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of this detention； and of that confusion and dismay which my looks
testified。
I told him that I had strolled hither in the afternoon； that sleep
had overtaken me as I sat； and that I had awakened a few minutes
before his arrival。 I could tell him no more。 In the present
impetuosity of my thoughts； I was almost dubious whether the pit
into which my brother had endeavored to entice me； and the voice
that talked through the lattice； were not parts of the same dream。
I remembered； likewise； the charge of secrecy； and the penalty
denounced if I should rashly divulge what I had heard。 For these
reasons I was silent on that subject； and； shutting myself in my
chamber； delivered myself up to contemplation。
What I have related will； no doubt； appear to you a fable。 You
will believe that calamity has subverted my reason； and that I am
amusing you with the chimeras of my brain instead of facts that
have really happened。 I shall not be surprised or offended if
these be your suspicions。 I know not； indeed； how you can deny
them admission。 For； if to me； the immediate witness； they were
fertile of perplexity and doubt； how must they affect another to
whom they are recommended only by my testimony？ It was only by
subsequent events that I was fully and incontestably assured of the
veracity of my senses。
Meanwhile； what was I to think？ I had been assured that a design
had been formed against my life。 The ruffians had leagued to
murder me。 Whom had I offended？ Who was there； with whom I had
ever maintained intercourse； who was capable of harboring such
atrocious purposes？
My temper was the reverse of cruel and imperious。 My heart was
touched with sympathy for the children of misfortune。 But this
sympathy was not a barren sentiment。 My purse； scanty as it was；
was ever open； and my hands ever active； to relieve distress。 Many
were the wretches whom my personal exertions had extricated from
want and disease； and who rewarded me with their gratitude。 There
was no face which lowered at my approach； and no lips which uttered
imprecations in my hearing。 On the contrary； there was none； over
whose fate I had exerted any influence or to whom I was known by
reputation； who did not greet me with smiles and dismiss me with
proofs of veneration： yet did not my senses assure me that a plot
was laid against my life？
I am not destitute of courage。 I have shown myself deliberative
and calm in the midst of peril。 I have hazarded my own life for
the preservation of another； but now was I confused and panic…
struck。 I have not lived so as to fear death； yet to perish by an
unseen and secret stroke； to be mangled by the knife of an
assassin； was a thought at which I shuddered： what had I done to
deserve to be made the victim of malignant passions？
But soft！ was I not assured that my life was safe in all places but
one？ And why was the treason limited to take effect in this spot？
I was everywhere equally defenseless。 My house and chamber were at
all times accessible。 Danger still impended over me； the bloody
purpose was still entertained； but the hand that was to execute it
was powerless in all places but one！
Here I had remained for the last four or five hours； without the
means of resistance or defense； yet I had not been attacked。 A
human being was at hand； who was conscious of my presence； and
warned me hereafter to avoid this retreat。 His voice was not
absolutely new； but had I never heard it but once before？ But why
did he prohibit me from relating this incident to others； and what
species of death will be awarded if I disobey？
Such were the reflections that haunted me during the night； and
which effectually deprived me of sleep。 Next morning； at
breakfast； Pleyel related an event which my disappearance had
hindered him from mentioning the night before。 Early the preceding
morning； his occasions called him to the city： he had stepped into
a coffee…house to while away an hour； here he had met a person
whose appearance instantly bespoke him to be the same whose hasty
visit I have mentioned； and whose extraordinary visage and tones
had so powerfully affected me。 On an attentive survey； however； he
proved； likewise； to be one with whom my friend had had some
intercourse in Europe。 This authorized the liberty of accosting
him； and after some conversation； mindful； as Pleyel said； of the
footing which this stranger had gained in my heart； he had ventured
to invite him to Mettingen。 The invitation had been cheerfully
accepted； and a visit promised on the afternoon of the next day。
This information excited no sober emotions in my breast。 I was； of
course； eager to be informed as to the circumstances of their
ancient intercourse。 When and where had they met？ What knew he of
the life and character of this man？
In answer to my inquiries； he informed me that； three years before；
he was a traveler in Spain。 He had made an excursion from Valencia
to Murviedro； with a view to inspect the remains of Roman
magnificence scattered in the environs of that town。 While
traversing the site of the theater of old Saguntum； he alighted
upon this man； seated on a stone； and deeply engaged in perusing
the work of the deacon Marti。 A short conversation ensued； which
proved the stranger to be English。 They returned to Valencia
together。
His garb； aspect； and deportment were wholly Spanish。 A residence
of three years in the country； indefatigable attention to the
language； and a studious conformity with the customs of the people；
had made him indistinguishable from a native when he chose to
assume that character。 Pleyel found him to be connected； on the
footing of friendship and respect； with many eminent merchants in
that city。 He had embraced the Catholic religion； and adopted a
Spanish name instead of his own； which was CARWIN； and devoted
himself to the literature and religion of his new country。 He
pursued no profession； but subsisted on remittances from England。
While Pleyel remained in Valencia； Carwin betrayed no aversion to
intercourse； and the former found no small attractions in the
society of this new acquaintance； On general topics he was highly
intelligent and communicative。 He had visited every corner of
Spain； and could furnish the most accurate details respecting its
ancient and present state。 On topics of religion and of his own
history； previous to his TRANSFORMATION into a Spaniard； he was
invariably silent。 You could merely gather from his discourse that
he was English； and that he was well acquainted with the
neighboring countries。
His character excited considerable curiosity in the observer。 It
was not easy to reconcile his conversion to the Romish faith with
those proofs of knowledge and capacity that were exhibited by him
on different occasions。 A suspicion was sometimes admitted that
his belief was counterfeited for some political purpose。