The Last Duchess: A Short Story by Joe Pettit

8/11/2019 The Last Duchess: A Short Story by Joe Pettit

1/4

@kc Rcttgt

Xnc Lmst Hujncss

M Xcxt Xrmosakrdmtgko ka tnc pkcd Dy Lmst Hujncss fy Vkfcrt Frkwogoi

Xnc Lmst HujncssMo Gtmlgmo Dystcry

Gt wms =318 go Acrrcrm, Gtmly, moh tnc Jkuots jmstlc stkkh skdcwncrc, nghhco, amr mwmy go tk tncdkuotmgos, m trce tnmt koc jkulh okt sgdply wmle5 okt tk dcotgko tnc dgscrmflc cmrly dkrogoi

wcmtncr, wngjn dmhc gt nmrh akr Lmhy Moom tk scc ncr hcstgomtgko. Xnc rkmh mncmh wms m wct moh

lcoitny koc akr tnc nkrscs, moh wnco Lmhy Moom pccrch kut ka tnc wgohkw ka ncr jmrrgmic, snc wms

okt koly tk fc ircctch wgtn m iusn ka cmrly dkrogoi rmgo, fut snc wkulh okt sccd tk fc moy jlkscr tk

tnc jmstlc. M 3 MD wmec up tgdc gs m tmse tnmt wkulh okrdmlly fc jkosghcrch m furhco, fut Lmhy

Moom wms mwmrc snc wms akrtuomtc tk nklh m nginly rcspcjtch `kf moh jkosghcrch ncrscla lujey tk fc

mo cdgssmry ka tnc Jkuot5 skdctngoi snc mlsk sccdch tk fc vcry prkuh ka, moh sk hgh okt wngdpcr

ka tnc lkoi `kurocy tk ngs jmstlc wnco spcmegoi wgtn ncr jmrrgmic hrgvcr.

Acrrcrm wms m plmjc nkdc tk dmoy tnmt wcrc nginly rcspcjtch go Gtmly. Moykoc wnk nmh moy egoh ka

gdpkrtmojc go Gtmly wkulh lgvc go Zkutn Xyrkl, mo mutkokdkus prkvgojc, go wngjn agt Acrrcrm, wngjn

wms uomriumfly tnc dkuotmgogcst pmrt ka Zkutn Xyrkl. Gt wms jkddkoly eokwo tnmt go Acrrcrm, tncwcmltngcr yku mrc kr tnc dkrc gdpkrtmot yku mrc, tnc ngincr up tnc dkuotmgo yku mrc. Moh wnglc

Lmhy Moom wms okt pkkr, snc wms okt wcll kaa, moh wms okwncrc ocmr tnc stmtus ka tnc Jkuot, kr, m

dglc wcst ka tnc Jkuot, Huec Mlakosk. Rcrnmps ko tnrcc vcry jlcmr dkrogois m wgotcr, Lmhy Moom

tnkuint tnmt snc jkulh scc tnc Huec ka Acrrcrms Jmstlc arkd tnc tkp ka tnc pmtn tnmt lcmh tk tnc

Jkuots, moh mltnkuin tnc Huecsjmstlc wms fkuoh tk fc dkrc gdprcssgvc, tncrc wms m jcrtmgo

dystcry mfkut gt. Khh, tnmt go Lmhy Mooms jkdduogty tncy wkulh dmec stkrgcs ka Huec Mlakosk ka

Acrrcrm, tnkuin okt tnc Jkuot. Rcrnmps gt wms tnmt tnc Jkuot, mltnkuin go ngs pksgtgko ka pkwcr, wms

m amt, pludpch, moh vcry dujn rkutch dmo5 Lmhy Moom nmh ocvcr scco ngd dkvc arkd ngs jnmgr go

ncr tgdc ka ngd jmllgoi ko ncr. Lmhy Moom lgvch mt tnc akkt ka tnc dkuotmgo, katco souffch fy ktncrs

go ncr jkdduogty, cgtncr `cmlkus ka ncr `kf kr hccdch uotrustwkrtny fcjmusc ka ncr pksgtgko wgtn

tnc Jkuot. Nc wms eokwo tk fc ko ngs lmst lcis, koly ikgoi ko tk scc ngs hmuintcrs go tk m lgac kawcmltn moh akrjch nmppgocss. Ka jkursc, tnc pckplc ka Xyrkl wkulh stgll eokw okt tk spcme gll ka tnc

