114 SUBTERRANEAN RECESSES. 



forty years before the call of nature The man who in his youth 

 was the school-mate of one, and who, returning after an absence of 

 twenty years from his native land, thinks of paying a visit to his 

 companion in boyhood ; he calls, and by a stranger is told the fate 

 of the former inhabitant. ' Twelve years ago, sir, he fell, in vindi- 

 cating his honour.' ' Vindicating his honour !' repeats the astonished 

 man, as he thoughtfully walks away. * Dead twelve years ! humph ! 

 fool, at bottom, after all.' The travelled and experienced man had 

 heard of such affairs transpiring, perhaps at gi-eat distances, with but 

 little reflection about them ; but in this instance, the consideration 

 of their merits being suddenly thrust upon him, his instant and 

 decided verdict is * Folly, folly.' Reader ! my verdict is not merely 

 folly, but Madness — Insanity. In the ensuing pages you will have 

 the subject discussed at great length. Its history will be given. 

 Read for yourself, and decide. I shall be in a condition at a very 

 early period to present the volumes to the world. Whatever may be 

 their success, I have not been remiss in using my very utmost exer- 

 tions. Let them be read as the production of one who has sternly 

 denied himself of the pleasures of life ; the soft music of the female 

 voice he has felt was not fitting for him. Study, daily — nightly — 

 has been his ; with sickness has he had to struggle with a fainting of 

 heart known only to himself; when human nature has begged hard 

 for a little mercy, a solemn, in-evocable vow has arisen before him ; 

 and as none know the fearful terms in which that vow was couched — 

 terms at which his blood freezes when he recalls them to mind—none 

 can credit how its cruel details have through absolute terror been ful- 

 filled almost to the letter. I have kept it. My repose has varied 

 from four to five hours nightly, and my lamp of study has burned 

 . diumally almost twenty hours. I was aware when I made my vow 

 • that my constitution would suffer ; and so it has. Surely, however, 

 if men think themselves at liberty to curtail their lives some scores 

 of years, I am not to be censured too strongly for having shortened 

 my days a little in endeavouring to persevere, nay, to conjure, men 

 not to sacrifice so extravagantly as they have done (or I should say, 

 not to sacrifice at all) their lives to so barbarous a custom." 

 The three friends then separated for the night. 



