankenstein sat up and began to talk in a low voice. “My family is a very well- known and respected family in the city of Geneva in Switzerland. My father got married late in life, to a woman much younger than himself. She was the daughter of a close friend who had fallen into unfortunale — circumstances and whom my father helped until ho died. My parents spent a lot of time travelling and when 1 was about five years old we were together in Italy. One day, while walking. we passed a poor farm and on this farm lived a farmer, his wife and their five children. One of the children looked very different from the others. She was not dark and strong like (hem but fair-haired and delicate. Her name was Elizabeth. She was the daughter of an Ttalian nobleman. Her mother had died giving birth and her father had been killed fighting for his country. The farmer and his wife had agreed to take the child into their family and to look after her. My parents offered to adopt her and bring her up as their own child. So Elizabeth came to live with us. She called my parents uncle and aunt and 7 PRANKERSIELN Frankenstein family portrait she called me cousin. Everyone loved her, including myself. She was sweet and gentle and always had time for me, for the family, and for our friends. Two ycars later my parents had a second son, Ernest, and after him came my youngest brother William. My parents gave up travelling and we settled in Switzerland. We had a house in Geneva and another in the country, not far from Geneva, where we lived most of the time. We led a very quiet life. I did not mix with the boys of my age, but T did have one very close friend, Henry Clerval. He was the son of a Geneva merchant; he loved excitement and danger and he read a great deal. He made up stories and tried to make us act them out. I had a happy childhood. T loved learning, but above all | wanted to learn the secrels ol heaven and carth, to lcarn about nature and the soul of man. 1 read all the books I could on this subject. My father, however, was not interested in science and so Í studied on my 8 own, as well as going to school in Geneva. One day, when 1 was about fiftecn, there was a terrible thunderstorm. The loud bursts of thunder secmed to come from all over (he sky. Suddenly, an old oak tree near our house was hit by lightning «nd exploded in flames. It was my first experience of the destruclive power of nature. When 1 look back on my life, it seems to me that this event was a strong effort by the forces of good to prevent the tragedy ahead of me, but il was unsuccessful. Cuarrer Two - Victor Che Student When 1 was seventeen, my parents decided that I should go to study at the University of Ingolstadt, in Germany. But before 1 left, a very sad event in my life took place. Elizabcth became very ill with scarlet fever and was in danger of dying. My mother nursed her: Elizabeth was saved but my mother caught the fever. Just before she died, she called Elizabeth and myself to her. “My children,” she said, “L always dreamed that one day you would get married. 1 hope that your father will live to see il happen. Elizabeth, you must take my place and look after the children for me.” Some weeks later T left for Ingolstadt. Henry Clerval tried to persuade his father to let him go with me, but his father refused. He did not want his son to study, he wanted him to be a merchant. The night before 1 left, we all stayed up late, talking. The next morning everyone was there to say goodbye to me. 1 promised that 1 would write often. 1 felt very sad and also very nervous; 1 was alone and 1 would have to make new friends at university, which 1 knew would be difficult for me. But during my long journey 1 began to look forward to studying and gaining knowledge. The day after l arrived, T introduced myself to the professor of natural philosophy, Dr Krempc. He gave me several books to 9 The monster wakes Sky, thunder ed and then, finally, came the lightning. M candle had nearly burned out when the sky lit up and there was a noise as il hell itself had opened. For a few seconds, nothing. Then I saw the dull yellow eye of my creature open, it breathed hard and its entire body trembled. He had shiny, long, bl hair, good features and perfect white teeth, but suddenly I noticed that the muscles and arteries of his body could be seen through his thin, yellow skin. He had watery, colourless eyes and his lips instead of being pink and healthy, remained thin, cracked and black. It was a catastrophe! 1 had worked so hard to ercate a beautiful creature and 1 had failed! What had Id My heautiful dream disappeared and I was filled with horror and disgust. 