Wieland's Maddness by Charles Brockden Brown
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with_which he closed the door testify the depth of_his vexation ? this room was usually occupied by Pleyel . was Carwin aware of_his absence on_this night ? could he be suspected of a design so sordid as pillage ? if_this were his view, there were no means in my power to frustrate it . it behooved me to seize the first opportunity to escape; but, if_my escape were supposed by my enemy to_have_been already effected, no asylum was more secure than_the present . how could my passage from_the house be accomplished without noises that might incite him to pursue me ?

utterly at a loss to account for_his going into Pleyel's chamber, I waited in instant expectation of hearing him come forth . all, however, was profoundly still .I listened in vain for a considerable period to catch the sound of_the door when it should again be opened . there_was no other avenue by_which he_could escape, but a door which led into_the girl's chamber . would any evil from_this quarter befall the girl ?

hence arose a new train of apprehensions . they merely added to_the turbulence and agony of_my reflections . whatever evil impended over her, I had no power to avert it . seclusion and silence were the only means of saving myself from_the perils of_this fatal night . what solemn vows did I put up, that, if i_should once more behold the light of day, i_would never trust myself again within_the threshold of_this dwelling !

minute lingered after minute, but no token was given that Carwin had returned to_the passage . what, I again asked, could detain him in_this room ? was_it possible that he had returned, and glided unperceived away ? i_was speedily aware of_the difficulty that attended an enterprise like this; and yet, as_if by_that means I were capable of gaining any information on_that head, I cast anxious looks from_the window .

the object that first attracted my attention was a human figure standing on_the edge of_the bank . perhaps my penetration was assisted by my hopes . be that as_it_will, the figure of Carwin was clearly distinguishable . from_the obscurity of_my station, it_was impossible that i_should_be discerned by him; and yet he scarcely suffered me to catch a glimpse of him . he turned and went down the steep, which in_this part was not difficult to_be scaled .

my conjecture, then, had_been right .Carwin has softly opened the door, descended the stairs, and issued forth . that I should_not have overheard his steps was only less incredible than that my eyes had deceived me . but what_was now to_be_done ? the house was at_length delivered from_this detested inmate . by one avenue might he again reenter . was_it not wise to bar the lower door ? perhaps he had gone out by_the kitchen door . for_this end, he_must_have passed through Judith's chamber . these entrances being closed and bolted, as great security was gained as was compatible with my lonely condition .

the propriety of_these measures was too manifest not to_make me struggle successfully with my fears . yet I opened my own door with_the utmost caution, and descended as_if I were afraid that Carwin had_been still immured in Pleyel's chamber . the outer door was ajar .I shut it with trembling eagerness, and drew every bolt that appended to_it .I then passed with light and less cautious steps through_the parlor, but was surprised to discover that_the kitchen door was secure . i_was compelled to acquiesce in_the first conjecture that Carwin had escaped through_the entry .

my heart was now somewhat eased of_the load of apprehension .I returned once more to my chamber, the door of_which i_was careful to lock . it_was no time to_think of repose . the moonlight began already to fade before_the light of_the day . the approach of morning was betokened by_the usual signals .I mused upon_the events of_this night, and determined to_take up my abode henceforth at my brother's . whether i_should inform him of what had happened was a question which seemed to demand some consideration . my safety unquestionably required that i_should abandon my present habitation .

as my thoughts began to flow with fewer impediments, the image of Pleyel, and_the dubiousness of_his condition, again recurred to_me .I again ran over the possible causes of_his absence on_the preceding day . my mind was attuned to melancholy .I dwelt, with an obstinacy for_which I_could_not account, on_the idea of_his death .I painted to myself his struggles with_the billows, and_his last appearance .I imagined myself a midnight wanderer on_the shore, and to_have stumbled on_his corpse, which the tide had cast up . these dreary images affected me even to tears .I endeavored not to restrain them . they imparted a relief which I had_not 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, think-- think 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 friendships, and my fortune ! that even madness could engender accusations like these was not to_be believed .

what evidence could possibly suggest conceptions so wild ? after_the unlooked- for interview with Carwin in my chamber, he retired . could Pleyel have observed his exit ? it_was not long after_that Pleyel himself entered . did he build on_this incident his odious conclusions ? could the long series of_my actions and sentiments grant me no exemption from suspicions so foul ? was_it not more rational to infer that Carwin's designs had_been illicit ? that my life had_been endangered by_the fury of one whom, by some means, he had discovered to_be an assassin and robber ? that my honor had_been assailed, not by blandishments, but by violence ?

he has judged me without hearing . he has drawn from dubious appearances conclusions the most improbable and unjust . he has loaded me with all outrageous epithets . he has ranked me with prostitutes and thieves . I_cannot pardon thee, Pleyel, for_this injustice . thy understanding must_be hurt . if_it be not,-- if thy conduct was sober and deliberate,-- I_can never forgive an outrage so unmanly and so gross .

these thoughts gradually gave place to others .Pleyel was possessed by some momentary frenzy; appearances had led him into palpable errors . whence could his sagacity have contracted this blindness ? was_it not love ? Previously assured of_my affection for Carwin, distracted with grief and jealousy, and impelled hither at_that late hour by some unknown instigation, his imagination transformed shadows into monsters, and plunged him into these deplorable errors .

this idea was not unattended with consolation . my soul was divided between indignation at his injustice and delight on account of_the source from_which I conceived it to spring . for_a_long_time they_would allow admission to no other thoughts . surprise is an emotion

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