Франкенштейн

           Heisnowmuchrecoveredfromhisillnessandiscontinuallyonthedeck,apparentlywatchingforthesledgethatprecededhisown.Yet,althoughunhappy,heisnotsoutterlyoccupiedbyhisownmiserybutthatheinterestshimselfdeeplyintheprojectsofothers.Hehasfrequentlyconversedwithmeonmine,whichIhavecommunicatedtohimwithoutdisguise.HeenteredattentivelyintoallmyargumentsinfavourofmyeventualsuccessandintoeveryminutedetailofthemeasuresIhadtakentosecureit.Iwaseasilyledbythesympathywhichheevincedtousethelanguageofmyheart,togiveutterancetotheburningardourofmysoul,andtosay,withallthefervourthatwarmedme,howgladlyIwouldsacrificemyfortune,myexistence,myeveryhope,tothefurtheranceofmyenterprise.Oneman’slifeordeathwerebutasmallpricetopayfortheacquirementoftheknowledgewhichIsought,forthedominionIshouldacquireandtransmitovertheelementalfoesofourrace.AsIspoke,adarkgloomspreadovermylistener’scountenance.AtfirstIperceivedthathetriedtosuppresshisemotion;heplacedhishandsbeforehiseyes,andmyvoicequiveredandfailedmeasIbeheldtearstricklefastfrombetweenhisfingers;agroanburstfromhisheavingbreast.Ipaused;atlengthhespoke,inbrokenaccents:‘Unhappyman!Doyousharemymadness?Haveyoudrunkalsooftheintoxicatingdraught?Hearme;letmerevealmytale,andyouwilldashthecupfromyourlips!’

           Suchwords,youmayimagine,stronglyexcitedmycuriosity;buttheparoxysmofgriefthathadseizedthestrangerovercamehisweakenedpowers,andmanyhoursofreposeandtranquilconversationwerenecessarytorestorehiscomposure.