Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 4).djvu/131

This page needs to be proofread.

him for months; he likes nothing but fishing, and lives upon very little."

"He is a strange worthless being, I think," said Ferdinand, "and altogether such a character as I had no idea of; for he is not a religious man, a man of knowledge, or in any shape desirous of obtaining useful information; a poor pusillanimous idle creature, that crawls upon the earth, insensible to every thing.

"However, if he has no curiosity, I have, and should like of all things, to examine this pavilion."

"You may walk to it, if you can, with all my heart," said the man; 'tis but a little way detached from the building you see;—there is a private communication below stairs, but that has long been nailed up.

"By day, Sir, I am sure you may go, because I often pass it, and never heard any thing in my life."

"Well, then," said Ferdinand, "I will take an opportunity to look at it; you have the keys, I suppose."