takes possession of the mind in dreamswhen one feels oneself
sleeping alone； utterly divided from all call or hearing of
friends； doors open that should be shut； or unlocked that should be
triply secured； the very walls gone； barriers swallowed up by
unknown abysses； nothing around one but frail curtains； and a world
of illimitable night； whisperings at a distance； correspondence
going on between darkness and darkness； like one deep calling to
another； and the dreamer's own heart the center from which the
whole network of this unimaginable chaos radiates； by means of
which the blank PRIVATIONS of silence and darkness become powers
the most POSITIVE and awful。
Agencies of fear； as of any other passion； and； above all； of
passion felt in communion with thousands； and in which the heart
beats in conscious sympathy with an entire city； through all its
regions of high and low； young and old； strong and weak； such
agencies avail to raise and transfigure the natures of men； mean
minds become elevated； dull men become eloquent； and when matters
came to this crisis； the public feeling； as made known by voice；
gesture； manner； or words； was such that no stranger could
represent it to his fancy。 In that respect； therefore； I had an
advantage； being upon the spot through the whole course of the
affair； for giving a faithful narrative； as I had still more
eminently； from the sort of central station which I occupied； with
respect to all the movements of the case。 I may add that I had
another advantage； not possessed； or not in the same degree； by any
other inhabitant of the town。 I was personally acquainted with
every family of the slightest account belonging to the resident
population； whether among the old local gentry； or the new settlers
whom the late wars had driven to take refuge within our walls。
It was in September； 1815； that I received a letter from the chief
secretary to the Prince of M； a nobleman connected with the
diplomacy of Russia； from which I quote an extract： 〃I wish； in
short； to recommend to your attentions； and in terms stronger than
I know how to devise； a young man on whose behalf the czar himself
is privately known to have expressed the very strongest interest。
He was at the battle of Waterloo as an aide…de…camp to a Dutch
general officer； and is decorated with distinctions won upon that
awful day。 However； though serving in that instance under English
orders； and although an Englishman of rank； he does not belong to
the English military service。 He has served； young as he is； under
VARIOUS banners； and under ours； in particular； in the cavalry of
our imperial guard。 He is English by birth； nephew to the Earl of
E。； and heir presumptive to his immense estates。 There is a wild
story current； that his mother was a gypsy of transcendent beauty；
which may account for his somewhat Moorish complexion； though；
after all； THAT is not of a deeper tinge than I have seen among
many an Englishman。 He is himself one of the noblest looking of
God's creatures。 Both father and mother； however； are now dead。
Since then he has become the favorite of his uncle； who detained
him in England after the emperor had departedand； as this uncle
is now in the last stage of infirmity； Mr。 Wyndham's succession to
the vast family estates is inevitable； and probably near at hand。
Meantime； he is anxious for some assistance in his studies。
Intellectually he stands in the very first rank of men； as I am
sure you will not be slow to discover； but his long military
service； and the unparalleled tumult of our European history since
1805； have interfered （as you may suppose） with the cultivation of
his mind； for he entered the cavalry service of a German power when
a mere boy； and shifted about from service to service as the
hurricane of war blew from this point or from that。 During the
French anabasis to Moscow he entered our service； made himself a
prodigious favorite with the whole imperial family； and even now is
only in his twenty…second year。 As to his accomplishments； they
will speak for themselves； they are infinite； and applicable to
every situation of life。 Greek is what he wants from you；never
ask about terms。 He will acknowledge any trouble he may give you；
as he acknowledges all trouble； en prince。 And ten years hence you
will look back with pride upon having contributed your part to the
formation of one whom all here at St。 Petersburg； not soldiers
only； but we diplomates； look upon as certain to prove a great man；
and a leader among the intellects of Christendom。〃
Two or three other letters followed； and at length it was arranged
that Mr。 Maximilian Wyndham should take up his residence at my
monastic abode for one year。 He was to keep a table； and an
establishment of servants； at his own cost； was to have an
apartment of some dozen or so of rooms； the unrestricted use of the
library； with some other public privileges willingly conceded by
the magistracy of the town； in return for all which he was to pay
me a thousand guineas； and already beforehand； by way of
