NOTE--My readers will perceive that I have purposely left them, with
reference to the Dream in this story, in the position which they would
occupy in the case of a dream in real life: they are free to interpret
it by the natural or the supernatural theory, as the bent of their own
minds may incline them. Persons disposed to take the rational view may,
under these circumstances, be interested in hearing of a coincidence
relating to the present story, which actually happened, and which in
the matter of “extravagant improbability” sets anything of the same kind
that a novelist could imagine at flat defiance.
In November, 1865, that is to say, when thirteen monthly parts of
“Armadale” had been published, and, I may add, when more than a year and
a half had elapsed since the end of the story, as it now appears, was
first sketched in my notebook--a vessel lay in the Huskisson Dock at
Liverpool which was looked after by one man, who slept on board, in the
capacity of shipkeeper. On a certain day in the week this man was found
dead in the deck-house. On the next day a second man, who had taken his
place, was carried dying to the Northern Hospital. On the third day a
third ship-keeper was appointed, and was found dead in the deck-house
which had already proved fatal to the other two. _The name of that ship
was “The Armadale.”_ And the proceedings at the Inquest proved that the
three men had been all suffocated _by sleeping in poisoned air_!
I am indebted for these particulars to the kindness of the reporters at
Liverpool, who sent me their statement of the facts. The case found its
way into most of the newspapers. It was noticed--to give two instances
in which I can cite the dates--in the _Times_ of November 30th, 1865,
and was more fully described in the _Daily News_ of November 28th, in
the same year.
Before taking leave of “Armadale,” I may perhaps be allowed to mention,
for the benefit of any readers who may be curious on such points, that
the “Norfolk Broads” are here described after personal investigation
of them. In this, as in other cases, I have spared no pains to instruct
myself on matters of fact. Wherever the story touches on questions
connected with Law, Medicine, or Chemistry, it has been submitted before
publication to the experience of professional men. The kindness of a
friend supplied me with a plan of the doctor’s apparatus, and I saw the
chemical ingredients at work before I ventured on describing the action
of them in the closing scenes of this book.