1 could not look at the being I had ated and | ran out of the room and into my bx inally fell asleep, T dreamt of Elizabeth. I dreamt she was walking through Inge lt. Surprised and deli her but as I did he fell down d. Her features changed and dead mother. I woke up suddenly y ing in terror. Then 1 saw the monster, holding the curtain of my bed. He was staring at me and smiling angely. Ile stretched his hand out towards me, as if he wanted to touch me, but I screamed in terror and leapt out of bed. | ran straight down the stairs and out of the house. I spent the rest of the night out; terrible fear. 1 w weak and filled with hon bitterly disappointed. 1 had drcamt of creating a being full of goodness and beauty, but I had failed complete The morning finally came, grey and wet. At six o'clock, T went oul into (he street and walked around, soaked by the rain. 1 did not dare to return to my room. Eventually 1 stopped at the inn and noticed a coach arriving. Henry Clerval got out of the coach and walked towards me. “My dear Frankenstein,” he exclaimed, “how happy Lam lo see you! How lucky that you should be standing here just as 1 arrive!” 13 1 was delighted to see Clerval! Secing him made me think of my father, Elizabeth and home. In a moment, 1 forgot my horror and misfortune and, for the first time in months, 1 felt calm and happy. I welcomed him warmly, and we went together to my ToOm. CHaptER Five — Clerval's Visit On the way to my college, Henry told me why he was in Ingolstadt. “Il was very difficult for mo to persuade my father to let me come here to study,” he said, “but I finally succceded. Oh, Victor, | can't tell you how happy 1 am to be here!” “How are my father and brothers and Elizabeth?” 1 asked, “and Justine?” Justine was the sweet, local girl who had come to help my mother look after the house and the children and who still worked for us. “They are all very well,” Henry replied, “although they are worricd because you have not written for so long. | intend to talk to you about that later. But, my dear Victor, you look so 111. What is the matter?” “I have been working very, very hard on something, but Il am finished now.” T trembled as | spoke. We arrived al my college. 1 suddenly thought that the monster might still be in my room, alive and walking about. The thought terrified me, but I was even more terrified that Henry might see it, so 1 asked him to wait at the bottom of the stairs and ran up to my room. T paused, with my hand on the door handle, and a cold shiver ran (hrough me. I pushed the door open and went into the room, trembling with fear. The room was empty; the monster had gone. 1 could hardly believe my good luck. T elapped my hands for joy and ran back down to Clerval. We went up to my room and the servant brought us breakfast. 1 was so happy thal T could not sit still and T jumped about the room, laughing wildly. Henry looked at me and said, 14 “My dear Victor, do not laugh like that. How ill you are! What is the cause of all this?” “Do not ask me!” I cried. T put my hands over my eyes. 1 could see the monster standing in front of me. “He can tell you! Oh, save me! Save me!” I imagined that the monster seized me; T struggled furiously and fell to the floor, unconscious, I was very ill for several months and during that time Henry was my nurse. Te knew (hal my father was too old to travel and that Elizabeth would be very upset to see me so ill, so he did not tell them. T thought 1 saw the monster constantly and raved about him all (he time. Henry must have thought 1 was mad, but he nursed me day and night. Without him T would probably have died. T got better slowly and began to feel like my old self again. “Dear friend,” I said to Henry one day, “you have looked after me for months instead of studying, as you wished. How can 1 ever thank you?” “You can thank me by getting well as fast as you can,” replicd Henry. “And as you seem to be in such good spirits, perhaps I can speak to you about a certain subject.” T began to tremble. Did he want Lo talk about the monster? “You should write to your father and Elizabeth. They do not know how ill you have been and they are worried by your long silence.” 1 told him that T would write to them and he gave me a letter which had arrived from Elizabcth. ChHapPrER Six — Dreadful News Elizabeth wrote about my family's concern for my hcalth and their joy that I was, at last, getting better. They were waiting eagerly for me to go home and see them. My father was well. My brother Ernest was waiting to go into the army. Justine, a young girl from the village, had come to help at the house and William, my youngest brother, had grown in my absence into a fine little boy, tall for his age. 15 gates of the town were already closed, so 1 had to pass the night in a nearby village. I could not sleep and so decided to go and find the place where William had been murdered. While T was walking, a storm began and in a sudden flash of lightning, 1 saw a figure standing beside somo trees close by; it was a huge, ugly figure. T recognised him immediately — it was the monster! The horrible truth dawned on me at once — the monster which 1 created had murdered my brother! T began to tremble so violently that T had to lean agains! a tree for support. The figure passed me quickly and vanished in the darkness. Ir was five o'clock in the morning when 1 entered my father's house — six years after leaving for Ingolstadt. T told the servants not to disturb (he family and went into the library to wail for them to wake up. My brother, Ernest, was the first to appear, and tears began to pour down his face when he saw me. Ttried to calm him and asked how my father and Elizabeth were. “Elizabeth blames herself for William's death,” he told me, “and she is su/Tering terribly. But, since the murderer has been discovered...” “What!” I exclaimed. “That is impossible! 