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arrangements strike people as remedies for the evil； so much the
more effectually did they aid the terror； but； above all； the awe；
the sense of mystery； when ten cases of total extermination；
applied to separate households； had occurred； in every one of which
these precautionary aids had failed to yield the slightest
assistance。 The horror； the perfect frenzy of fear； which seized
upon the town after that experience； baffles all attempt at
description。 Had these various contrivances failed merely in some
human and intelligible way； as by bringing the aid too tardily
still； in such cases； though the danger would no less have been
evidently deepened； nobody would have felt any further mystery than
what； from the very first； rested upon the persons and the motives
of the murderers。 But； as it was； when； in ten separate cases of
exterminating carnage； the astounded police； after an examination
the most searching； pursued from day to day； and almost exhausting
the patience by the minuteness of the investigation； had finally
pronounced that no attempt apparently had been made to benefit by
any of the signals preconcerted； that no footstep apparently had
moved in that directionthen； and after that result； a blind
misery of fear fell upon the population； so much the worse than any
anguish of a beleaguered city that is awaiting the storming fury of
a victorious enemy； by how much the shadowy； the uncertain； the
infinite； is at all times more potent in mastering the mind than a
danger that is known； measurable； palpable； and human。 The very
police； instead of offering protection or encouragement； were
seized with terror for themselves。 And the general feeling； as it
was described to me by a grave citizen whom I met in a morning walk
（for the overmastering sense of a public calamity broke down every
barrier of reserve； and all men talked freely to all men in the
streets； as they would have done during the rockings of an
earthquake）； was； even among the boldest； like that which sometimes
takes possession of the mind in dreamswhen one feels oneself
sleeping alone； utterly divided from all call or hearing of
friends； doors open that should be shut； or unlocked that should be
triply secured； the very walls gone； barriers swallowed up by
unknown abysses； nothing around one but frail curtains； and a world
of illimitable night； whisperings at a distance； correspondence
going on between darkness and darkness； like one deep calling to
another； and the dreamer's own heart the center from which the
whole network of this unimaginable chaos radiates； by means of
which the blank PRIVATIONS of silence and darkness become powers
the most POSITIVE and awful。
Agencies of fear； as of any other passion； and； above all； of
passion felt in communion with thousands； and in which the heart
beats in conscious sympathy with an entire city； through all its
regions of high and low； young and old； strong and weak； such
agencies avail to raise and transfigure the natures of men； mean
minds become elevated； dull men become eloquent； and when matters
came to this crisis； the public feeling； as made known by voice；
gesture； manner； or words； was such that no stranger could
represent it to his fancy。 In that respect； therefore； I had an
advantage； being upon the spot through the whole course of the
affair； for giving a faithful narrative； as I had still more
eminently； from the sort of central station which I occupied； with
respect to all the movements of the case。 I may add that I had
another advantage； not possessed； or not in the same degree； by any
other inhabitant of the town。 I was personally acquainted with
every family of the slightest account belonging to the resident
population； whether among the old local gentry； or the new settlers
whom the late wars had driven to take refuge within our walls。
It was in September； 1815； that I received a letter from the chief
secretary to the Prince of M； a nobleman connected with the
diplomacy of Russia； from which I quote an extract： 〃I wish； in
short； to recommend to your attentions； and in terms stronger than
I know how to devise； a young man on whose behalf the czar himself
is privately known to have expressed the very strongest interest。
He was at the battle of Waterloo as an aide…de…camp to a Dutch
general officer； and is decorated with distinctions won upon that
awful day。 However； though serving in that instance under English
orders； and although an Englishman of rank； he does not belong to
the English military service。 He has served； young as he is； under
VARIOUS banners； and under ours； in particular； in the cavalry of
our imperial guard。 He is English by birth； nephew to the Earl of
E。； and heir presumptive to his immense estates。 There is a wild
story current； that his mother was a gypsy of transcendent beauty；
which may account for his somewhat Moorish complexion； though；
after all； THAT is not of a deeper tinge than I have seen among
many an Englishman。 He is himself one of the noblest looking of
God's creatures。 Both father and mother； however； are now dead。
Since then he has become the favorite of his uncle； who detained
him in England after the emperor had departedand； as this uncle
is now in the last stage of infirmity； Mr。 Wyndham's succession to
the vast family estates is inevitable； and probably near at hand。
Meantime； he is anxious for some assistance in his studies。
Intellectually he stands in the very first rank of men； as I am
sure you will not be slow to discover； but his long military
service； and the unparalleled tumult of our European history since
1805； have interfered （as you may suppose） with the cultivation of
his mind； for he entered the cavalry service of a German power when
a mere boy； and shifted about from service to service as the
hurricane of war blew from this point or from that。 During the
French anabasis to Moscow he entered our service； made himself a
prodigious favorite with the whole imperial family； and even now is
only in his twenty…second year。 As to his accomplishments； they
will speak for themselves； they are infinite； and applicable to
every situation of life。 Greek is what he wants from you；never
ask about terms。 He will acknowledge any trouble he may give you；
as he acknowledges all trouble； en prince。 And ten years hence you
will look back with pride upon having contributed your part to the
formation of one whom all here at St。 Petersburg； not soldiers
only； but we diplomates； look upon as certain to prove a great man；
and a leader among the intellects of Christendom。〃
Two or three other letters followed； and at length it was arranged
that Mr。 Maximilian Wyndham should take up his residence at my
monastic abode for one year。 He was to keep a table； and an
establishment of servants； at his own cost； was to have an
apartment of some dozen or so of rooms； the unrestricted use of the
library； with some other public privileges willingly conceded by
the magistracy of the town； in return for all which he was to pay
me a thousand guineas； and already beforehand； by way of
acknowledgment for the public civilities of the town； he sent；
through my hands； a contribution of three hundred guineas to the
various local institutions for education of the poor； or for
charity。
The Russian secretary had latterly corresponded with me from a
little German town； not more than ninety miles distant； and； as he
had special couriers at his service； the negotiations advanced so
rapidly that all was closed before the end of September。 And； when
once that consummation was attained； I； that previously had
breathed no syllable of what was stirring； now gave loose to the
interesting tidings； and suffered them to spread through the whole
compass of the town。 It will be easily imagined that such a story；
already romantic enough in its first outline； would lose nothing in
the telling。 An Englishman to begin with； which name of itself；
and at all times； is a passport into German favor； but much more
since the late memorable wars that but for Englishmen would have
drooped into disconnected effortsnext； an Englishman of rank and
of the haute noblessethen a soldier covered with brilliant
distinctions； and in the most brilliant arm of the service； young；
moreover； and yet a veteran by his experiencefresh from the most
awful battle of this planet since the day of Pharsalia；radiant
with the favor of courts and of imperial ladies； finally （which
alone would have given him an interest in all female hearts）； an
Antinous of faultless beauty； a Grecian statue； as it were； into
which the breath of life had been breathed by some modern
Pygmalion；such a pomp of gifts and endowments settling upon one
man's head； should not have required for its effect the vulgar
consummation （and yet to many it WAS the consummation and crest of
the whole） that he was reputed to be rich beyond the dreams of
romance or the necessities of a fairy tale。 Unparalleled was the
impression made upon our stagnant society； every tongue was busy in
discussing the marvelous young Englishman from morning to night；
every female fancy was busy in depicting the personal appearance of
this gay a