I rushed forward--The noise above stairs was dreadful--I blundered and
missed the stairs, but the terrified boy had run after me to shew me. I
heard two pistols fire as I ascended--The horror that struck my heart
was inconceivable!--A fellow armed with a bludgeon was standing to
guard the door. My pistols were unlocked and ready: I presented and
bade him give way--He instantly obeyed--I made the lock fly and
entered!--The first object that struck my sight was Frank, besmeared
with blood, a discharged pistol in his hand, defending himself against
a fellow aiming blows at him with a bludgeon, Mac Fane hewing at him
with a cutlass, and the keeper, who had just been shot, expiring at his
feet!
I fired at Mac Fane--My shot took place, though not so effectually but
that he turned round, made a stab at me, and pierced the abdomen almost
to the spine. But he had met his fate; and the return he made was most
welcome!--He fell, and the remaining antagonists of Frank immediately
fled.
Frank is living, but dreadfully hacked by the villain Mac Fane. They
tell me his life is safe, and that his wounds are deep, but not
dangerous. Perhaps they mean to deceive me. If so their folly is
extreme, and their pity to me ill placed. I well know I deserve no
pity.
With respect to myself, my little knowledge of surgery teaches me that
a wound so violent, made with a cutlass in such a part, must be mortal.
But mortality to me is a blessing. To live would indeed be misery.
Torments never yet were imagined equal to those I have for some time
endured: but, though I have lived raving, I do not mean to die canting.
Take this last adieu therefore, dear Fairfax, and do not because you
once esteemed me endeavour to palliate my errors. Let my letters to you
do justice to those I have injured. To have saved his life who once
saved mine, is a ray of consolation to that proud swelling heart, which
has sometimes delighted to confer, but has always turned averse from
the receiving of obligations, I would have been more circumstantial in
my narrative, were it not for the teasing kindness of my sister.
Once more, and everlastingly, adieu!