1 saw him. He was free last night!” “T do not Know what you mean,” replied Ernest. “But now thal we know who the murderer is, we are suffering even more, No one believed it at first, and even now Elizabeth refuses to believe that it is true. despite the evidence. Who would have thought that our sweet, loving Justine could commit such a terrible crime?” I could not believe my ears. Justine Moritz a murderer! But my brother told me about the evidence against her. On the morning that my brother"s murder was discovered. Justine had fallen ¡ll and had to stay in bed for several days. During this time, once of the servants examined the clothes Justine had been wearing on the night of the murder, and found the gold chain and picture that William had been wearing in her pocket. The servant 18 immediately went Lo the police and Justine was arrested, Just as Ernest finished, my father came into the room. He looked ill and unhappy but tried to give me a warm welcome. 1 told him 1 was sure that Justine could not have done such a terrible thing. I could see that he also did not believe thal Justine was guilty of murder. “The trial is today,” he said. “Let us hope that she will be set free.” Elizabeth entered the room. She was even more beautiful now, but her face was covered in sadness. She welcomed me with great afícction. “My dear cousin,” she said, “your arrival fills me with hope. Perhaps you will find some way of proving that Justine is innocent. | cannot bear to think that she is guilty.” “Do not worry, my dear Elizabeth,” I said. “It will be proved that she is innocent. There is nothing to fear.” CHAPTER SEVEN — The Trial The trial began at eleven o'clock in the morning. Ás T sat in court waiting for it to start, 1 was in a terrible state. I could not bear lo think that the monster 1 created might cause Justine's death, as well as my brother's. When Justine came into court, she appeared quite calm. She was dressed as if for a funeral, and looked very serious, but bcautiful. She looked over to where we were sitting and smiled at us sadly, but affcctionately. At first, many witnesses were called. Several strange facts combined against Justine to prove (hat she was guilty. She had been out the whole of the night on which the murder had been committed. The next morning she was seen by a woman not far from the place where William had been found. The woman asked her what she was doing there, but Justine gave a very confused answer. She returned to the house at cight o'clock, and said that she had spent the night looking for William. She asked 19 if he was safe and when she was shown the body, she became hysterical and had to stay in bed for several days. Then the picture and chain found in Justine's pocket y produced. Elizabeth was asked if the picture was (he one that William had been wearing and when she said that it was, the people in court shouted out in horror and anger. Justine was called to defend herself. Through her tears she told them what she remembered. She had spent the evening atan aunt's house in a village not far from Geneva. As she was returning home about nine o'clock, she met a man who asked hor if she had seen the lost boy. She was alarmed by lhe news and spent the next few hours looking for him. By then the gates of Geneva were shut and so she spent the night in a barn. When she woke up the next morning, she found William's gold chain and the picture lving next to her in the straw. She had no idca how it came to be there. Elizabeth then spoke of Justine's good character and told the court that she had known Justine for many years and could not helieve that she had committed such a terrible crime. But it did 10 good; ] could see from the faces of the judges and the people in the court that they had already decided (hat Justine was guilty. The next morning [returned Lo court and spoke to one of the officers. He told me that the judges had voted and Justine had been found guilty. She had even confessed and was to be put to death the next day, Justine asked to see Elizaboth. ¿nd T went with her, We went into the prison and saw Justine sitting on some straw. Her hands were chaincd together and she was crying. When she saw Elizabeth, she cried even more and said, “Please do not believe that Lam guilty. 