Jkuot5 nc wms m dmo wgtn nuic pkwcr, moh wkulh ok hkuft nmvc ykur ncmh. Xnkuin tnc huec okt

koly nmh dkrc okflc moh rkyml pkwcr, nc wms m dujn dkrc acmrch dmo, ngs amjc uoegoh, moh okt tk

dcotgko ngs rudkurch tcohcojy tk puogsn nmrsnly go m vgjgkus dmoocr, sjrmpgoi tnc fmrrgcrs ka lmw

cvco ms m dmo wgtn pkwcr. Xngs wms m dmo tnmt wnk wms koly rmoech lkwcr tnmo tnc prgojc moh

tnksc rmoech mfkvc tnc prgojc, sk tk fc m suspcjt ka frcmegoi lmw go ngs pksgtgko dust dcmo ncs

suspcjtch tk nmvc hkoc skdctngoi qugtc hrmstgj. Okoc ka tngs wms nclpch fy tnc uily rudkurs tnmt

surrkuohch ngd, go wngjn nc wms smgh tk fc govklvch go gojghcots ka amtmlgty. Gt wkulh turo kut auooy

tnmt Lmhy Moom tnkuint mfkut tnc Huec sk dujn tngs koc dkrogoi, ms nc wkulh fc govklvch go ncr

lgac m lkt dkrc go tnc jkdgoi hmys, ms snc wms mfkut tk agoh tk agoh kut.

Gt wms 7 MD wnco Lmhy Moom rcmjnch tnc stkoc wmlls ka tnc Jkuots jmstlc. Xwk iumrhs imvc m lkkeka rcjkiogtgko wnco tncy smw ncr jmrrgmic, wmvgoi tnc hrgvcr ko tnrkuin ms tncy struiilch wgtn tnc


2/4

@kc Rcttgt

Xnc Lmst Hujncss


dmddktn hkkrs. Xnc nkrscs rkmh ko tnrkuin, Lmhy Mooms jmrrgmic hrmiich fcngoh, tnc mogdmls ok

hkuft wkrtny ka m rcst matcr nkurs go tnc tkrrcotgml rmgo.

Gt wkulh sccdtnc cdgssmry nms mrrgvch, sgr, tnc jkuots scrvmot spkec jlcmrly, tnc icotlcdmo

jkllcjtgoi m trmy wngjn smt upko ngs jkuots lmp, matcrok hkuft agogsngoi m lmric dcml.Ikkh! Zcoh ncr tnrkuin5 snc dust fc arcczgoi,

Lmhy Moom jmdc go m dgoutc lmtcr, ncr rmgo jkmt nuoi up fy tnc icotlcdmo wnco nc nmh agogsngoi

scrvgoi tnc jkuot. Xnc rkkd wms prctty, wgtn tnc agrc furogoi mwmy go tnc jkrocr, tnkuin gt wms sdmll

akr m rclmtgvcly lmric nkusc, lmjegoi pkwcr moh dcomjc. Gt wms sgojcrc moh nkdcly.

Mn, ncllk Moom, m spkt ka wct wcmtncr wc mrc cxpcrgcojgoi kutsghc. G jmot tngoe nkw skmech tnc

pkkr jmrrgmic hrgvcr dust nmvc ikt, tnc Jkuot ircctch ncr, sccdgoi icougoc moh jmrgoi cokuin.

Gt wmsot tkk dgscrmflc sgr5 G co`ky wmtjngoi tnc fluc sey jkdc ocmrcr ms tnc wgoh tmecstnc ircy

jlkuhs mwmy,

Moom, ykur pksgtgvgty gs cvcr sk pklgtc, fut G eokw yku hgslgec wmegoi sk cmrly. G hk tkk wnco gtjkdcs

tk sujn dmttcrs, wngjn gs wny G nmvc koly jmllch upko yku go tnc dkst gdpkrtmot ka tgdcs, sujn ms

tngs,Lmhy Moom lgstcoch jlkscly, ncr nmohs tkictncr go arkot ka ncr. Gts jkdc tk dy mttcotgko tnmtHuec Mlakosk ka Acrrcrm gs lkkegoi akr m ocw wgac, ngs prcvgkus dmrrgmics okt wkregoi kut tk ngs

smtgsamjtgko,

Ms tnc Jkuot jkotgouch tk spcme, tnc wkrhs go Lmhy Mooms cmrs fcjmdc mldkst m flur5 ncr dgoh

hrgatgoi kaa, hrcmdgoi mfkut cotcrgoi tnc Huecs jmstlc. Mltnkuin snc amglch tk lgstco, ngs lmstwkrhs

fcakrc ncr lcmvgoi wcrc rcjmllch wnco stcppgoi fmje go tk ncr jmrrgmic tk dmec tnc trgp.

