The ruffian, who must almost have suppressed his
breathings to screen himself from discovery, would have noticed
this signal, and I should have awakened only to perish with
affright, and to abhor myself. Could I have remained unconscious
of my danger? Could I have tranquilly slept in the midst of so
deadly a snare?
And who was he that threatened to destroy me? By what means could
he hide himself in this closet? Surely he is gifted with
supernatural power. Such is the enemy of whose attempts I was
forewarned. Daily I had seen him and conversed with him. Nothing
could be discerned through the impenetrable veil of his duplicity.
When busied in conjectures as to the author of the evil that was
threatened, my mind did not light for a moment upon his image. Yet
has he not avowed himself my enemy? Why should he be here if he
had not meditated evil?
He confesses that this has been his second attempt. What was the
scene of his former conspiracy? Was it not he whose whispers
betrayed him? Am I deceived? or was there not a faint resemblance
between the voice of this man and that which talked of grasping my
throat and extinguishing my life in a moment? Then he had a
colleague in his crime; now he is alone.
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