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anticipated。 The more copiously they flowed； the more did my
general sensations appear to subside into calm； and a certain
restlessness give way to repose。
Perhaps； relieved by this effusion； the slumber so much wanted
might have stolen on my senses； had there been no new cause of
alarm。
VI
I was aroused from this stupor by sounds that evidently arose in
the next chamber。 Was it possible that I had been mistaken in the
figure which I had seen on the bank？ or had Carwin； by some
inscrutable means； penetrated once more into this chamber？ The
opposite door opened； footsteps came forth； and the person；
advancing to mine； knocked。
So unexpected an incident robbed me of all presence of mind； and；
starting up； I involuntarily exclaimed； 〃Who is there？〃 An answer
was immediately given。 The voice； to my inexpressible
astonishment； was Pleyel's。
〃It is I。 Have you risen？ If you have not； make haste； I want
three minutes' conversation with you in the parlor。 I will wait
for you there。〃 Saying this； he retired from the door。
Should I confide in the testimony of my ears？ If that were true；
it was Pleyel that had been hitherto immured in the opposite
chamber； he whom my rueful fancy had depicted in so many ruinous
and ghastly shapes； he whose footsteps had been listened to with
such inquietude！ What is man； that knowledge is so sparingly
conferred upon him！ that his heart should be wrung with distress；
and his frame be exanimated with fear； though his safety be
encompassed with impregnable walls！ What are the bounds of human
imbecility！ He that warned me of the presence of my foe refused
the intimation by which so many racking fears would have been
precluded。
Yet who would have imagined the arrival of Pleyel at such an hour？
His tone was desponding and anxious。 Why this unseasonable
summons？ and why this hasty departure？ Some tidings he； perhaps；
bears of mysterious and unwelcome import。
My impatience would not allow me to consume much time in
deliberation； I hastened down。 Pleyel I found standing at a
window； with eyes cast down as in meditation； and arms folded on
his breast。 Every line in his countenance was pregnant with
sorrow。 To this was added a certain wanness and air of fatigue。
The last time I had seen him appearances had been the reverse of
these。 I was startled at the change。 The first impulse was to
question him as to the cause。 This impulse was supplanted by some
degree of confusion； flowing from a consciousness that love had too
large； and； as it might prove； a perceptible； share in creating
this impulse。 I was silent。
Presently be raised his eyes and fixed them upon me。 I read in
them an anguish altogether ineffable。 Never had I witnessed a like
demeanor in Pleyel。 Never； indeed； had I observed a human
countenance in which grief was more legibly inscribed。 He seemed
struggling for utterance； but； his struggles being fruitless； he
shook his head and turned away from me。
My impatience would not allow me to be longer silent。 〃What；〃 said
I； 〃for heaven's sake； my friend；what is the matter？〃
He started at the sound of my voice。 His looks； for a moment；
became convulsed with an emotion very different from grief。 His
accents were broken with rage：
〃The matter！ O wretch！thus exquisitely fashioned；on whom
nature seemed to have exhausted all her graces； with charms so
awful and so pure！ how art thou fallen！ From what height fallen！
A ruin so complete；so unheard of！〃
His words were again choked by emotion。 Grief and pity were again
mingled in his features。 He resumed； in a tone half suffocated by
sobs：
〃But why should I upbraid thee？ Could I restore to thee what thou
hast lost； efface this cursed stain； snatch thee from the jaws of
this fiend； I would do it。 Yet what will avail my efforts？ I have
not arms with which to contend with so consummate； so frightful a
depravity。
〃Evidence less than this would only have excited resentment and
scorn。 The wretch who should have breathed a suspicion injurious
to thy honor would have been regarded without anger： not hatred or
envy could have prompted him； it would merely be an argument of
madness。 That my eyes； that my ears； should bear witness to thy
fall！ By no other way could detestable conviction be imparted。
〃Why do I summon thee to this conference？ Why expose myself to thy
derision？ Here admonition and entreaty are vain。 Thou knowest him
already for a murderer and thief。 I thought to have been the first
to disclose to thee his infamy； to have warned thee of the pit to
which thou art hastening； but thy eyes are open in vain。 Oh； foul
and insupportable disgrace！
〃There is but one path。 I know you will disappear together。 In
thy ruin； how will the felicity and honor of multitudes be
involved！ But it must come。 This scene shall not be blotted by
his presence。 No doubt thou wilt shortly see thy detested
paramour。 This scene will be again polluted by a midnight
assignation。 Inform him of his dangers； tell him that his crimes
are known； let him fly far and instantly from this spot； if he
desires to avoid the fate which menaced him in Ireland。
〃And wilt thou not stay behind？ But shame upon my weakness！ I
know not what I would say。 I have done what I purposed。 To stay
longer； to expostulate； to beseech； to enumerate the consequences
of thy act；what end can it serve but to blazon thy infamy and
embitter our woes？ And yet； oh； thinkthink ere it be too late
on the distresses which thy flight will entail upon us； on the
base； groveling； and atrocious character of the wretch to whom thou
hast sold thy honor。 But what is this？ Is not thy effrontery
impenetrable and thy heart thoroughly cankered？ Oh； most specious
and most profligate of women！〃
Saying this； he rushed out of the house。 I saw him in a few
moments hurrying along the path which led to my brother's。 I had
no power to prevent his going； or to recall or to follow him。 The
accents I had heard were calculated to confound and bewilder。 I
looked around me； to assure myself that the scene was real。 I
moved； that I might banish the doubt that I was awake。 Such
enormous imputations from the mouth of Pleyel！ To be stigmatized
with the names of wanton and profligate！ To be charged with the
sacrifice of honor！ with midnight meetings with a wretch known to
be a murderer and thief！ with an intention to fly in his company！
What I had heard was surely the dictate of frenzy； or it was built
upon some fatal； some incomprehensible mistake。 After the horrors
of the night； after undergoing perils so imminent from this man； to
be summoned to an interview like this！to find Pleyel fraught with
a belief that； instead of having chosen death as a refuge from the
violence of this man； I had hugged his baseness to my heart； had
sacrificed for him my purity； my spotless name； my frien