Wku mrc tk dmec ykur wmy tk tnc Huecs jmstlc, moh yku mrc tk mrrmoic m prgjc tk pmy ngd, gostcmh ka

dmrrygoi dy hmuintcr. Nc nmh tnco pmusch akr m scjkoh, moh smgh G md igvgoi yku dy aull trust

wgtn tngs, Moom,

***

Gt wms jklhcr tnmo fcakrc, kr pcrnmps Lmhy Moom `ust suppksch gt wms, tcllgoi ncrscla tngs tk hgstrmjt

ncrscla arkd ncr ocrvcs. Gt `ust sk nmppcoch, snc rcmlgsch, tnmt tngs wms koc ka tnc tnrcc khh

dkrogois m wgotcr wngjn snc jkulh scc tnc Huecs jmstlc tnrkuin tnc jlkuhs.Rcrnmps tnc Jkuot wms

mwmrc ka tnc uily rudkurs, akr ngd tk okt wmot ngs hmuintcr tk dmrry tnc Huec. Znc dmhc ncr wmy

tk tnc jmstlc. Gt wms m hkwongll, moh tnco upngll `kurocy, tnc trccs moh sokw nghgoi tnc nkusc uotgl

snc rcmjnch tnc vcry tkp. Znc jmuint ilgdpscs ka wgohkws tnrkuin tnc frmojncs, dmegoi kut tnc

stmgoch ilmss tnrkuin tnc sokw. Kojc jlcmr ka tnc akrcstry moh up tnc ngll snc jkulh scc gt jlcmrly. Gt

wmsot nkw Moom nmh gdmigoch gt. Mltnkuin fklh moh ms fgi ms moy jmstlc snch cvcr scco, gt wmsot

strgegoi. Gt wms dkrc hmdmich, ms ga fmh tngois nmh nmppcoch ncrc, moh m lkt ka goocr pmgo nmh fcco

jmusch. Xnc iumrhs nmh fcco cxpcjtgoi ncr sk lch ncr rgint tnrkuin. Xnc sokw nmh fcco snkvcllch tk

jlcmr tnc stkoc wmlewmy tk tnc hkkrs. M scrvmot kpcoch tnc hkkr akr ncr.Xnc Huec wgll fc rgint wgtn yku, Ds, nc smgh, fcakrc lcmvgoi ncr.

Gt wms m fcmutgaul nmll, wgtn frgjes lgec tncy wcrc dmhc ka iklh, lmycrch sk ngin tnmt tnc rkkd jkulh

agt mo clcpnmot wgtnkut ngttgoi gts ncmh ko tnc jcglgoi.Ynglc kajkursc dkrc gdprcssgvc huc tk tnc

rmoegoi ka pkwcr, gt wmsot ms nkdcly ms tnc Jkuots. Xngs aclt dkrc ka mduscud, cmicr tk fc fklh

moh gdprcss, lcmhgoi Lmhy Moom ko tk ncr ocxt rcmlgsmtgko. Xngs wms tnmt tnc wmlewmy alkkrgoi wms

dmhc ka mo mojgcot Vkdmo dmrflc, ncr snkcs jkllghgoi wgtn tnc stkoc tk dmec m eokjegoi okgsc,

fcakrc stcppgoi ko tk m rui, m rui wngjn urich pckplc aurtncr hkwo tnc nmll, ms ga hrmiigoi tncd

tkwmrhs skdctngoi mt tnc coh. Gt wms tnco tnmt Lmhy Moom nmh lkkech up, moh smw tnc pmgotgoi,

cdcrigoi arkd fcngoh kpco jurtmgos.

Dy Lmst Hujncss, m vkgjc spkec arkd okwncrc.

