Chapter 24

           Mypresentsituationwasoneinwhichallvoluntarythoughtwasswallowedupandlost.Iwashurriedawaybyfury;revengealoneendowedmewithstrengthandcomposure;itmouldedmyfeelingsandallowedmetobecalculatingandcalmatperiodswhenotherwisedeliriumordeathwouldhavebeenmyportion.

           MyfirstresolutionwastoquitGenevaforever;mycountry,which,whenIwashappyandbeloved,wasdeartome,now,inmyadversity,becamehateful.Iprovidedmyselfwithasumofmoney,togetherwithafewjewelswhichhadbelongedtomymother,anddeparted.Andnowmywanderingsbeganwhicharetoceasebutwithlife.Ihavetraversedavastportionoftheearthandhaveenduredallthehardshipswhichtravellersindesertsandbarbarouscountriesarewonttomeet.HowIhavelivedIhardlyknow;manytimeshaveIstretchedmyfailinglimbsuponthesandyplainandprayedfordeath.Butrevengekeptmealive;Idarednotdieandleavemyadversaryinbeing.

           WhenIquittedGenevamyfirstlabourwastogainsomecluebywhichImighttracethestepsofmyfiendishenemy.Butmyplanwasunsettled,andIwanderedmanyhoursroundtheconfinesofthetown,uncertainwhatpathIshouldpursue.AsnightapproachedIfoundmyselfattheentranceofthecemeterywhereWilliam,Elizabeth,andmyfatherreposed.Ientereditandapproachedthetombwhichmarkedtheirgraves.Everythingwassilentexcepttheleavesofthetrees,whichweregentlyagitatedbythewind;thenightwasnearlydark,andthescenewouldhavebeensolemnandaffectingeventoanuninterestedobserver.Thespiritsofthedepartedseemedtoflitaroundandtocastashadow,whichwasfeltbutnotseen,aroundtheheadofthemourner.