1 only confessed so (hal God would forgive me and not send me to - And now lam a liar!” “Do not worry,” said Elizabeth. “1 believe you and | will go and tell the judges what you have just told me. Tam sure they will believe me.” 20 Justine is found guilty 21 A dat to feel very hungry and thirsty. 1 ate some berries and drank some water from a stream and then | lay down to sleep, because l was very tired. When 1 woke up it was dark and I fell frightened and cold, because 1 did nol have enough clothes. I felt so miserable and lonely that I wept. Soon it became light and I went to look for some berries to eat. 1 found a huge cloak under a tree and covered myself with it. Several days passed. I got to know all the things around me in the forest. I was often cold, but one day I discovered a fire that had been left burning. I was pleased with the warmth, but when T touched the flames, | burnt my hand. | thought it was strange that the same thing could give both pleasure and pain. Il was becoming more and more difficult to find food, so 1 decided to start walking and find a new place. After three days of walking, T left the forest and found myself in the open country. Tt was early in the morning and T longed to find food and shelter. At last, T saw a small hut. The door was open, so 1 went in. An old man was sitting near the fire, preparing his breakfast. When he saw me, he screamed loudly and ran out of the hut. | was surprised and confused by this, but the food attracted me and T had yet to learn that T must become accustomed to (his reaction, Tate his breakfast, lay down on some straw and fell asleep. When l awoke, I continued on my way and in the evening 1 arrived at a village. 1 was fascinated by the huts, houses and gardens and by all the food and vegetables T saw. But the village people sercamed when lhey saw me and tried to attack me. I escaped to the open country and spent the night in a wooden hut, at the back of a little cottage. The next morning | covered most of the holes in the walls with stones and wood, so that T would be warm, and put clean straw on the [loor. 1 decided that 1 would live there until I found something better. I discovered that 1 could see into the cottage through a hole in the wall. Through this hole 1 could see a small. clean room with very simple furniture. An old man was sitting 24 The monster watches in itand a beautiful young girl was tidying the room. Soon a young man arrived, carrying a load of wood. The girl grecled him and they both carried on with their work, before sitting down with the old man to eat a meal together. lt grow dark and I was surprised to see that the people in the cottage used candles to have light in the cottage. The young man read lo the family tor a while and then they all went to bed. I lay on my straw but could not sleep: 1 could not stop thinking about the people in the cottage and the gentle way they behaved with one another. 1 longed to join them, but 1 remembered what had happened in the village. I watched the family in the cottage for several days and discovered several things about them. The young man worked outside all day while the young girl worked inside the cottage. They showed much kindness and affection towards the old man, which impressed me very much. 1 stopped taking their food for myself and | went out in the middle of the night to collect wood for their fire, I wanted to help them. But the biggest discovery that T made was that these people could communicate with each other by making sounds, by talking. I wanted to be able to talk Loo, but it took mc several months to learn and understand words like fire, milk, bread and wood. I spent the whole winter in this way. | was happy when my coltagers were happy and sad when they were sad. 1 longed to become friends with them, but I decided to wait until 1 had mastered their language. 1f I could speak to them, it might make up for being so terribly ugly. 1 knew by now how terrible I looked; when I saw my reflection in the water and compared it to the delicate faces of the people in the coltage, T had no doubt about my frightening appearance. Spring came and 1 wanted more and more to become friends with the family in the cottage. T worked hard at improving my speaking, till T could say simple words quite well. One day a beautiful lady whom 1 had never seen before «rrived at the cottage and asked for (he young man. He was vverjoyed to seo 26 her and kissed her hand. The young man called her his “sweet Arab” and T soon realised (hat the lady did not understand the language that they spoke in the cottage. 