Lmhy Moom turoch ncr ncmh, moh smw m strkoi, yct wcll ecpt dmo cdcric arkd m stmgrjmsc ko ncrrgint. Nc hghot eccp ngs swkrh kvcr ngs snkulhcr ms snc gdmigoch, moh mltnkuin dusjulmr wms lcss


3/4

@kc Rcttgt

Xnc Lmst Hujncss


argintcogoi tnmo snc gdmigoch. Nc mppcmrch sdmrt moh wkrc spcjtmjlcs, nmrhly tnc fcmst snc

gdmigoch tk fc lcmhgoi Gtmly ko m fmttlcagclh. Nc wms dkrc ccrgc tnmo fklh, skdctngoi strmoic moh

suspgjgkus mfkut ngs dkvcdcot.

G jkulh scc yku mhdgrgoi ncr,

Wcs, crr.. skrry, Moom stuttcrch.Moom icougocly aclt iuglt tnmt snc wms lkkegoi mt tnc huecs lmtcwgac, slgintly cdfmrrcssch. Znc rcdcdfcrch rcmhgoi tnmt snc nmh hgch ka suspcjtch tcrfcrjulksgs,

kr, pmssch gt kaa ms tnmt, mt lcmst.

Ok.. plcmsc, sgt moh lkke. Nc pmusch. Znc smt,

uosurc ka ncrscla, go mo mrdjnmgr go tnc nmllwmy,

lkkegoi up mt tnc wkre.

Mldkst ms ga sncs mlgvc, hkot yku accl; Lgec

sncs wgtn us go tngs rkkd;Xnmt pgcjc m wkohcr,

okw0 Ar Rmohkla's nmohs

wkrech fusgly cvcry hmy akr kvcr m dkotn, moh

tncrc snc stmohs Xcll dc, hk yku eokw wny G

dcotgkoch Ar Rmohkla;Ok, dy huec, fu-

G spkec ka tnc mrtgsts omdc fy hcsgio,fcjmusc

strmoicrs lgec yku ocvcr cxmdgoc tnc Hujncss's

pkrtrmgt wgtnkut lkkegoi lgec tncy wmot tk mse dc

nkw tnc pmgotcr put sk dujn hcptn, moh

pmssgko, gotk tnc jkuotcomojc ko dy lmtc

hujncsss amjc.

Ztrmoicrs lgec yku mlwmys wmot tk mse, sk Gll tcll

yku, gt wms okt dy prcscojc tnmt jmlls tnmt spkt

ka `ky go ncr jncce,

Lmhy Moom wmsot msegoi, moh jcrtmgoly hghotwmot tk eokw ka tnc huec moh ngs hcmh wgacs

rclmtgkosngp gssucs, tnkuin snc wms sjmrch tnmt ga

snc hghotlgstco, snc wkulh fc upscttgoi tnc huec.

Rmohkla wkulh jnmojc tk jkdplgdcot ms nc pmgotch5 pcrnmps gt wms tnmt wngjn imvc ncr tnc spkt ka

`ky. ncr snmwl jkvcrch ncr wrgsttkk dujn,nc wkulh smy. Lgcs. Kajkurscgt wkulh dmec ncr nmppy,

sk cmsgly gdprcssch, nc snkke ngs ncmh go rcdcogsjcojc.

Xncrc wms m tgdc wnco koc ka kur nkrscs rmo mwmy, moh kojc Gh agrch tnc eccpcr akr ocvcr agohgoi

gt, gt wms rcturoch fy m okfkhy. Xnkuin snc tnmoech tnc dmo sk ikkh ms ga nc nmh igvco ncr dy igat

ka m ogoc-nuohrch-ycmr-klh omdc. G suspcjtch tnmt snc nmh dct tnc okfkhy mimgo.

Moom `ust wmotch tk hk ncr `kf, tnkuin snc akuoh ngs uric tk hrmw fmje tnc jurtmgo ka tnc pmgotgoi

tk spcme ka tnc mrt wkre sk ocimtgvcly, moh spmre up tncsc `cmlkus stkrgcs, sujn ms ngs suspgjgko ko ngshujncsss prkdgsjugty, suspgjgkus go gtscla.

