Колодець і маятник

           Adeepsleepfelluponme—asleeplikethatofdeath. Howlongitlastedofcourse,Iknownot;butwhen,onceagain,Iunclosedmyeyes,theobjectsaroundmewerevisible. Byawildsulphurouslustre,theoriginofwhichIcouldnotatfirstdetermine,Iwasenabledtoseetheextentandaspectoftheprison. 

           InitssizeIhadbeengreatlymistaken. Thewholecircuitofitswallsdidnotexceedtwenty-fiveyards. Forsomeminutesthisfactoccasionedmeaworldofvaintrouble;vainindeed! forwhatcouldbeoflessimportance,undertheterriblecircumstanceswhichenvironedme,thenthemeredimensionsofmydungeon? Butmysoultookawildinterestintrifles,andIbusiedmyselfinendeavorstoaccountfortheerrorIhadcommittedinmymeasurement. Thetruthatlengthflasheduponme. InmyfirstattemptatexplorationIhadcountedfifty-twopaces,uptotheperiodwhenIfell;Imustthenhavebeenwithinapaceortwoofthefragmentofserge;infact,Ihadnearlyperformedthecircuitofthevault. Ithenslept,anduponawaking,Imusthavereturneduponmysteps—thussupposingthecircuitnearlydoublewhatitactuallywas. MyconfusionofmindpreventedmefromobservingthatIbeganmytourwiththewalltotheleft,andendeditwiththewalltotheright. 

           Ihadbeendeceived,too,inrespecttotheshapeoftheenclosure.