memoirs of carwin the biloquist-第10节

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　my　reserves；　in　this　particular；　might　be　continued。　　Yet　should　I　not　expose　myself　to　formidable　perils？　　Would　my　secret　be　for　ever　unsuspected　and　undiscovered？

When　I　considered　the　nature　of　this　faculty；　the　impossibility　of　going　farther　than　suspicion；　since　the　agent　could　be　known　only　by　his　own　confession；　and　even　this　confession　would　not　be　believed　by　the　greater　part　of　mankind；　I　was　tempted　to　conceal　it。

In　most　cases；　if　I　had　asserted　the　possession　of　this　power；　I　should　be　treated　as　a　liar；　it　would　be　considered　as　an　absurd　and　audacious　expedient　to　free　myself　from　the　suspicion　of　having　entered　into　compact　with　a　daemon；　or　of　being　myself　an　emissary　of　the　grand　foe。　　Here；　however；　there　was　no　reason　to　dread　a　similar　imputation；　since　Ludloe　had　denied　the　preternatural　pretensions　of　these　airy　sounds。

My　conduct　on　this　occasion　was　nowise　influenced　by　the　belief　of　any　inherent　sanctity　in　truth。　　Ludloe　had　taught　me　to　model　myself　in　this　respect　entirely　with　a　view　to　immediate　consequences。　　If　my　genuine　interest；　on　the　whole；　was　promoted　by　veracity；　it　was　proper　to　adhere　to　it；　but；　if　the　result　of　my　investigation　were　opposite；　truth　was　to　be　sacrificed　without　scruple。


*Paraguay。



Chapter　VII。


Meanwhile；　in　a　point　of　so　much　moment；　I　was　not　hasty　to　determine。　　My　delay　seemed　to　be；　by　no　means；　unacceptable　to　Ludloe；　who　applauded　my　discretion；　and　warned　me　to　be　circumspect。　　My　attention　was　chiefly　absorbed　by　considerations　connected　with　this　subject；　and　little　regard　was　paid　to　any　foreign　occupation　or　amusement。

One　evening；　after　a　day　spent　in　my　closet；　I　sought　recreation　by　walking　forth。　　My　mind　was　chiefly　occupied　by　the　review　of　incidents　which　happened　in　Spain。　　I　turned　my　face　towards　the　fields；　and　recovered　not　from　my　reverie；　till　I　had　proceeded　some　miles　on　the　road　to　Meath。　　The　night　had　considerably　advanced；　and　the　darkness　was　rendered　intense；　by　the　setting　of　the　moon。　　Being　somewhat　weary；　as　well　as　undetermined　in　what　manner　next　to　proceed；　I　seated　myself　on　a　grassy　bank　beside　the　road。　　The　spot　which　I　had　chosen　was　aloof　from　passengers；　and　shrowded　in　the　deepest　obscurity。

Some　time　elapsed；　when　my　attention　was　excited　by　the　slow　approach　of　an　equipage。　　I　presently　discovered　a　coach　and　six　horses；　but　unattended；　except　by　coachman　and　postillion；　and　with　no　light　to　guide　them　on　their　way。　　Scarcely　had　they　passed　the　spot　where　I　rested；　when　some　one　leaped　from　beneath　the　hedge；　and　seized　the　head　of　the　fore…horses。　　Another　called　upon　the　coachman　to　stop；　and　threatened　him　with　instant　death　if　he　disobeyed。　　A　third　drew　open　the　coach…door；　and　ordered　those　within　to　deliver　their　purses。　　A　shriek　of　terror　showed　me　that　a　lady　was　within；　who　eagerly　consented　to　preserve　her　life　by　the　loss　of　her　money。

To　walk　unarmed　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Dublin；　especially　at　night；　has　always　been　accounted　dangerous。　　I　had　about　me　the　usual　instruments　of　defence。　　I　was　desirous　of　rescuing　this　person　from　the　danger　which　surrounded　her；　but　was　somewhat　at　a　loss　how　to　effect　my　purpose。　　My　single　strength　was　insufficient　to　contend　with　three　ruffians。　　After　a　moment's　debate；　an　expedient　was　suggested；　which　I　hastened　to　execute。

Time　had　not　been　allowed　for　the　ruffian　who　stood　beside　the　carriage　to　receive　the　plunder；　when　several　voices；　loud；　clamorous；　and　eager；　were　heard　in　the　quarter　whence　the　traveller　had　come。　　By　trampling　with　quickness；　it　was　easy　to　imitate　the　sound　of　many　feet。　　The　robbers　were　alarmed；　and　one　called　upon　another　to　attend。　　The　sounds　increased；　and；　at　the　next　moment；　they　betook　themselves　to　flight；　but　not　till　a　pistol　was　discharged。　　Whether　it　was　aimed　at　the　lady　in　the　carriage；　or　at　the　coachman；　I　was　not　permitted　to　discover；　for　the　report　affrighted　the　horses；　and　they　set　off　at　full　speed。

I　could　not　hope　to　overtake　them：　　I　knew　not　whither　the　robbers　had　fled；　and　whether；　by　proceeding；　I　might　not　fall　into　their　hands。　。　。　。　。　　These　considerations　induced　me　to　resume　my　feet；　and　retire　from　the　scene　as　expeditiously　as　possible。　　I　regained　my　own　habitation　without　injury。

I　have　said　that　I　occupied　separate　apartments　from　those　of　Ludloe。　　To　these　there　were　means　of　access　without　disturbing　the　family。　　I　hasted　to　my　chamber；　but　was　considerably　surprized　to　find；　on　entering　my　apartment；　Ludloe　seated　at　a　table；　with　a　lamp　before　him。