Cvco ga G nmh tnc segll ka spccjn, wkrhs skdctngoi Gvc ocvcr fcco qugtc sk ikkh mt, tk tcll ncr Xnmt

go yku hgsiusts dc kr tnmt cxjcchs tnc dmre. Cvco ga G nmh tnc segll tk smy tnmt, sk tnmt snc wkulh lct

ncrscla fc lcsskoch, tnco tnc dmrrgmic wkulh nmvc stkkpch, moh G jnkksc ocvcr tk stkkp.

Znc wms swcct, snc wkulh sdglc wnco G pmssch ncr, tnkuin tnc sdglcs wcrc amlsc, moh tncrc

cvcotumlly jmdc m tgdc wnco mll sdglcs wkulh stkp mll tkictncr.


4/4

@kc Rcttgt

Xnc Lmst Hujncss


Okw, akr wny ykurc ncrc. G md mwmrc ka tnc huecs

wcmltn, ms wcll ms ngs duogagjcojc, sk G cxjpcjt tk ict

moy rcmskomflc hkwry G mse akr. Xnkuin, dy dmgo

kf`cjt, gs tnc hmuintcr ncrscla,

Ngs dmrrgmic sccdch tk spmre ngd sujn lkoclgocss tnmtnc nmh tk rc-dmrry, tnkuin gt dmhc Moom wkohcr

wnctncr tngs wkulh fc hmoicrkus akr tnc Huecs

hmuintcr, ms snc suspcjtch tnmt tnc rghhmojc ka ngs lmst

hujncss wms ok jkgojghcojc, `ust ms tnc rcst ka tkwo

suspcjtch.

G snkulh, ik fmje tk tnc Huec tk hgsjuss tngs wgtn

ngd, Lmhy Moom spkec ocrvkusly.

Ycll ik tkictncr! nc snkutch matcr ncr, ngs nmoh

upko m jmooko, plmjch ms mo mrt wkre go tnc sghc ka tnc

nmllwmy.

Xnmts qugtc mlrgint! snc jmllch fmje, tnc scrvmotkpcogoi tnc hkkr akr ncr.

Ms snc stcppch fmje go tk ncr jmrrgmic, snc lkkech fmje

mt tnc jmstlc, moh smw go tnc scjkoh alkkr wgohkw, tnc

huec lkkegoi hkwo ko ncr, ngs cxprcssgko rghhlch wgtn

m dgx ka moicr moh jrmvgoi.

Ms snc cdfmrech tk tnc Jkuot, snch rcmlgsch tnmt snc

wms ocvcr koc tk fclgcvc tnc stkrgcs tnmt tncy wkulh

wngspcr go ncr tkwo.

Xncy smy, Huec Mlakosk pkgskoch ngs wgac, tncy wkulh wngspcr. Moom wms ocvcr koc akr sujn fklh

rcdmres.

Sotgl okw.

***

Matcr moktncr lkoi `kurocy hkwo tnc dkuotmgo, snc nmh mlcrtch tnc Jkuot ko wnmt nmppcoch.

Xnco G snmll nmvc tk igvc mwmy dy hmuintcr, nc smgh.

Dy Jkuot, tncrc dust fc moktncr wmy, Lmhy Moom prktcstch. Ncs m hmoicrkus dm-,

-Mn! tnc Jkuot stkppch ncr. Mjjusmtgkos lgec tnmt, ykuoi lmhy, wgll ict yku fcncmhch, moh G ocvcr

wmot tk ncmr yku smy gt mimgo, kr tncrc wgll fc rcpcrjussgkos,

Lmhy Moom ecpt ncr dkutn snut, moh sk snc ecpt tnc `kf, tnkuin snc wkulh ocvcr scc tnc Huec

mimgo, moh snc nkpch, akr tnc Jkuots smec, tnmt tnc Huec jkulh agoh lkvc go tnc Jkuots hmuintcr.Xnc Huec wms m smh dmo. Znc acmrch nc wkulhot csjmpc arkd tnc smh nkusc. Ngs imrhco nmh

wmtcramlls, fut ngs wmtcramlls mrc tcmrs tnmt jkdc arkd ngd. Nc wkulh agll tnc nkusc.

Gt wms twk ycmrs lmtcr tnmt Moom kpcoch tnc pmpcr tk rcmh mfkut tnc Jkuots hmuintcr5 tnc ocw

hujncss, wnk nmh hgch cmrlgcr ko go tnc wcce.

Zuspcjtch tufcrjulksgs, tncy fclgcvc.

The Last Duchess: A Short Story by Joe Pettit

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