4993: a singular adventure. 32 
A SINGULAR ADVENTURE written By M TO ONE OF 
HIS FRIENDS. 
I am going, dear friend, to intrust you with a dreadful 
secret, which I can tellno body but you. ‘The marriage 
of Mademoiselle de Vildac with the young Sainville took 
place yesterday ; asa neighbour I was obliged to be there. 
You know M. de Vildac; he has an inauspicious physi- 
ognomy which I always feared. I observed him yester- 
day in the midst of all these festivals: far from taking 
a fhare in the happinefs of his son-in-law and daughter, 
the joy of the rest seemed to be a load to him. Wher 
it was time to retire, 1 was conducted to an apartment at 
the foot of the great tower. I had scarcely fallen asleep 
when I was, awaked by an indistinct noise behind my 
head. . I listened, and heard some body dragging chains, 
and who was descending softly some steps. At the same 
time a door of my chamber opened: the noise of chains, 
redoubled. He who carried them advanced towards the 
chimney ; he approached some coals half extinguifhed, 
and said in a deadly voice, “ Ah! how long it is since 
I have warmed myself!” I confefs to you my friend I 
was afirighted. I seized my sword to be able 
to defend myself: I opened gently my _ curtains. 
By the light which the coals gave, I perceived an old 
man chained, and half naked, with a bald head and a 
white beard. He held his trembling hands to the cin- 
ders. That sight moved me. Whil® I was considering 
it, the wood produced a flame: he had his eyes turned 
towards the door by which he had entered, and was aban- 
ening himself to the most bitter lamentations. In a 
‘moment he kneeled down upon his knees, struck his 
head against the floor; and I heard him in the midst of 
