"I would have waited with pleasure still longer," replied I, "without the least token of diffidence, if I had been sure of seeing you at last. I willingly would have undergone every difficulty in order to obey your commands, and to get rid of my doubts."
"That you shall," said he; "follow me."
"Now he began to walk so fast that I hardly could keep up with him; he uttered not a word; we arrived at the gate and it was opened at his command; our way led straight through the suburbs, at the bottom of which a solitary house was standing: My conductor knocked at the door; we were let in: The house appeared to be empty, and deserted, and we saw no living soul except an old decripid man, who had opened the door. The stranger ordered a light; a lamp was brought, and now he walked, without stopping, thro' a dark passage 'till we came to a door, leading into a garden, in the back of which was a small pleasure-house; my conductor open-ed
