This place being recommended to
him, both by its quiet seclusion, and the unsophisticated manners of
its inhabitants, he determined to pass the remnant of his days here,
and, by devoting them to the purposes of piety, charity, and science,
to discharge his duty to his Creator, his species, and himself, 'for
the love of knowledge,' he added, 'has long been my chief source of
selfish enjoyment'"
The acquaintance between Atterley and the Brahmin, ripened by degrees,
into that close friendship, which a congeniality of tastes and
sentiments, under proper opportunities, never fails to engender.
Atterley's visits to the hermitage, became more and more frequent, for
upwards of three years, during which period, the Brahmin had
occasionally thrown out obscure hints, that the time would come, when
our hero should be restored to liberty, and that he had an important
secret which he would one day communicate. About this period, one
afternoon in the month of March, when Atterley repaired, as usual, to
the hermitage, he found the Brahmin dangerously ill of a pleuritic
affection, and apprehensive that the attack might prove fatal--
"Sit down," said he, "on that block, and listen to what I shall say to
you Though I shall quit this state of being for another and a better,
I confess that I was alarmed at the thought of expiring, before I had
an opportunity of seeing and conversing with you I am the depository
of a secret, that I believe is known to no other living mortal I once
determined that it should die with me, and had I not met with you, it
certainly should But from our first acquaintance, my heart has been
strongly attracted towards you, and as soon as I found you possessed
of qualities to inspire esteem as well as regard, I felt disposed to
give you this proof of my confidence Still I hesitated I first wished
to deliberate on the probable effects of my disclosure upon the
condition of society I saw that it might produce evil, as well as
good, but on weighing the two together, I have satisfied myself that
the good will preponderate, and have determined to act accordingly
Take this key, (stretching out his feverish hand,) and after waiting
two hours, in which time the medicine I have taken will have either
produced a good effect or put an end to my sufferings, you may then
open that blue chest in the corner It has a false bottom On removing
the paper which covers it, you will find the manuscript containing the
important secret, together with some gold pieces, which I have saved
for the day of need--because--(and he smiled in spite of his
sufferings)--because hoarding is one of the pleasures of old men.
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