"
Thus Doctor Bainbridge closed; and, though his words were of death, and
the thoughts which he expressed were as old as the human race, I was
much affected by them. Young as was the speaker, his utterances conveyed
to me the impression that he himself had in some way learned the lesson
of which he spoke. For several moments we sat in silence; and then,
though I knew that he would have a few more words to say, I thought it
an appropriate time to thank him for his long, painstaking elaboration
of the old sailor's disclosures, which, as I knew partly from my own
personal knowledge, had been gained only by untiring perseverance and
inexhaustible patience. I thanked him, and complimented him as I thought
he deserved; and he was pleased, I plainly saw, with the few words of
commendation which he knew came from my heart.
We sat, smoking our cigars and chatting on various topics, until it was
almost the hour at which he usually said to me goodnight. Then he
returned to the Peters' story, saying:
"It only remains for me properly to dispose of Pym and Peters. Peters
knows no more--in fact, not as much--of Pym after he returned home, as
do we. Poe, we know, in the note to his 'Narrative,' alludes to 'the
late sudden and distressing death of Mr.
Pages:
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283