We arrived at a brick wall, through which we passed by a gate into an
extensive court or yard. The darkness would allow me to see nothing but
outlines. Compared with the pigmy dimensions of my father's wooden
hovel, the buildings before me were of gigantic loftiness. The horses
were here far more magnificently accommodated than I had been. By a
large door we entered an elevated hall. "Stay here," said he, "just
while I fetch a light."
He returned, bearing a candle, before I had time to ponder on my present
situation.
We now ascended a staircase, covered with painted canvas. No one whose
inexperience is less than mine can imagine to himself the impressions
made upon me by surrounding objects. The height to which this stair
ascended, its dimensions, and its ornaments, appeared to me a
combination of all that was pompous and superb.
We stopped not till we had reached the third story. Here my companion
unlocked and led the way into a chamber. "This," said he, "is my room;
permit me to welcome you into it."
I had no time to examine this room before, by some accident, the candle
was extinguished. "Curse upon my carelessness!" said he. "I must go down
again and light the candle. I will return in a twinkling. Meanwhile you
may undress yourself and go to bed." He went out, and, as I afterwards
recollected, locked the door behind him.
I was not indisposed to follow his advice, but my curiosity would first
be gratified by a survey of the room. Its height and spaciousness were
imperfectly discernible by starlight, and by gleams from a street-lamp.
The floor was covered with a carpet, the walls with brilliant hangings;
the bed and windows were shrouded by curtains of a rich texture and
glossy hues. Hitherto I had merely read of these things. I knew them to
be the decorations of opulence; and yet, as I viewed them, and
remembered where and what I was on the same hour the preceding day, I
could scarcely believe myself awake, or that my senses were not beguiled
by some spell.
"Where," said I, "will this adventure terminate? I rise on the morrow
with the dawn and speed into the country. When this night is remembered,
how like a vision will it appear! If I tell the tale by a kitchen-fire,
my veracity will be disputed. I shall be ranked with the story-tellers
of Shiraz and Bagdad."
Though busied in these reflections, I was not inattentive to the
progress of time. Methought my companion was remarkably dilatory. He
went merely to relight his candle, but certainly he might, during this
time, have performed the operation ten times over. Some unforeseen
accident might occasion his delay.
Another interval passed, and no tokens of his coming. I began now to
grow uneasy. I was unable to account for his detention. Was not some
treachery designed? I went to the door, and found that it was locked.
This heightened my suspicions. I was alone, a stranger, in an upper room
of the house. Should my conductor have disappeared, by design or by
accident, and some one of the family should find me here, what would be
the consequence? Should I not be arrested as a thief, and conveyed to
prison? My transition from the street to this chamber would not be more
rapid than my passage hence to a jail.
These ideas struck me with panic. I revolved them anew, but they only
acquired greater plausibility. No doubt I had been the victim of
malicious artifice. Inclination, however, conjured up opposite
sentiments, and my fears began to subside. What motive, I asked, could
induce a human being to inflict wanton injury? I could not account for
his delay; but how numberless were the contingencies that might occasion
it!
I was somewhat comforted by these reflections, but the consolation they
afforded was short-lived. I was listening with the utmost eagerness to
catch the sound of a foot, when a noise was indeed heard, but totally
unlike a step. It was human breath struggling, as it were, for passage.
On the first effort of attention, it appeared like a groan. Whence it
arose I could not tell. He that uttered it was near; perhaps in the
room.
Presently the same noise was again heard, and now I perceived that it
came from the bed. It was accompanied with a motion like some one
changing his posture. What I at first conceived to be a groan appeared
now to be nothing more than the expiration of a sleeping man. What
should I infer from this incident? My companion did not apprize me that
the apartment was inhabited. Was his imposture a jestful or a wicked
one?
There was no need to deliberate. There were no means of concealment or
escape. The person would some time awaken and detect me. The interval
would only be fraught with agony, and it was wise to shorten it. Should
I not withdraw the curtain, awake the person, and encounter at once all
the consequences of my situation? I glided softly to the bed, when the
thought occurred, May not the sleeper be a female?
I cannot describe the mixture of dread and of shame which glowed in my
veins. The light in which such a visitant would be probably regarded by
a woman's fears, the precipitate alarms that might be given, the injury
which I might unknowingly inflict or undeservedly suffer, threw my
thoughts into painful confusion. My presence might pollute a spotless
reputation, or furnish fuel to jealousy.
