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Chapter IV. From the Kerguelen Isles to Prince Edward Island

           

           “Andnow,”heresumedinasharpertoneandwithashakeinhisvoicewhichdenotedacertainamountofnervousirritation,“itispossiblethatyoudidnotknowthePymfamily;thatyouhavenevermetthemeitheratProvidenceoratNantucket—”

           “Orelsewhere.”

           “Justso!Butdon’tcommityourselfbyassertingthatthePymfamilyneverexisted,thatArthurGordonisonlyafictitiouspersonage,andhisvoyageanimaginaryone!Doyouthinkanyman,evenyourEdgarPoe,couldhavebeencapableofinventing,ofcreating—?”

           TheincreasingvehemenceofCaptainLenGuywarnedmeofthenecessityoftreatinghismonomaniawithrespect,andacceptingallhesaidwithoutdiscussion.

           “Now,”heproceeded,“pleasetokeepthefactswhichIamabouttostateclearlyinyourmind;thereisnodisputingaboutfacts.Youmaydeduceanyresultsfromthemyoulike.IhopeyouwillnotmakemeregretthatIconsentedtogiveyouapassageontheHalbrane.”

           Thiswasaneffectualwarning,soImadeasignofacquiescence.Thematterpromisedtobecurious.Hewenton,—

           “WhenEdgarPoe’snarrativeappearedin1838,IwasatNewYork.IimmediatelystartedforBaltimore,wherethewriter’sfamilylived;thegrandfatherhadservedasquarter-master-generalduringtheWarofIndependence.Youadmit,Isuppose,theexistenceofthePoefamily,althoughyoudenythatofthePymfamily?”

           Isaidnothing,andthecaptaincontinued,withadarkglanceatme,—

           “IinquiredintocertainmattersrelatingtoEdgarPoe.

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