Its height and spaciousness were
imperfectly discernible by starlight, and by gleams from a street-lamp. The floor was covered with a carpet, the walls with brilliant hangings;
the bed and windows were shrouded by curtains of a rich texture and
glossy hues. Hitherto I had merely read of these things. I knew them to
be the decorations of opulence; and yet, as I viewed them, and
remembered where and what I was on the same hour the preceding day, I
could scarcely believe myself awake, or that my senses were not beguiled
by some spell. "Where," said I, "will this adventure terminate? I rise on the morrow
with the dawn and speed into the country. When this night is remembered,
how like a vision will it appear! If I tell the tale by a kitchen-fire,
my veracity will be disputed. I shall be ranked with the story-tellers
of Shiraz and Bagdad." Though busied in these reflections, I was not inattentive to the
progress of time. Methought my companion was remarkably dilatory. He
went merely to relight his candle, but certainly he might, during this
time, have performed the operation ten times over. Some unforeseen
accident might occasion his delay. Another interval passed, and no tokens of his coming. I began now to
grow uneasy. I was unable to account for his detention. Was not some
treachery designed? I went to the door, and found that it was locked. This heightened my suspicions. I was alone, a stranger, in an upper room
of the house. Should my conductor have disappeared, by design or by
accident, and some one of the family should find me here, what would be
the consequence? Should I not be arrested as a thief, and conveyed to
prison? My transition from the street to this chamber would not be more
rapid than my passage hence to a jail. These ideas struck me with panic. I revolved them anew, but they only
acquired greater plausibility. No doubt I had been the victim of
malicious artifice. Inclination, however, conjured up opposite
sentiments, and my fears began to subside. What motive, I asked, could
induce a human being to inflict wanton injury? I could not account for
his delay; but how numberless were the contingencies that might occasion
it! I was somewhat comforted by these reflections, but the consolation they
afforded was short-lived. I was listening with the utmost eagerness to
catch the sound of a foot, when a noise was indeed heard, but totally
unlike a step. It was human breath struggling, as it were, for passage. On the first effort of attention, it appeared like a groan. Whence it
arose I could not tell. He that uttered it was near; perhaps in the
room. Presently the same noise was again heard, and now I perceived that it
came from the bed. It was accompanied with a motion like some one
changing his posture. What I at first conceived to be a groan appeared
now to be nothing more than the expiration of a sleeping man. What
should I infer from this incident? My companion did not apprize me that
the apartment was inhabited. Was his imposture a jestful or a wicked
one? There was no need to deliberate. There were no means of concealment or
escape. The person would some time awaken and detect me. The interval
would only be fraught with agony, and it was wise to shorten it. Should
I not withdraw the curtain, awake the person, and encounter at once all
the consequences of my situation? I glided softly to the bed, when the
thought occurred, May not the sleeper be a female? I cannot describe the mixture of dread and of shame which glowed in my
veins. The light in which such a visitant would be probably regarded by
a woman's fears, the precipitate alarms that might be given, the injury
which I might unknowingly inflict or undeservedly suffer, threw my
thoughts into painful confusion. My presence might pollute a spotless
reputation, or furnish fuel to jealousy. Still, though it were a female, would not less injury be done by gently
interrupting her slumber? But the question of sex still remained to be
decided. For this end I once more approached the bed, and drew aside the
silk. The sleeper was a babe. This I discovered by the glimmer of a
street-lamp. Part of my solicitudes were now removed. It was plain that this chamber
belonged to a nurse or a mother. She had not yet come to bed. Perhaps it
was a married pair, and their approach might be momently expected. I
pictured to myself their entrance and my own detection. I could imagine
no consequence that was not disastrous and horrible, and from which I
would not at any price escape. I again examined the door, and found that
exit by this avenue was impossible. There were other doors in this room. Any practicable expedient in this extremity was to be pursued. One of
these was bolted. I unfastened it and found a considerable space within. Should I immure myself in this closet? I saw no benefit that would
finally result from it. I discovered that there was a bolt on the
inside, which would somewhat contribute to security. This being drawn,
no one could enter without breaking the door. I had scarcely paused, when the long-expected sound of footsteps was
heard in the entry. Was it my companion, or a stranger? If it were the
latter, I had not yet mustered courage sufficient to meet him. I cannot
applaud the magnanimity of my proceeding; but no one can expect intrepid
or judicious measures from one in my circumstances. I stepped into the
closet, and closed the door. Some one immediately after unlocked the
chamber door. He was unattended with a light. The footsteps, as they
moved along the carpet, could scarcely be heard. I waited impatiently for some token by which I might be governed. I put
my ear to the keyhole, and at length heard a voice, but not that of my
companion, exclaim, somewhat above a whisper, "Smiling cherub! safe and
sound, I see. Would to God my experiment may succeed, and that thou
mayest find a mother where I have found a wife!" There he stopped. He
appeared to kiss the babe, and, presently retiring, locked the door
after him. These words were capable of no consistent meaning. They served, at
least, to assure me that I had been treacherously dealt with. This
chamber, it was manifest, did not belong to my companion. I put up
prayers to my Deity that he would deliver me from these toils. What a
condition was mine! Immersed in palpable darkness! shut up in this
unknown recess! lurking like a robber! My meditations were disturbed by new sounds. The door was unlocked,
more than one person entered the apartment, and light streamed through
the keyhole. I looked; but the aperture was too small and the figures
passed too quickly to permit me the sight of them. I bent my ear, and
this imparted some more authentic information. The man, as I judged by the voice, was the same who had just departed. Rustling of silk denoted his companion to be female. Some words being
uttered by the man, in too low a key to be overheard, the lady burst
into a passion of tears. He strove to comfort her by soothing tones and
tender appellations.