1 took advantage of her lessons to learn more words myself and also to learn how to read. The summer passed in this way; 1 not only learned how to read and talk but I also learned about human socicty. And slowly T learned the story of my friends in the cottage. The old man's name was De Lacey, the young man, his son, was called Felix, the young woman, his daughter, was called Agatha. The Arabian lady”s name was Safie. De Lacey had once lived a life of luxury in Paris and was liked and respected by everyone who knew him. Felix fell in love with Safie without even bcing able Lo speak to her. Safie's father, a wealthy Turkish merchant, did not approve of Felix and refused to let Safic marry him. Safie's father used his money and influence lo cause a scandal for the De Lacey family. All (hree were arrested by the police and imprisoned for five months. As a result of this they lost all their wealth and were forced to leave France for ever. They came to live in the collage in Germany, where | discovered them. Safie, however, did not forget Felix. She found out where he was living, took her jewels and a sum of money and set off for Germany. After great difficulties, she finally arrived at the cottage and was reunited with Felix. That is the story of my coltagers, and that is how I came to know that men can do evil to each other as well as good. Autumn and winter passed and 1 wanted very much to make myself known to the people in the cottage. T spent my days planning how | could introduce myself and finally decided that | would enter the cottage once day when the old man was alone. He was nearly blind and would not be horrified by my appearance. If I could win his friendship, it might help me win the friendship of his children. Finally the day arrived. Felix, Agatha and Salie had gone for 27 person 1 could turn to, but even for you E only felt hate. Itravelled only at night, because T was so frightened now at the idea of meeting another human being. But one day I found myself in a dark wood, and so TI decided to carry on travelling, even though it was the middle of the day. I was resting when I heard a voice, and I saw a young girl running towards the river. Suddenly she slipped and fell into the water. | jumped in after her and with great difficulty managed to save her. She was unconscious and while I was trying to help her, a man appeared on lhe scene, He ran towards me, pulled the girl from my arms and ran off with her into the trees. Then, he turned round, aimed his gun at me and fired. He shot me in the shoulder and 1 fell to the ground in great pain. This was lhe result of my kindness! I spent several miserable weeks in the forest, until the wuund was better, and then 1 set off again. Two months later T reached Geneva. 1 was resting and wondering how 1 should approach you, when T saw a beautiful child running towards me. T thought to myself that perhaps an innocent child would not be filled with horror at my ugliness. As he passed, | seized his arm; as soon as he saw me, he screamed in terror. “1 do not want to hurt you. child,” I said, “I only want to be your friend.” “Monster!” screamed the child, struggling violently. “Let me go! I don't want to be your friend. Let me go or PI tell Papa. He's Mr. Frankenstein and he” punish you!” “Frankenstein! So, you belong to my enemy!” In a sudden fury, T put my hands round the boy's throat and in a moment he lay dead at my feet. He was my first victim. 1 saw something shining round his neck; it was a gold chain with a picture of a woman on it. She was so beautiful thal I pulled (he chain from the boy's neck to have this woman for myself. With the picture in my hand, I ran to look for somewhere to hide for the night. 1 went into a barn and to my surprise 1 found a young woman there, sleeping on some straw. As | bent over to look at her, she 30 “You belong to my enemy!” moved in her sleep. In my hurry to get away before she saw mc, I dropped my precious chain. T hid in the area, hoping to sec you, and now 1 have found you, and I will not let you leave until you promise me one thing. Tam alone and miserable, Nobody wants to be my friend. You must create a woman as ugly as l am. Such a woman will love me and will be happy to be my wife.” CHAPTER TEN — The Promise The monster stopped speaking «nd looked at me. waiting for My answer, “T absolutely refuse to do such a thing,” 1 said. “You can do what you want to make my life miserable, but T will never create another being as unfortunate as yourself.” 31 FRANKENSTEIN “Then if I cannot find love, T will cause fear,” said the monster. “And 1 will hate you forever. T will not rest until T have made your life as miserable and terrible as T can. “All I ask for is a woman to love. It is true, we will be monsters and we will live separate from other human beings. Our lives may not be happy, but they will be harmless and free from the misery T feel now. You are my creator; let me for once feel gratitude. Let me know (hat there is one person in this world who feels sympathy and understanding for me.” “I was moved by his words and thought that there was some justice in them. The monster saw my change of heart and continued, “If you agree, you will never sce me again. We will go to South America and live among the trees and (he animals. Nobody will ever see us again.” “How can | believe you?” | asked. “You have already killed. How can I know that it will not happen again?” “Do as I ask,” said the monster, “and 1 will not hate you for the rest of my life.” l was full of mixed emotions. 