Франкенштейн

           Nordidmyhatelongconfineitselftouselesswishes;Ibegantoreflectonthebestmeansofsecuringhim;andforthispurpose,aboutamonthaftermyrelease,IrepairedtoacriminaljudgeinthetownandtoldhimthatIhadanaccusationtomake,thatIknewthedestroyerofmyfamily,andthatIrequiredhimtoexerthiswholeauthorityfortheapprehensionofthemurderer.Themagistratelistenedtomewithattentionandkindness.

           "Beassured,sir,"saidhe,"nopainsorexertionsonmypartshallbesparedtodiscoverthevillain."

           "Ithankyou,"repliedI;"listen,therefore,tothedepositionthatIhavetomake.ItisindeedatalesostrangethatIshouldfearyouwouldnotcredititweretherenotsomethingintruthwhich,howeverwonderful,forcesconviction.Thestoryistooconnectedtobemistakenforadream,andIhavenomotiveforfalsehood."MymannerasIthusaddressedhimwasimpressivebutcalm;Ihadformedinmyownheartaresolutiontopursuemydestroyertodeath,andthispurposequietedmyagonyandforanintervalreconciledmetolife.Inowrelatedmyhistorybrieflybutwithfirmnessandprecision,markingthedateswithaccuracyandneverdeviatingintoinvectiveorexclamation.

           Themagistrateappearedatfirstperfectlyincredulous,butasIcontinuedhebecamemoreattentiveandinterested;Isawhimsometimesshudderwithhorror;atothersalivelysurprise,unmingledwithdisbelief,waspaintedonhiscountenance.WhenIhadconcludedmynarrationIsaid,"ThisisthebeingwhomIaccuseandforwhoseseizureandpunishmentIcalluponyoutoexertyourwholepower.Itisyourdutyasamagistrate,andIbelieveandhopethatyourfeelingsasamanwillnotrevoltfromtheexecutionofthosefunctionsonthisoccasion."Thisaddresscausedaconsiderablechangeinthephysiognomyofmyownauditor.