Still, though it were a female, would not less injury be done by gently
interrupting her slumber? But the question of sex still remained to be
decided. For this end I once more approached the bed, and drew aside the
silk. The sleeper was a babe. This I discovered by the glimmer of a
street-lamp.
Part of my solicitudes were now removed. It was plain that this chamber
belonged to a nurse or a mother. She had not yet come to bed. Perhaps it
was a married pair, and their approach might be momently expected. I
pictured to myself their entrance and my own detection. I could imagine
no consequence that was not disastrous and horrible, and from which I
would not at any price escape. I again examined the door, and found that
exit by this avenue was impossible. There were other doors in this room.
Any practicable expedient in this extremity was to be pursued. One of
these was bolted. I unfastened it and found a considerable space within.
Should I immure myself in this closet? I saw no benefit that would
finally result from it. I discovered that there was a bolt on the
inside, which would somewhat contribute to security. This being drawn,
no one could enter without breaking the door.
I had scarcely paused, when the long-expected sound of footsteps was
heard in the entry. Was it my companion, or a stranger? If it were the
latter, I had not yet mustered courage sufficient to meet him. I cannot
applaud the magnanimity of my proceeding; but no one can expect intrepid
or judicious measures from one in my circumstances. I stepped into the
closet, and closed the door. Some one immediately after unlocked the
chamber door. He was unattended with a light. The footsteps, as they
moved along the carpet, could scarcely be heard.
I waited impatiently for some token by which I might be governed. I put
my ear to the keyhole, and at length heard a voice, but not that of my
companion, exclaim, somewhat above a whisper, "Smiling cherub! safe and
sound, I see. Would to God my experiment may succeed, and that thou
mayest find a mother where I have found a wife!" There he stopped. He
appeared to kiss the babe, and, presently retiring, locked the door
after him.
These words were capable of no consistent meaning. They served, at
least, to assure me that I had been treacherously dealt with. This
chamber, it was manifest, did not belong to my companion. I put up
prayers to my Deity that he would deliver me from these toils. What a
condition was mine! Immersed in palpable darkness! shut up in this
unknown recess! lurking like a robber!
My meditations were disturbed by new sounds. The door was unlocked,
more than one person entered the apartment, and light streamed through
the keyhole. I looked; but the aperture was too small and the figures
passed too quickly to permit me the sight of them. I bent my ear, and
this imparted some more authentic information.
The man, as I judged by the voice, was the same who had just departed.
Rustling of silk denoted his companion to be female. Some words being
uttered by the man, in too low a key to be overheard, the lady burst
into a passion of tears. He strove to comfort her by soothing tones and
tender appellations. "How can it be helped?" said he. "It is time to
resume your courage. Your duty to yourself and to me requires you to
subdue this unreasonable grief."
He spoke frequently in this strain, but all he said seemed to have
little influence in pacifying the lady. At length, however, her sobs
began to lessen in vehemence and frequency. He exhorted her to seek for
some repose. Apparently she prepared to comply, and conversation was,
for a few minutes, intermitted.
I could not but advert to the possibility that some occasion to examine
the closet, in which I was immured, might occur. I knew not in what
manner to demean myself if this should take place. I had no option at
present. By withdrawing myself from view I had lost the privilege of an
upright deportment. Yet the thought of spending the night in this spot
was not to be endured.
Gradually I began to view the project of bursting from the closet, and
trusting to the energy of truth and of an artless tale, with more
complacency. More than once my hand was placed upon the bolt, but
withdrawn by a sudden faltering of resolution. When one attempt failed,
I recurred once more to such reflections as were adapted to renew my
purpose.
I preconcerted the address which I should use. I resolved to be
perfectly explicit; to withhold no particular of my adventures from the
moment of my arrival. My description must necessarily suit some person
within their knowledge. All I should want was liberty to depart; but, if
this were not allowed, I might at least hope to escape any ill
treatment, and to be confronted with my betrayer. In that case I did not
fear to make him the attester of my innocence.
Influenced by these considerations, I once more touched the lock. At
that moment the lady shrieked, and exclaimed, "Good God! What is here?"
