Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/116

 But could not my end he gained without violence? The means of opening might present themselves on a patient scrutiny; the lid might be raised and shut down again, without any tokens of my act; its contents might be examined, and all things restored to their former condition in a few minutes.

I intended not a theft; I intended to benefit myself without inflicting injury on others: nay, might not the discoveries I should make, throw light upon the conduct of this extraordinary man, which his own narrative had withheld? Was there reason to confide implicitly on the tale which I had heard?

In spite of the testimony of my own feelings, the miseries of Clithero appeared in some degree fantastic and groundless: a thousand conceivable motives might induce himself to pervert or conceal the truth: if he were thoroughly known, his character might assume a new appearance, and what is now so difficult to reconcile to common maxims, might prove perfectly consistent with them. I desire to restore him to peace; but a thorough knowledge of his actions is necessary, both to show that he is worthy of compassion, and to suggest the best means of extirpating his errors: it was possible that this box contained the means of this knowledge.

There were likewise other motives, which, as they possessed some influence, however small, deserve to be mentioned. Thou knowest that I also am a mechanist: I had constructed a writing-desk and cabinet, in which I had endeavoured to combine the properties of secrecy, security, and strength in the highest possible degree: I looked upon this therefore with the eye of an artist, and was solicitous to know the principles on which it was formed: I determined to examine, and if possible to open it.