Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/67

 "His life being thus endangered, it became necessary for him to seek a new residence. He fled from Constantin0ple with such precipitation as reduced him to the lowest poverty: he had traversed the Indian conquests of Alexander as a mendicant—in the same character he now wandered over the native country of Philip and Philopœmen: he passed safely through multiplied perils; and finally, embarking at Salonichi, he reached Venice: he descended through the passes of the Apennines into Tuscany. In this journey he suffered a long detention from banditti, by whom he was waylaid. In consequence of his harmless deportment, and a seasonable display of his chirurgical skill, they granted him his life, though they for a time restrained him of his liberty, and compelled him to endure their society.

"The time was not misemployed which he spent immured in caverns and carousing with robbers: his details were eminently singular and curious, and evinced the acuteness of his penetration, as well as the steadfastness of his courage.

"After emerging from these wilds, he found his way along the banks of the Arno to Leghorn: thence he procured a passage to America; whence he had just returned, with many additions to his experience, but none to his fortune.

"This was a remarkable event: it did not at first appear how far its consequences would extend: the lady was, at present, disengaged and independent: though the passion which clouded her early prosperity was extinct, time had not diminished the worth of her friend; and they were far from having reached that age when love becomes chimerical and marriage folly. A confidential intercourse was immediately established between them. The bounty of Mrs. Lorimer soon divested her friend of all fear of poverty.—'At any rate,' said she, 'he shall wander no farther, but shall be comfortably situated for the rest of his life.'

"All his scruples were vanquished by the reasonableness of her remonstrances, and the vehemence of her solicitations.