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

[figure description] Page 032.[end figure description]

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 star-light,
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.”

[figure description] Page 033.[end figure description]

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 gaol.

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?

[figure description] Page 034.[end figure description]

There was no need to deliberate. There were no means
of concealment or escape. The person would sometime
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 least 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

[figure description] Page 035.[end figure description]

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 key-hole, 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 key-hole. 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.

[figure description] Page 036.[end figure description]

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 favorite project,
and filled me with speculations on the nature of the

[figure description] Page 037.[end figure description]

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 criticised 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

[figure description] Page 038.[end figure description]

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, sometime 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

[figure description] Page 039.[end figure description]

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 shewed
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 impliments 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

[figure description] Page 040.[end figure description]

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

[figure description] Page 041.[end figure description]

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.