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suddenly awoke in dreadful perplexity as to how I should dispose of
it。
About nine o'clock next morning I set off to the house of the
Armenian； I had never called upon him so early before； and
certainly never with a heart beating with so much eagerness； but
the situation of my affairs had become very critical； and I thought
that I ought to lose no time in informing the Armenian that I was
at length perfectly willing either to translate the Haik Esop under
his superintendence； or to accept a seat at the desk opposite to
the Moldavian clerk； and acquire the secrets of Armenian commerce。
With a quick step I entered the counting…room； where；
notwithstanding the earliness of the hour； I found the clerk；
busied as usual at his desk。
He had always appeared to me a singular being； this same Moldavian
clerk。 A person of fewer words could scarcely be conceived：
provided his master were at home； he would； on my inquiring； nod
his head； and； provided he were not； he would invariably reply with
the monosyllable No； delivered in a strange guttural tone。 On the
present occasion； being full of eagerness and impatience； I was
about to pass by him to the apartment above； without my usual
inquiry； when he lifted his head from the ledger in which he was
writing； and； laying down his pen； motioned to me with his
forefinger； as if to arrest my progress； whereupon I stopped； and；
with a palpitating heart； demanded whether the master of the house
was at home。 The Moldavian clerk replied with his usual guttural；
and； opening his desk； ensconced his head therein。
'It does not much matter；' said I； 'I suppose I shall find him at
home after 'Change； it does not much matter； I can return。'
I was turning away with the intention of leaving the room； at this
moment； however； the head of the Moldavian clerk became visible；
and I observed a letter in his hand； which he had inserted in the
desk at the same time with his head； this he extended towards me；
making at the same time a sidelong motion with his head； as much as
to say that it contained something which interested me。
I took the letter； and the Moldavian clerk forthwith resumed his
occupation。 The back of the letter bore my name； written in
Armenian characters； with a trembling hand I broke the seal； and；
unfolding the letter； I beheld several lines also written in the
letters of Mesroub； the Cadmus of the Armenians。
I stared at the lines； and at first could not make out a syllable
of their meaning； at last； however； by continued staring； I
discovered that； though the letters were Armenian； the words were
English； in about ten minutes I had contrived to decipher the sense
of the letter； it ran somewhat in this style：…
'MY DEAR FRIEND … The words which you uttered in our last
conversation have made a profound impression upon me； I have
thought them over day and night； and have come to the conclusion
that it is my bounden duty to attack the Persians。 When these
lines are delivered to you； I shall be on the route to Ararat。 A
mercantile speculation will be to the world the ostensible motive
of my journey； and it is singular enough that one which offers
considerable prospect of advantage has just presented itself on the
confines of Persia。 Think not； however； that motives of lucre
would have been sufficiently powerful to tempt me to the East at
the present moment。 I may speculate； it is true； but I should
scarcely have undertaken the journey but for your pungent words
inciting me to attack the Persians。 Doubt not that I will attack
them on the first opportunity。 I thank you heartily for putting me
in mind of my duty。 I have hitherto； to use your own words； been
too fond of money…getting； like all my countrymen。 I am much
indebted to you； farewell！ and may every prosperity await you。'
For some time after I had deciphered the epistle； I stood as if
rooted to the floor。 I felt stunned … my last hope was gone；
presently a feeling arose in my mind … a feeling of self…reproach。
Whom had I to blame but myself for the departure of the Armenian？
Would he have ever thought of attacking the Persians had I not put
the idea into his head？ he had told me in his epistle that he was
indebted to me for the idea。 But for that； he might at the present
moment have been in London； increasing his fortune by his usual
methods； and I might be commencing under his auspices the
translation of the Haik Esop； with the promise； no doubt； of a
considerable remuneration for my trouble； or I might be taking a
seat opposite the Moldavian clerk； and imbibing the first rudiments
of doing business after the Armenian fashion； with the comfortable
hope of realising； in a short time； a fortune of three or four
hundred thousand pounds； but the Armenian was now gone； and
farewell to the fine hopes I had founded upon him the day before。
What was I to do？ I looked wildly around； till my eyes rested on
the Moldavian clerk； who was writing away in his ledger with
particular vehemence。 Not knowing well what to do or to say； I
thought I might as well ask the Moldavian clerk when the Armenian
had departed； and when he thought that he would return。 It is true
it mattered little to me when he departed； seeing that he was gone；
and it was evident that he would not be back soon； but I knew not
what to do； and in pure helplessness thought I might as well ask；
so I went up to the Moldavian clerk； and asked him when the
Armenian had departed； and whether he had been gone two days or
three。 Whereupon the Moldavian clerk； looking up from his ledger；
made certain signs； which I could by no means understand。 I stood
astonished； but； presently recovering myself； inquired when he
considered it probable that the master would return； and whether he
thought it would be two months or … my tongue faltered … two years；
whereupon the Moldavian clerk made more signs than before； and yet
more unintelligible； as I persisted； however； he flung down his
pen； and； putting his thumb into his mouth； moved it rapidly；
causing the nail to sound against the lower jaw； whereupon I saw
that he was dumb； and hurried away； for I had always entertained a
horror of dumb people； having once heard my another say； when I was
a child； that dumb people were half demoniacs； or little better。
CHAPTER LII
Kind of stupor … Peace of God … Divine hand … Farewell； child … The
fair … Massive edifice … Battered tars … Lost！ lost！ … Good…day；
gentlemen。
LEAVING the house of the Armenian； I strolled about for some time；
almost mechanically my feet conducted me to London Bridge； to the
booth in which stood the stall of the old apple…woman； the sound of
her voice aroused me； as I sat in a kind of stupor on the stone
bench beside her； she was inquiring what was the matter with me。
At first； I believe； I answered her very incoherently； for I
observed alarm beginning to depict itself upon her countenance。
Rousing myself； however； I in my turn put a few questions to her
upon her present condition and prospects。 The old woman's
countenance cleared up instantly； she informed me that she had
never been more comfortable in her life； that her trade； her HONEST
trade … laying an emphasis on the word honest … had increased of
late wonderfully； that her health was better； and； above all； that
she felt no fear and horror 'here；' laying her hand on her breast。
On my asking her whether she still heard voices in the night； she
told me that she frequently did； but that the present were mild
voices； sweet voices； encouraging voices； very different from the
former ones； that a voice； only the night previous； had cried out
about 'the peace of God；' in particularly sweet accents； a sentence
which she remembered to have read in her early youth in the primer；
but which she had clean forgotten till the voice the night before
brought it to her recollection。
After a pause； the old woman said to me； 'I believe； dear； that it
is the blessed book you brought me which has wrought this goodly
change。 How glad I am now that I can read； but oh what a
difference between the book you brought to me and the one you took
away！ I believe the one you brought is written by the finger of
God； and the other by … '
'Don't abuse the book；' said I； 'it is an excellent book for those
who can understand it； it was not exactly suited to you； and
perhaps it had been better that you had never read it … and yet；
who knows？ Peradventure； if you had not read that book； you would
not have been fitted for the perusal of the one which you say is
written by the finger of God'； and； pressing my hand to my head； I
fell into a deep fit of musing。 'What； after all；' thought I； 'if
there should be more order and system in the working of the