"None whatever, my lord, even if he were insane; although I now see how
I have been imposed upon. We allow the friends of any patient to remove
him, if they think that they can pay him more attention. He may leave
with you this moment."
I now did feel my brain turn with the revulsion from despair to hope,
and I fell back in my seat. The doctor, perceiving my condition, bled me
copiously, and laid me on the bed, where I remained more than an hour,
watched by General O'Brien. I then got up, calm and thankful. I was
shaved by the barber of the establishment, washed and dressed myself,
and, leaning on the general's arm, was let out. I cast my eyes upon the
two celebrated stone figures of Melancholy and Raving Madness, as I
passed them; I trembled, and clung more tightly to the general's arm,
was assisted into the carriage, and bade farewell to madness and misery.
The general said nothing until we approached the hotel where he resided,
in Dover-street, and then he inquired, in a low voice, whether I could
bear more excitement.
"It is Celeste you mean, general?"
"It is, my dear boy; she is here;" and he squeezed my hand.
"Alas!" cried I, "what hopes have I now of Celeste?"
"More than you had before," replied the general. "She lives but for you;
and if you are a beggar, I have a competence to make you sufficiently
comfortable."
I returned the general's pressure of the hand, but could not speak. We
descended, and in a minute I was led by the father into the arms of the
astonished daughter.
Pages:
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682