1 felt sympathy for him but when T looked at him, T saw a repugnant, hateful creature. 1 considered everylhing that he had said and finally T replied, “1 agree to your request, but you must promise me lhal you will leave Europe for ever and that you will never be seen again.” “I swear that 1 will do as you ask,” cried the monster and wilh these words hc left me — afraid, perhaps, that if he stayed longer, 1 might change my mind. l saw him go down the mountain at great speed, and then he was out of sight. It was now evening and 1 started my return journey, but my heart was heavy and T walked very slowly. Night came and 1 was only half-way. I spent a troubled night in the open air and returned to Chamonix the next morning. 1 took no rest but returned immediately to Geneva. The family were very alarmed at my wild appearance, but 1 would not answer their questions. T felt that T had no right to their love any more, but 1 feared for 32 1HE PROMISE (hem and wanted to save them from harm, So 1 decided that 1 would have to keep my promise to the monster, even though the (hought of it filled me with horror and disgust. Days and weeks passed, but 1 could not find the courage to begin my work. T could not bear to think of the months of preparation 1 would need before 1 could begin lo create a woman for the monster. I heard of an Englishman who had made some new discoveries that might help me, and 1 thought of asking my father's permission to go to London, but | kept putting off making the request. I took long walks and passed whole days on the lake, and slowly my health improved, much to my father”s delight. One day my father called me to him and said, “You know that 1 have always hoped that one day you would marry Elizabeth. Now 1 am worried (hat you have met someone else you want to marry.” “My dear father, do not worry,” I replied.“There is nothing 1 want more than to marry Elizabeth one day.” “T am glad lo hear lhal.” said my father. “Our family has been through very difficult, sad times recently. Perhaps il you married Elizabeth now it would bring us all a little happiness.” Tlistened to my father in silence and did not reply for some time. How could 1 marry Elizabeth before 1 had finished the horrible task ahead of me? I could not carry out my work in my father's house because there might be an accident and they would learn my terrible secret. I had to go to England to meet (he man who had made the discoveries which would help me. So T told my father thal I wanted to go to England, but without, of course, telling him the real reasons why. My father was delighted to see that I felt well enough to make a journey and immediately gave me his permission. It was decided that 1 would be away for a few months, at most a year. My father did not want me to be alone, so without telling me, he and Elizabeth arranged for Henry Clerval to go with me. I was very happy that 33: and soon my work was quite advanced. 1 looked forward to ing it with a mixture of hope and the strange Pceling that something evil was going to happen. CHAPTER TWELVE — The Promise is Broken One evening, after dark, 1 stopped working as there was not enough light. T sat in my laboratory. thinkina. What if the woman | created was even more evil than the monster? What if she refused to live in isolation with the monster? What if she decided to leave her ugly partmer and look for a more attractive nan? What if they had children? For the first time l realised the wickedness of my promise. Suddenly, in the moonlight, T saw the monster at the window. He had followed me and had come to see my progress and to claim his partner. 1 looked at his horrible face and [ thought hat T must have been mad to promise to crcate another being like him. Trembling with anger, T tore my work to pieces and promised myself that 1 would never resume it. The monster gave a howl of despair and burst into the room to confront me. “You have destroyed the work which you began. You are breaking your promise to me! 1 sufíered exhaustion, cold and hunger to follow you here. Remember that T have the power to make your life completely miserable.” “Yes! Lam breaking my promise! I will never create another creature like yoursell. Your threats do not [righten me, Leave me!” The monster saw the determination in my face and his face filled with anger. “Every man has someone to love except me!” he cried. “You will not be happy while I am alone and miserable! 1 will have my revenge. 