An interesting conversation ensued. The object that excited her
astonishment was the child. I collected from what passed that the
discovery was wholly unexpected by her. Her husband acted as if equally
unaware of this event. He joined in all her exclamations of wonder and
all her wild conjectures. When these were somewhat exhausted, he
artfully insinuated the propriety of bestowing care upon the little
foundling. I now found that her grief had been occasioned by the recent
loss of her own offspring. She was, for some time, averse to her
husband's proposal, but at length was persuaded to take the babe to her
bosom and give it nourishment.
This incident had diverted my mind from its favourite project, and
filled me with speculations on the nature of the scene. One explication
was obvious, that the husband was the parent of this child, and had used
this singular expedient to procure for it the maternal protection of his
wife. It would soon claim from her all the fondness which she
entertained for her own progeny. No suspicion probably had yet, or would
hereafter, occur with regard to its true parent. If her character be
distinguished by the usual attributes of women, the knowledge of this
truth may convert her love into hatred. I reflected with amazement on
the slightness of that thread by which human passions are led from their
true direction. With no less amazement did I remark the complexity of
incidents by which I had been empowered to communicate to her this
truth. How baseless are the structures of falsehood, which we build in
opposition to the system of eternal nature! If I should escape
undetected from this recess, it will be true that I never saw the face
of either of these persons, and yet I am acquainted with the most secret
transaction of their lives.
My own situation was now more critical than before. The lights were
extinguished, and the parties had sought repose. To issue from the
closet now would be imminently dangerous. My councils were again at a
stand and my designs frustrated. Meanwhile the persons did not drop
their discourse, and I thought myself justified in listening. Many facts
of the most secret and momentous nature were alluded to. Some allusions
were unintelligible. To others I was able to affix a plausible meaning,
and some were palpable enough. Every word that was uttered on that
occasion is indelibly imprinted on my memory. Perhaps the singularity of
my circumstances, and my previous ignorance of what was passing in the
world, contributed to render me a greedy listener. Most that was said I
shall overlook; but one part of the conversation it will be necessary to
repeat.
A large company had assembled that evening at their house. They
criticized the character and manners of several. At last the husband
said, "What think you of the nabob? Especially when he talked about
riches? How artfully he encourages the notion of his poverty! Yet not a
soul believes him. I cannot for my part account for that scheme of his.
I half suspect that his wealth flows from a bad source, since he is so
studious of concealing it."
"Perhaps, after all," said the lady, "you are mistaken as to his
wealth."
"Impossible," exclaimed the other. "Mark how he lives. Have I not seen
his bank-account? His deposits, since he has been here, amount to no
less than half a million."
"Heaven grant that it be so!" said the lady, with a sigh. "I shall think
with less aversion of your scheme. If poor Tom's fortune be made, and he
not the worse, or but little the worse on that account, I shall think it
on the whole best."
"That," replied he, "is what reconciles me to the scheme. To him thirty
thousand are nothing."
"But will he not suspect you of some hand in it?"
"How can he? Will I not appear to lose as well as himself? Tom is my
brother, but who can be supposed to answer for a brother's integrity?
but he cannot suspect either of us. Nothing less than a miracle can
bring our plot to light. Besides, this man is not what he ought to be.
He will, some time or other, come out to be a grand impostor. He makes
money by other arts than bargain and sale. He has found his way, by some
means, to the Portuguese treasury."
Here the conversation took a new direction, and, after some time, the
silence of sleep ensued.
Who, thought I, is this nabob who counts his dollars by half-millions,
and on whom it seems as if some fraud was intended to be practised?
Amidst their wariness and subtlety, how little are they aware that their
conversation has been overheard! By means as inscrutable as those which
conducted me hither, I may hereafter be enabled to profit by this
detection of a plot. But, meanwhile, what was I to do? How was I to
effect my escape from this perilous asylum?
After much reflection, it occurred to me that to gain the street without
exciting their notice was not utterly impossible. Sleep does not
commonly end of itself, unless at a certain period. What impediments
were there between me and liberty which I could not remove, and remove
with so much caution as to escape notice? Motion and sound inevitably go
together; but every sound is not attended to. The doors of the closet
and the chamber did not creak upon their hinges. The latter might be
locked. This I was able to ascertain only by experiment. If it were so,
yet the key was probably in the lock, and might be used without much
noise.
