Франкенштейн
Letter 4
Hiscountenanceinstantlyassumedanaspectofthedeepestgloom,andhereplied,‘Toseekonewhofledfromme.’
‘Anddidthemanwhomyoupursuedtravelinthesamefashion?’
‘Yes.’
‘ThenIfancywehaveseenhim,forthedaybeforewepickedyouupwesawsomedogsdrawingasledge,withamaninit,acrosstheice.’
Thisarousedthestranger’sattention,andheaskedamultitudeofquestionsconcerningtheroutewhichthedemon,ashecalledhim,hadpursued.Soonafter,whenhewasalonewithme,hesaid,‘Ihave,doubtless,excitedyourcuriosity,aswellasthatofthesegoodpeople;butyouaretooconsideratetomakeinquiries.’
‘Certainly;itwouldindeedbeveryimpertinentandinhumanofmetotroubleyouwithanyinquisitivenessofmine.’
‘Andyetyourescuedmefromastrangeandperiloussituation;youhavebenevolentlyrestoredmetolife.’
SoonafterthisheinquiredifIthoughtthatthebreakingupoftheicehaddestroyedtheothersledge.IrepliedthatIcouldnotanswerwithanydegreeofcertainty,fortheicehadnotbrokenuntilnearmidnight,andthetravellermighthavearrivedataplaceofsafetybeforethattime;butofthisIcouldnotjudge.
Fromthistimeanewspiritoflifeanimatedthedecayingframeofthestranger.
