Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/70

 ten paces: his attitude was that of one employed in watching my motions; his face was turned towards me, and happened, at that moment, to be fully illuminated by the rays of a globe lamp that hung over the door. I instantly recognised his features—I was petrified—I had no power to execute my design, or even to move, but stood for some seconds gazing upon him. He was in no degree disconcerted by the eagerness of my scrutiny; he seemed perfectly indifferent to the consequences of being known. At length he slowly turned his eyes to another quarter, but without changing his posture, or the sternness of his looks. I cannot describe to you the shock which this encounter produced in me. At last I went into the house, and have ever since been excessively uneasy.'

I do not see any ground for uneasiness.'

You do not then suspect who this person is?'

No.'

It is Arthur Wiatte.'

Good Heaven! it is impossible! What, my lady's brother?'

The same.'

It cannot be! Were we not assured of his death—that he perished in a mutiny on board the vessel in which he was embarked for transportation?'

Such was rumour, which is easily mistaken: my eyes cannot be deceived in this case; I should as easily fail to recognise his sister, when I first met her, as him: this is the man; whether once dead or not, he is, at present, alive, and in this city.'

But has any thing since happened to confirm you in this opinion?'

Yes, there has. As soon as I had recovered from my first surprise, I began to reflect upon the measures proper to be taken. This was the identical Arthur Wiatte—you know his character: no time was likely to change the principles of such a man; but his appearance sufficiently betrayed the incurableness of his habits: the same sullen and atrocious passions were written in his visage. You recollect the vengeance which Wiatte denounced against his sister: there is every thing to dread from his malignity.