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dresses and hideous masks； their orgy seemed scarcely human。 I
placed myself amongst them； and in that fearful excitement of the
spirits which the happy never know； I was soon the most riotous
of all。 The conversation fell on the Revolution of France； which
had always possessed for me an absorbing fascination。 The masks
spoke of the millennium it was to bring on earth； not as
philosophers rejoicing in the advent of light； but as ruffians
exulting in the annihilation of law。 I know not why it was； but
their licentious language infected myself； and； always desirous
to be foremost in every circle； I soon exceeded even these
rioters in declamations on the nature of the liberty which was
about to embrace all the families of the globe；a liberty that
should pervade not only public legislation； but domestic life； an
emancipation from every fetter that men had forged for
themselves。 In the midst of this tirade one of the masks
whispered me；
〃'Take care。 One listens to you who seems to be a spy！'
〃My eyes followed those of the mask； and I observed a man who
took no part in the conversation； but whose gaze was bent upon
me。 He was disguised like the rest； yet I found by a general
whisper that none had observed him enter。 His silence； his
attention； had alarmed the fears of the other revellers；they
only excited me the more。 Rapt in my subject； I pursued it；
insensible to the signs of those about me； and； addressing myself
only to the silent mask who sat alone； apart from the group； I
did not even observe that； one by one； the revellers slunk off；
and that I and the silent listener were left alone； until；
pausing from my heated and impetuous declamations； I said；
〃'And you； signor；what is your view of this mighty era？
Opinion without persecution； brotherhood without jealousy； love
without bondage'
〃'And life without God；' added the mask as I hesitated for new
images。
〃The sound of that well…known voice changed the current of my
thought。 I sprang forward； and cried；
〃'Imposter or Fiend； we meet at last！'
〃The figure rose as I advanced； and； unmasking； showed the
features of Mejnour。 His fixed eye； his majestic aspect； awed
and repelled me。 I stood rooted to the ground。
〃'Yes；' he said solemnly； 'we meet； and it is this meeting that I
have sought。 How hast thou followed my admonitions！ Are these
the scenes in which the Aspirant for the Serene Science thinks to
escape the Ghastly Enemy？ Do the thoughts thou hast uttered
thoughts that would strike all order from the universeexpress
the hopes of the sage who would rise to the Harmony of the
Eternal Spheres？'
〃'It is thy fault；it is thine！' I exclaimed。 'Exorcise the
phantom！ Take the haunting terror from my soul！'
Mejnour looked at me a moment with a cold and cynical disdain
which provoked at once my fear and rage； and replied；
〃'No； fool of thine own senses！ No； thou must have full and
entire experience of the illusions to which the Knowledge that is
without Faith climbs its Titan way。 Thou pantest for this
Millennium；thou shalt behold it！ Thou shalt be one of the
agents of the era of Light and Reason。 I see； while I speak； the
Phantom thou fliest； by thy side； it marshals thy path； it has
power over thee as yet；a power that defies my own。 In the last
days of that Revolution which thou hailest； amidst the wrecks of
the Order thou cursest as Oppression； seek the fulfilment of thy
destiny； and await thy cure。'
〃At that instant a troop of masks； clamorous； intoxicated；
reeling； and rushing； as they reeled； poured into the room； and
separated me from the mystic。 I broke through them； and sought
him everywhere； but in vain。 All my researches the next day were
equally fruitless。 Weeks were consumed in the same pursuit；not
a trace of Mejnour could be discovered。 Wearied with false
pleasures； roused by reproaches I had deserved； recoiling from
Mejnour's prophecy of the scene in which I was to seek
deliverance； it occurred to me； at last； that in the sober air of
my native country； and amidst its orderly and vigorous pursuits；
I might work out my own emancipation from the spectre。 I left
all whom I had before courted and clung to；I came hither。
Amidst mercenary schemes and selfish speculations； I found the
same relief as in debauch and excess。 The Phantom was invisible；
but these pursuits soon became to me distasteful as the rest。
Ever and ever I felt that I was born for something nobler than
the greed of gain；that life may be made equally worthless； and
the soul equally degraded by the icy lust of avarice； as by the
noisier passions。 A higher ambition never ceased to torment me。
But； but；〃 continued Glyndon； with a whitening lip and a visible
shudder； 〃at every attempt to rise into loftier existence； came
that hideous form。 It gloomed beside me at the easel。 Before
the volumes of poet and sage it stood with its burning eyes in
the stillness of night； and I thought I heard its horrible
whispers uttering temptations never to be divulged。〃 He paused；
and the drops stood upon his brow。
〃But I；〃 said Adela； mastering her fears and throwing her arms
around him；〃but I henceforth will have no life but in thine。
And in this love so pure； so holy； thy terror shall fade away。〃
〃No； no！〃 exclaimed Glyndon； starting from her。 〃The worst
revelation is to come。 Since thou hast been here； since I have
sternly and resolutely refrained from every haunt； every scene in
which this preternatural enemy troubled me not； IIhave Oh；
Heaven！ Mercymercy！ There it stands；there； by thy side；
there； there！〃 And he fell to the ground insensible。
CHAPTER 5。V。
Doch wunderbar ergriff mich's diese Nacht；
Die Glieder schienen schon in Todes Macht。
Uhland。
（This night it fearfully seized on me； my limbs appeared already
in the power of death。）
A fever； attended with delirium； for several days deprived
Glyndon of consciousness； and when； by Adela's care more than the
skill of the physicians； he was restored to life and reason； he
was unutterably shocked by the change in his sister's appearance；
at first； he fondly imagined that her health； affected by her
vigils； would recover with his own。 But he soon saw； with an
anguish which partook of remorse； that the malady was deep…
seated；deep； deep； beyond the reach of Aesculapius and his
drugs。 Her imagination； little less lively than his own； was
awfully impressed by the strange confessions she had heard；by
the ravings of his delirium。 Again and again had he shrieked
forth； 〃It is there；there； by thy side； my sister！〃 He had
transferred to her fancy the spectre； and the horror that cursed
himself。 He perceived this； not by her words； but her silence；
by the eyes that strained into space； by the shiver that came
over her frame； by the start of terror； by the look that did not
dare to turn behind。 Bitterly he repented his confession；