acknowledgment for the public civilities of the town； he sent；
through my hands； a contribution of three hundred guineas to the
various local institutions for education of the poor； or for
charity。
The Russian secretary had latterly corresponded with me from a
little German town； not more than ninety miles distant； and； as he
had special couriers at his service； the negotiations advanced so
rapidly that all was closed before the end of September。 And； when
once that consummation was attained； I； that previously had
breathed no syllable of what was stirring； now gave loose to the
interesting tidings； and suffered them to spread through the whole
compass of the town。 It will be easily imagined that such a story；
already romantic enough in its first outline； would lose nothing in
the telling。 An Englishman to begin with； which name of itself；
and at all times； is a passport into German favor； but much more
since the late memorable wars that but for Englishmen would have
drooped into disconnected effortsnext； an Englishman of rank and
of the haute noblessethen a soldier covered with brilliant
distinctions； and in the most brilliant arm of the service； young；
moreover； and yet a veteran by his experiencefresh from the most
awful battle of this planet since the day of Pharsalia；radiant
with the favor of courts and of imperial ladies； finally （which
alone would have given him an interest in all female hearts）； an
Antinous of faultless beauty； a Grecian statue； as it were； into
which the breath of life had been breathed by some modern
Pygmalion；such a pomp of gifts and endowments settling upon one
man's head； should not have required for its effect the vulgar
consummation （and yet to many it WAS the consummation and crest of
the whole） that he was reputed to be rich beyond the dreams of
romance or the necessities of a fairy tale。 Unparalleled was the
impression made upon our stagnant society； every tongue was busy in
discussing the marvelous young Englishman from morning to night；
every female fancy was busy in depicting the personal appearance of
this gay apparition。
On his arrival at my house； I became sensible of a truth which I
had observed some years before。 The commonplace maxim is； that it
is dangerous to raise expectations too high。 This； which is thus
generally expressed； and without limitation； is true only
conditionally； it is true then and there only where there is but
little merit to sustain and justify the expectation。 But in any
case where the merit is transcendent of its kind； it is always
useful to rack the expectation up to the highest point。 In
anything which partakes of the infinite； the most unlimited
expectations will find ample room for gratification； while it is
certain that ordinary observers； possessing little sensibility；
unless where they have been warned to expect； will often fail to
see what exists in the most conspicuous splendor。 In this instance
it certainly did no harm to the subject of expectation that I had
been warned to look for so much。 The warning； at any rate； put me
on the lookout for whatever eminence there might be of grandeur in
his personal appearance； while； on the other hand； this existed in
such excess； so far transcending anything I had ever met with in my
experience； that no expectation which it is in words to raise could
have been disappointed。
These thoughts traveled with the rapidity of light through my
brain； as at one glance my eye took in the supremacy of beauty and
power which seemed to have alighted from the clouds before me。
Power； and the contemplation of power； in any absolute incarnation
of grandeur or excess； necessarily have the instantaneous effect of
quelling all perturbation。 My composure was restored in a moment。
I looked steadily at him。 We both bowed。 And； at the moment when
he raised his head from that inclination； I caught the glance of
his eye； an eye such as might have been looked for in a face of
such noble lineaments
〃Blending the nature of the star
With that of summer skies；〃
and； therefore； meant by nature for the residence and organ of
serene and gentle emotions； but it surprised； and at the same time
filled me more almost with consternation than with pity； to observe
that in those eyes a light of sadness had settled more profound
than seemed possible for youth； or almost commensurate to a human
sorrow； a sadness that might have become a Jewish prophet； when
laden with inspirations of woe。
Two months had now passed away since the arrival of Mr。 Wyndham。
He had been universally introduced to the superior society of the
place； and； as I need hardly say； universally received with favor
and distinction。 In reality； his wealth and importance； his
military honors； and the dignity of his character； as expressed in
his manners and deportment； were too eminent to allow of his being
treated with less than the highest attention in any society
whatever。 But the effect of these various advantages； enforced and
recommended as they were by a personal beauty so rare； was somewhat
too potent for the comfort and self…possessi