hand。
I took up his two testamentary documents； both were addressed in
the shape of letters to myself。 The first was a rapid though
distinct appropriation of his enormous property。 General rules
were laid down； upon which the property was to be distributed； but
the details were left to my discretion； and to the guidance of
circumstances as they should happen to emerge from the various
inquiries which it would become necessary to set on foot。 This
first document I soon laid aside； both because I found that its
provisions were dependent for their meaning upon the second； and
because to this second document I looked with confidence for a
solution of many mysteries；of the profound sadness which had；
from the first of my acquaintance with him； possessed a man so
gorgeously endowed as the favorite of nature and fortune； of his
motives for huddling up； in a clandestine manner； that connection
which formed the glory of his life； and possibly （but then I
hesitated） of the late unintelligible murders； which still lay
under as profound a cloud as ever。 Much of this WOULD be unveiled
all might be： and there and then； with the corpse lying beside me
of the gifted and mysterious writer； I seated myself； and read the
following statement：
〃MARCH 26； 1817。
〃My trial is finished； my conscience； my duty； my honor； are
liberated； my 'warfare is accomplished。' Margaret； my innocent
young wife； I have seen for the last time。 Her； the crown that
might have been of my earthly felicityher； the one temptation to
put aside the bitter cup which awaited meher； sole seductress （O
innocent seductress！） from the stern duties which my fate had
imposed upon meher； even her； I have sacrificed。
〃Before I go； partly lest the innocent should be brought into
question for acts almost exclusively mine； but still more lest the
lesson and the warning which God； by my hand； has written in blood
upon your guilty walls； should perish for want of its authentic
exposition； hear my last dying avowal； that the murders which have
desolated so many families within your walls； and made the
household hearth no sanctuary； age no charter of protection； are
all due originally to my head； if not always to my hand； as the
minister of a dreadful retribution。
〃That account of my history； and my prospects； which you received
from the Russian diplomatist； among some errors of little
importance； is essentially correct。 My father was not so
immediately connected with English blood as is there represented。
However； it is true that he claimed descent from an English family
of even higher distinction than that which is assigned in the
Russian statement。 He was proud of this English descent； and the
more so as the war with revolutionary France brought out more
prominently than ever the moral and civil grandeur of England。
This pride was generous； but it was imprudent in his situation。
His immediate progenitors had been settled in Italyat Rome first；
but latterly at Milan； and his whole property； large and scattered；
came； by the progress of the revolution； to stand under French
domination。 Many spoliations he suffered； but still he was too
rich to be seriously injured。 But he foresaw； in the progress of
events； still greater perils menacing his most capital resources。
Many of the states or princes in Italy were deeply in his debt；
and； in the great convulsions which threatened his country； he saw
that both the contending parties would find a colorable excuse for
absolving themselves from engagements which pressed unpleasantly
upon their finances。 In this embarrassment he formed an intimacy
with a French officer of high rank and high principle。 My father's
friend saw his danger； and advised him to enter the French service。
In his younger days； my father had served extensively under many
princes； and had found in every other military service a spirit of
honor governing the conduct of the officers。 Here only； and for
the first time； he found ruffian manners and universal rapacity。
He could not draw his sword in company with such men； nor in such a
cause。 But at length； under the pressure of necessity； he accepted
（or rather bought with an immense bribe） the place of a commissary
to the French forces in Italy。 With this one resource； eventually
he succeeded in making good the whole of his public claims upon the
Italian states。 These vast sums he remitted； through various
channels； to England； where he became proprietor in the funds to an
immense amount。 Incautiously； however； something of this
transpired； and the result was doubly unfortunate； for； while his
intentions were thus made known as finally pointing to England；
which of itself made him an object of hatred and suspicion； it also
diminished his means of bribery。 These considerations； along with
another； made some French officers of high rank and influence the
bitter enemies of my father。 My mother； whom he had married when
holding a brigadier…general's commission in the Austrian service；
was； by birth and by religion； a Jewess。 She was of exquisite