I waited till their slow and hoarser inspirations showed them to be both
asleep. Just then, on changing my position, my head struck against some
things which depended from the ceiling of the closet. They were
implements of some kind which rattled against each other in consequence
of this unlucky blow. I was fearful lest this noise should alarm, as the
closet was little distant from the bed. The breathing of one instantly
ceased, and a motion was made as if the head were lifted from the
pillow. This motion, which was made by the husband, awaked his
companion, who exclaimed, "What is the matter?"
"Something, I believe," replied he, "in the closet. If I was not
dreaming, I heard the pistols strike against each other as if some one
was taking them down."
This intimation was well suited to alarm the lady. She besought him to
ascertain the matter. This, to my utter dismay, he at first consented to
do, but presently observed that probably his ears had misinformed him.
It was hardly possible that the sound proceeded from them. It might be a
rat, or his own fancy might have fashioned it. It is not easy to
describe my trepidations while this conference was holding. I saw how
easily their slumber was disturbed. The obstacles to my escape were less
surmountable than I had imagined.
In a little time all was again still. I waited till the usual tokens of
sleep were distinguishable. I once more resumed my attempt. The bolt was
withdrawn with all possible slowness; but I could by no means prevent
all sound. My state was full of inquietude and suspense; my attention
being painfully divided between the bolt and the condition of the
sleepers. The difficulty lay in giving that degree of force which was
barely sufficient. Perhaps not less than fifteen minutes were consumed
in this operation. At last it was happily effected, and the door was
cautiously opened.
Emerging as I did from utter darkness, the light admitted into three
windows produced, to my eyes, a considerable illumination. Objects
which, on my first entrance into this apartment, were invisible, were
now clearly discerned. The bed was shrouded by curtains, yet I shrunk
back into my covert, fearful of being seen. To facilitate my escape, I
put off my shoes. My mind was so full of objects of more urgent moment,
that the propriety of taking them along with me never occurred. I left
them in the closet.
I now glided across the apartment to the door. I was not a little
discouraged by observing that the key was wanting. My whole hope
depended on the omission to lock it. In my haste to ascertain this
point, I made some noise which again roused one of the sleepers. He
started, and cried, "Who is there?"
I now regarded my case as desperate, and detection as inevitable. My
apprehensions, rather than my caution, kept me mute. I shrunk to the
wall, and waited in a kind of agony for the moment that should decide my
fate.
The lady was again roused. In answer to her inquiries, her husband said
that some one, he believed, was at the door, but there was no danger of
their entering, for he had locked it, and the key was in his pocket.
My courage was completely annihilated by this piece of intelligence. My
resources were now at an end. I could only remain in this spot till the
morning light, which could be at no great distance, should discover me.
My inexperience disabled me from estimating all the perils of my
situation. Perhaps I had no more than temporary inconveniences to dread.
My intention was innocent, and I had been betrayed into my present
situation, not by my own wickedness, but the wickedness of others.
I was deeply impressed with the ambiguousness which would necessarily
rest upon my motives, and the scrutiny to which they would be subjected.
I shuddered at the bare possibility of being ranked with thieves. These
reflections again gave edge to my ingenuity in search of the means of
escape. I had carefully attended to the circumstances of their entrance.
Possibly the act of locking had been unnoticed; but was it not likewise
possible that this person had been mistaken? The key was gone. Would
this have been the case if the door were unlocked?
My fears, rather than my hopes, impelled me to make the experiment. I
drew back the latch, and, to my unspeakable joy, the door opened.
I passed through and explored my way to the staircase. I descended till
I reached the bottom. I could not recollect with accuracy the position
of the door leading into the court, but, by carefully feeling along the
wall with my hands, I at length discovered it. It was fastened by
several bolts and a lock. The bolts were easily withdrawn, but the key
was removed. I knew not where it was deposited. I thought I had reached
the threshold of liberty, but here was an impediment that threatened to
be insurmountable.
But, if doors could not be passed, windows might be unbarred. I
remembered that my companion had gone into a door on the left hand, in
search of a light. I searched for this door. Fortunately it was fastened
only by a bolt. It admitted me into a room which I carefully explored
till I reached a window. I will not dwell on my efforts to unbar this
entrance. Suffice it to say that, after much exertion and frequent
mistakes, I at length found my way into the yard, and thence passed into
the court.