1 will go now. but remember this: 1 will be with you On your wedding night)” Tleapt forward and tried to seize him, but he escaped and ran [rom the house, A few moments later l saw him in his boat 36 ankenstein destroys his work FRANKENSTEIN sailing rapidly across the water and then he disappeared from sight. It was silent in the room, but his words sounded in my head. T would die on my wedding night! I was not afraid, but when 1 thought of Elizabeth and how sad she would be, my eyes filled with tears and 1 cried for the first time in months. “The next day, I was sitting by the sea, when I saw a fishing- boat arrive. One of the men brought me a package: it contained a lelter from Clerval, saying that he had to return to London, before setting out for India. He asked me to join him before he left Scotland. I decided that 1 would leave the island two days later. But, before 1 left, there was one thing that 1 had to do; I had to pack up my chemical instruments. The thought made me shiver, but early the next morning 1 found the courage to enter the room and collect my instruments. The remains of the hall- finished creature lay on the floor. l realised that I could not leave them there for the islanders to find, so 1 put them all into a basket, filled with heavy stones, and 1 decided that T would drop them into the sea late that night. At about two o*clock in the morning, I took the basket, got into my litde boat and sailed out to sea. As soon as the moon was covered by a cloud and everything was dark. I threw the basket and its contents into the water. I heard il fall and then T sailed away. The noise of the waves sent me to sleep and when 1 woke up, it was morning. A strong wind had blown my boat off course, and 1 had no idca where 1 was. | was frightened at the thought that the wind might blow the boat into the Atlantic Ocean, so 1 sailed on until I saw land to the south of me. Tlanded and I was tying up the boat, when I realised that 1 was surrounded by people. They did not offer to help me, but whispered to each other in a rather alarming way. | realised that they were speaking English and said. “My good friends, please tell me the name of this town and where I am.” 38 THE ACCUSATMION “You will know that soon enough,” replied one of the men. “You have come to a place that you might not like very much In Ireland, we do not like criminals.” I was very surprised lo hear (his rude answer and also at the angry faces of the people around me. I was about to walk away when an unpisasant-looking man said to me, “Come, sir, you must follow me to Mr Kirwin, the magistrate, and explain the death of a gentleman who was murdered here last night.” The answer startled me, but I soon recovered. 1 was innocent; that could be proved quite easily. Although 1 was almost dropping with exhaustion and hunger, 1 followed the man to Mr Kirwin. CHAPTER THIRTEEN — The Accusation Mr Kirwin seemed a calm, gentle man, but he looked at me very severely. The witnesses came forward. One man said that he had been out fishing in the night with his son, but the wind had become very strong and (hey went back to land. Il was very dark and as he was walking along the sand, his foot hit against something. It was the body of a dead man. They thought that someone had drowned, but the clothes were not wet. They carricd the body into town. Tt was the body of a handsome young man, about twenty-five years old. He had probably been strangled, because there was no sign of violence, except for the black fingerprints on his neck. When the fingerprints were mentioned, | remembered the death of my brother and becamo very perturbcd. The magistrate saw my reaction and he thought it was because I was guilty. The man's son then said that he had seen a boat with a single man in ita short distance from the beach. He said that he thought itwas the same boat in which T had just landed. A woman who lived near (he beach said that she had seen a boat with one man in it push off from that part of the beach where the body was found. 39 FRANKENSTEIN time the body of my friend was discovered and IT was set frec. My father was delighted at (he result of the trial, but 1 could not share his feelings. 