- end_line
- 12613
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T03:48:16.157Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 12549
- text
- ‘Confusion seize the Greek!’ exclaimed I, as wrathfully rising from my
chair, I flung my ancient lexicon across the room, and seizing my hat
and cane, and throwing on my cloak, I sallied out into the clear air of
heaven. The bracing coolness of an April evening calmed my aching
temples, and I slowly wended my way to the river-side. I had promenaded
the bank for about half an hour, when flinging myself upon the grassy
turf, I was soon lost in revery, and up to the lips in sentiment.
I had not lain more than five minutes, when a figure, effectually
concealed in the ample folds of a cloak, glided past me, and hastily
dropping something at my feet, disappeared behind the angle of an
adjoining house, ere I could recover from my astonishment at so singular
an occurrence.
‘Cerbes!’ cried I, springing up, ‘here is a spice of the marvellous!’
and stooping down, I picked up an elegant little rose-coloured,
lavender-scented _billet-doux_, and hurriedly breaking the seal (a
heart, transfixed with an arrow) I read by the light of the moon the
following:--
‘GENTLE SIR,--If my fancy has painted you in genuine colours, you
will on the receipt of this, incontinently follow the bearer where
she will lead you.
‘INAMORATA.’
‘The deuce I will!’ exclaimed I. ‘But soft!’ And I reperused this
singular document, turned over the billet in my fingers, and examined
the handwriting, which was femininely delicate, and I could have sworn
was a woman’s. Is it possible, thought I, that the days of romance are
revived? No, ‘The days of chivalry are over!’ says Burke.
As I made this reflection, I looked up, and beheld the same figure which
had handed me this questionable missive, beckoning me forward. I started
toward her; but, as I approached, she receded from me, and fled swiftly
along the margin of the river at a pace, which, encumbered as I was with
my heavy cloak and boots, I was unable to follow; and which filled me
with sundry misgivings as to the nature of the being who could travel
with such amazing celerity. At last, perfectly breathless, I fell into a
walk; which my mysterious fugitive perceiving, she likewise lessened her
pace, so as to keep herself still in sight, although at too great a
distance to permit me to address her.
Having recovered from my fatigue, and regained my breath, I loosened the
clasp of my cloak, and inwardly resolving that I would come at the
bottom of the mystery, I desperately flung the mantle from my shoulders,
and dashing my beaver to the ground, gave chase in good earnest to the
tantalising stranger. No sooner did I from my extravagant actions
announce my intention to overtake her, than with a light laugh of
derision, she sprang forward at a rate, which in attempting to outstrip,
soon left me far in the rear, heartily disconcerted and crestfallen, and
inly cursing the _ignis fatuus_ that danced so provokingly before me.
At length, like everyone else, learning wisdom from experience, I
thought my policy lay in silently following the footsteps of my
eccentric guide, and quietly waiting the _dénouement_ of this
extraordinary adventure. So soon as I relaxed my speed, and gave
evidence of having renounced my more summary mode of procedure, the
stranger, regulating her movements by mine, proceeded at a pace which
preserved between us a uniform distance, ever and anon looking back like
a wary general to see if I were again inclined to try the mettle of her
limbs.
- title
- Chunk 1