The possession of these treasures gave me extreme delight; I now continually studied and exercised my mind upon these histories, whilst my friends were employed in their ordinary occupations.

As yet I looked upon crime as a distant evil, benevolence and generosity were ever present before me, inciting within me a desire to become an actor in the busy scene where so many admirable qualities were called forth and displayed.

I could not bring myself to disclose a secret which would fill my hearer with consternation and make fear and unnatural horror the inmates of his breast.

To you first entering on life, to whom care is new and agony unknown, how can you understand what I have felt and still feel?

"Since you have preserved my narration," said he, "I would not that a mutilated one should go down to posterity."

"D—n the fellow!" cried he; "why, M. Clerval, I assure you he has outstript us all."