1 could only see two eyes staring at me; sometimes they were the eyes of Henry, sometimes they were the watery eyes ol (he monster. My father talked to me of Geneva and Elizabeth and Erncst, but nothing he said could comfort me. IT had to return to Geneva without delay, to look after the people [loved and to lie in wait for the monster. My father did not think 1 was well enough to travel, but ] insisted, and soon we were on our way. We sailed lo Le Havre in France and then travelled to Paris. Before we left Paris on our way to Switzerland, I received a letter from Elizabeth, She told me how happy she was that I was better and (hat she would see me very soon. But she also wrote that she was troublcd. She reminded me that my parents had always hoped that we would marry; she loved me and wanted to be my wife. But (he thought had crossed her mind that perhaps 1 loved somcone else. 1£ 1 did, I must tell. her. 1 must not [eel obliged to honour my parents* wishes. She would be happy to remain my sister and dear friend. AN she wanted was my happiness and good health. Elizabeth's letter reminded me of (he monsters threat: “YI will be with you on your wedding night!” The monster planned to kill me on that night. I would fight with him: if T won, 1 would be free; if I lost, I would also be free. 1 did not fear death. Death was Joss terrible to me than the loss of Elizabeth. There was no point in delaying our marriage; if 1 did so, the monster might find an even more abominable method of revenge. I wrote an affectionate letter to Elizabeth and told her that 1 loved her and wanted to marry her as soon as I returned to Geneva. Lalso said that T had a terrible secret that 1 would tell her the day after our wedding day, but until that day she must never mention it. About a week after that, we returned lo Geneva. 42 REVENGE CHAPTER FOURTEEN — The Wedding Elizabcth welcomed me with love, but there were tears in her eyes when she saw how thin 1 was. She had also changed. She was thinner and sadness had marked her face, but she was still the gentle, sweet Elizabeth whom 1 loved. Soon after our return to Geneva, my father spoke about my immediate marriage to Elizabeth, We decided that if she agreed, the ceremony would take place in ten days. The day of the wedding came nearer. I was very nervous, but I covered up my feelings with an appearance of gaiety and happiness that delighted my father. Elizabeth waited for the day with calmness and pleasure, mixed with a litle apprehension. Aller the ceremony, there was a large party at my father's house. Elizabeth and | were going to spend our honeymoon at Lake Como. We left the party and made our way by boat to Evian, where we would spend the night, and continue our journey the next day, Those were the last moments in my life that T was happy. As the boat sailed along the water to Evian, 1 took Elizabeth's hand and together we enjoyed the bcautiful scenery. But Elizabeth's mood kept changing; one moment she was happy, the next she was quiet and lost in thought. We arrived in Evian later that evening. The sun set as we landed and the wind, which had been quite strong, changed to a light breeze. As T climbed ashore, 1 had a strong sense of imminent danger. CHAPTER FIFTEEN — Revenge Il was eight o'clock when we landed. We walked for a short time on the shore and then went to our hotel and admired the lovely view. The wind became quite violent and suddenly there was a heavy storm of rain. T had been calm all day, but as soon as it became dark. a thousand fears came into my mind. T was anxious and watehful: 43 FRANKENSTEIN 1 kept my hand on a gun which 1 had hidden inside my jacket: every sound terrified mc. Elizabeth saw my agitation. “What is the matter, Victor?” she asked, trembling. “What are you afraid af?” “Be calm, my love,” 1 replied. “Everything will be fine, but E fear that tonight will be dreadful, really dread/ul.? I thought that the struggle 1 would have with the monster would be terrifying for my wife. so 1 told her to go to bed. 1 decided | would not join her until 1 knew where the creature was. She left me and | walked through the hotel, inspecting every corner where my enemy might be hiding. Suddenly, 1 heard a loud, dreadful scream coming from Elizabeth's room. 1 realised the horrible truth and I stoud there like stone, unable to move. There was a second scream and 1 rushed into the room. Elizabeth lay across the bed, lifeless. her head hanging down and her pale, terrified face half-hidden by her hair. How blind, how stupid T had been! Of course, this was the monster's revenge. Only this way could he cause me the suflering I have lived with from that moment, day and night. That last image of my beloved Elizabeth is engraved on my mind and my soul. 1 embraced her lifeless form, crying with grief and despair. The murderer's fingerprints were on her neck and the Elizabeth that 1 loved was no longer with me. [looked up and there, at the open window, Í saw the monster's face, | ran to the window, pulled the gun from my jacket and fired, but he escaped and jumped into the lake below. At the noise of the gun, people rushed into the room. 1 pointed to the place where lhe monster had disappeared and they started to follow his tracks, They searched (he whole night, but he was never found. 1 tried to help them, but 1 fell down exhausted and was carried back to Ue hotel and placed on a bed. Suddenly, 1 thought of my father and Ernest: perhaps the monster had already killed them too. The thought made me tremble all over, but brought me back to my senses, 1 decided 44 REVENGE 45 The monsters revenge 