beauty； and had been sought in Morganatic marriage by an archduke
of the Austrian family； but she had relied upon this plea； that
hers was the purest and noblest blood among all Jewish families
that her family traced themselves； by tradition and a vast series
of attestations under the hands of the Jewish high priests； to the
Maccabees； and to the royal houses of Judea； and that for her it
would be a degradation to accept even of a sovereign prince on the
terms of such marriage。 This was no vain pretension of
ostentatious vanity。 It was one which had been admitted as valid
for time immemorial in Transylvania and adjacent countries； where
my mother's family were rich and honored； and took their seat among
the dignitaries of the land。 The French officers I have alluded
to； without capacity for anything so dignified as a deep passion；
but merely in pursuit of a vagrant fancy that would； on the next
day； have given place to another equally fleeting； had dared to
insult my mother with proposals the most licentiousproposals as
much below her rank and birth； as； at any rate； they would have
been below her dignity of mind and her purity。 These she had
communicated to my father； who bitterly resented the chains of
subordination which tied up his hands from avenging his injuries。
Still his eye told a tale which his superiors could brook as little
as they could the disdainful neglect of his wife。 More than one
had been concerned in the injuries to my father and mother； more
than one were interested in obtaining revenge。 Things could be
done in German towns； and by favor of old German laws or usages；
which even in France could not have been tolerated。 This my
father's enemies well knew； but this my father also knew； and he
endeavored to lay down his office of commissary。 That； however；
was a favor which he could not obtain。 He was compelled to serve
on the German campaign then commencing； and on the subsequent one
of Friedland and Eylau。 Here he was caught in some one of the
snares laid for him； first trepanned into an act which violated
some rule of the service； and then provoked into a breach of
discipline against the general officer who had thus trepanned him。
Now was the long…sought opportunity gained； and in that very
quarter of Germany best fitted for improving it。 My father was
thrown into prison in your city； subjected to the atrocious
oppression of your jailer； and the more detestable oppression of
your local laws。 The charges against him were thought even to
affect his life； and he was humbled into suing for permission to
send for his wife and children。 Already； to his proud spirit； it
was punishment enough that he should be reduced to sue for favor to
one of his bitterest foes。 But it was no part of their plan to
refuse THAT。 By way of expediting my mother's arrival； a military
courier； with every facility for the journey； was forwarded to her
without delay。 My mother； her two daughters； and myself； were then
residing in Venice。 I had； through the aid of my father's
connections in Austria； been appointed in the imperial service； and
held a high commission for my age。 But； on my father's marching
northward with the French army； I had been recalled as an
indispensable support to my mother。 Not that my years could have
made me such； for I had barely accomplished my twelfth year； but my
premature growth； and my military station； had given me
considerable knowledge of the world and presence of mind。
〃Our journey I pass over； but as I approach your city； that
sepulcher of honor and happiness to my poor family； my heart beats
with frantic emotions。 Never do I see that venerable dome of your
minster from the forest； but I curse its form； which reminds me of
what we then surveyed for many a mile as we traversed the forest。
For leagues before we approached the city； this object lay before
us in relief upon the frosty blue sky； and still it seemed never to
increase。 Such was the complaint of my little sister Mariamne。
Most innocent child！ would that it never had increased for thy
eyes； but remained forever at a distance！ That same hour began the
series of monstrous indignities which terminated the career of my
ill…fated family。 As we drew up to the city gates； the officer who
inspected the passports； finding my mother and sisters described as
Jewesses； which in my mother's ears （reared in a region where Jews
are not dishonored） always sounded a title of distinction； summoned
a subordinate agent； who in coarse terms demanded his toll。 We
presumed this to be a road tax for the carriage and horses； but we
were quickly undeceived； a small sum was demanded for each of my
sisters and my mother； as for so many head of cattle。 I； fancying
some mistake； spoke to the man temperately； and； to do him justice；
he did not seem desirous of insulting us； but he produced a printed
board； on which； along with the vilest animals； Jews and Jewesses
were rated at so much a head。 While we were debating the point；
the officers of the gate wore a sneering smile upon their faces
the postilions were laughing together； and this； too； in