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           norcanIdoubtbutthatmytaleconveysinitsseriesinternalevidenceofthetruthoftheeventsofwhichitiscomposed.’

           YoumayeasilyimaginethatIwasmuchgratifiedbytheofferedcommunication,yetIcouldnotendurethatheshouldrenewhisgriefbyarecitalofhismisfortunes.Ifeltthegreatesteagernesstohearthepromisednarrative,partlyfromcuriosityandpartlyfromastrongdesiretoamelioratehisfateifitwereinmypower.Iexpressedthesefeelingsinmyanswer.

           ‘Ithankyou,’hereplied,‘foryoursympathy,butitisuseless;myfateisnearlyfulfilled.Iwaitbutforoneevent,andthenIshallreposeinpeace.Iunderstandyourfeeling,’continuedhe,perceivingthatIwishedtointerrupthim;‘butyouaremistaken,myfriend,ifthusyouwillallowmetonameyou;nothingcanaltermydestiny;listentomyhistory,andyouwillperceivehowirrevocablyitisdetermined.’

           HethentoldmethathewouldcommencehisnarrativethenextdaywhenIshouldbeatleisure.Thispromisedrewfrommethewarmestthanks.Ihaveresolvedeverynight,whenIamnotimperativelyoccupiedbymyduties,torecord,asnearlyaspossibleinhisownwords,whathehasrelatedduringtheday.IfIshouldbeengaged,Iwillatleastmakenotes.Thismanuscriptwilldoubtlessaffordyouthegreatestpleasure;buttome,whoknowhimandwhohearitfromhisownlips—withwhatinterestandsympathyshallIreaditinsomefutureday!Evennow,asIcommencemytask,hisfull-tonedvoiceswellsinmyears;hislustrouseyesdwellonmewithalltheirmelancholysweetness;Iseehisthinhandraisedinanimation,whilethelineamentsofhisfaceareirradiatedbythesoulwithin.Strangeandharrowingmustbehisstory,frightfulthestormwhichembracedthegallantvesselonitscourseandwreckedit—thus!