My　momentary　confusion　was　greater　than　his。　　On　discovering　who　it　was；　he　assumed　his　accustomed　looks；　and　explained　appearances；　by　saying；　that　he　wished　to　converse　with　me　on　a　subject　of　importance；　and　had　therefore　sought　me　at　this　secret　hour；　in　my　own　chamber。　　Contrary　to　his　expectation；　I　was　absent。　　Conceiving　it　possible　that　I　might　shortly　return；　he　had　waited　till　now。　　He　took　no　further　notice　of　my　absence；　nor　manifested　any　desire　to　know　the　cause　of　it；　but　proceeded　to　mention　the　subject　which　had　brought　him　hither。　　These　were　his　words。

You　have　nothing　which　the　laws　permit　you　to　call　your　own。　Justice　entitles　you　to　the　supply　of　your　physical　wants；　from　those　who　are　able　to　supply　them；　but　there　are　few　who　will　acknowledge　your　claim；　or　spare　an　atom　of　their　superfluity　to　appease　your　cravings。　　That　which　they　will　not　spontaneously　give；　it　is　not　right　to　wrest　from　them　by　violence。　　What　then　is　to　be　done？

Property　is　necessary　to　your　own　subsistence。　　It　is　useful；　by　enabling　you　to　supply　the　wants　of　others。　　To　give　food；　and　clothing；　and　shelter；　is　to　give　life；　to　annihilate　temptation；　to　unshackle　virtue；　and　propagate　felicity。　　How　shall　property　be　gained？

You　may　set　your　understanding　or　your　hands　at　work。　　You　may　weave　stockings；　or　write　poems；　and　exchange　them　for　money；　but　these　are　tardy　and　meagre　schemes。　　The　means　are　disproportioned　to　the　end；　and　I　will　not　suffer　you　to　pursue　them。　　My　justice　will　supply　your　wants。

But　dependance　on　the　justice　of　others　is　a　precarious　condition。　　To　be　the　object　is　a　less　ennobling　state　than　to　be　the　bestower　of　benefit。　　Doubtless　you　desire　to　be　vested　with　competence　and　riches；　and　to　hold　them　by　virtue　of　the　law；　and　not　at　the　will　of　a　benefactor。　。　。　。　。　。　　He　paused　as　if　waiting　for　my　assent　to　his　positions。　　I　readily　expressed　my　concurrence；　and　my　desire　to　pursue　any　means　compatible　with　honesty。　　He　resumed。

There　are　various　means；　besides　labour；　violence；　or　fraud。　It　is　right　to　select　the　easiest　within　your　reach。　　It　happens　that　the　easiest　is　at　hand。　　A　revenue　of　some　thousands　a　year；　a　stately　mansion　in　the　city；　and　another　in　Kildare；　old　and　faithful　domestics；　and　magnificent　furniture；　are　good　things。　Will　you　have　them？

A　gift　like　that；　replied　I；　will　be　attended　by　momentous　conditions。　　I　cannot　decide　upon　its　value；　until　I　know　these　conditions。

The　sole　condition　is　your　consent　to　receive　them。　　Not　even　the　airy　obligation　of　gratitude　will　be　created　by　acceptance。　　On　the　contrary；　by　accepting　them；　you　will　confer　the　highest　benefit　upon　another。

I　do　not　comprehend　you。　　Something　surely　must　be　given　in　return。

Nothing。　　It　may　seem　strange　that；　in　accepting　the　absolute　controul　of　so　much　property；　you　subject　yourself　to　no　conditions；　that　no　claims　of　gratitude　or　service　will　accrue；　but　the　wonder　is　greater　still。　　The　law　equitably　enough　fetters　the　gift　with　no　restraints；　with　respect　to　you　that　receive　it；　but　not　so　with　regard　to　the　unhappy　being　who　bestows　it。　　That　being　must　part；　not　only　with　property　but　liberty。　　In　accepting　the　property；　you　must　consent　to　enjoy　the　services　of　the　present　possessor。　　They　cannot　be　disjoined。

Of　the　true　nature　and　extent　of　the　gift；　you　should　be　fully　apprized。　　Be　aware；　therefore；　that；　together　with　this　property；　you　will　receive　absolute　power　over　the　liberty　and　person　of　the　being　who　now　possesses　it。　　That　being　must　become　your　domestic　slave；　be　governed；　in　every　particular；　by　your　caprice。

Happily　for　you；　though　fully　invested　with　this　power；　the　degree　and　mode　in　which　it　will　be　exercised　will　depend　upon　yourself。　。　。　。　。　　You　may　either　totally　forbear　the　exercise；　or　employ　it　only　for　the　benefit　of　your　slave。　　However　injurious；　therefore；　this　authority　may　be　to　the　subject　of　it；　it　will；　in　some　sense；　only　enhance　the　value　of　the　gift　to　you。

The　attachment　and　obedience　of　this　being　will　be　chiefly　evident　in　one　thing。　　Its　duty　will　consist　in　conforming；　in　every　instance；　to　your　will。　　All　the　powers　of　this　being　are　to　be　devoted　to　your　happiness；　but　there　is　one　relation　between　you；　which　enables　you　to　confer；　while　exacting；　pleasure。　。　。　。　。　　This　relation　is　~~sexual~~。　　Your　slave　is　a　woman；　and　the　bond；　which　transfers　her　property　and　person　to　you；　is　。　。　。　。　~~marriage~~。

My　knowledge　of　Ludloe；　his　principles；　and　reasonings；　ought　to　have　precluded　that　surprise　which　I　experienced　at　the　conclusion　of　his　discourse。　　I　knew　that　he　regarded　the　present　institut