Франкенштейн

           Iwasexceedinglysurprisedonreceivingsorudeananswerfromastranger,andIwasalsodisconcertedonperceivingthefrowningandangrycountenancesofhiscompanions."Whydoyouanswermesoroughly?"Ireplied."SurelyitisnotthecustomofEnglishmentoreceivestrangerssoinhospitably."

           "Idonotknow,"saidtheman,"whatthecustomoftheEnglishmaybe,butitisthecustomoftheIrishtohatevillains."Whilethisstrangedialoguecontinued,Iperceivedthecrowdrapidlyincrease.Theirfacesexpressedamixtureofcuriosityandanger,whichannoyedandinsomedegreealarmedme.

           Iinquiredthewaytotheinn,butnoonereplied.Ithenmovedforward,andamurmuringsoundarosefromthecrowdastheyfollowedandsurroundedme,whenanill-lookingmanapproachingtappedmeontheshoulderandsaid,"Come,sir,youmustfollowmetoMr.Kirwin’stogiveanaccountofyourself."

           "WhoisMr.Kirwin?WhyamItogiveanaccountofmyself?Isnotthisafreecountry?"

           "Ay,sir,freeenoughforhonestfolks.Mr.Kirwinisamagistrate,andyouaretogiveanaccountofthedeathofagentlemanwhowasfoundmurderedherelastnight."

           Thisanswerstartledme,butIpresentlyrecoveredmyself.Iwasinnocent;thatcouldeasilybeproved;accordinglyIfollowedmyconductorinsilenceandwasledtooneofthebesthousesinthetown.Iwasreadytosinkfromfatigueandhunger,butbeingsurroundedbyacrowd,Ithoughtitpolitictorouseallmystrength,thatnophysicaldebilitymightbeconstruedintoapprehensionorconsciousguilt.