ChapterVIII
THESOLITUDEANDSOLILOQUYOFTHEEGYPTIAN。HISCHARACTERANALYSED。
WEmustgobackafewhoursintheprogressofourstory。Atthefirstgreydawnoftheday，whichGlaucushadalreadymarkedwithwhite，theEgyptianwasseated，sleeplessandalone，onthesummitoftheloftyandpyramidaltowerwhichflankedhishouse。Atallparapetarounditservedasawall，andconspired，withtheheightoftheedificeandthegloomytreesthatgirdedthemansion，todefythepryingeyesofcuriosityorobservation。A
table，onwhichlayascroll，filledwithmysticfigures，wasbeforehim。
Onhigh，thestarswaxeddimandfaint，andtheshadesofnightmeltedfromthesterilemountain—tops；onlyaboveVesuviusthererestedadeepandmassycloud，whichforseveraldayspasthadgathereddarkerandmoresolidoveritssummit。Thestruggleofnightanddaywasmorevisibleoverthebroadocean，whichstretchedcalm，likeagiganticlake，boundedbythecirclingshoresthat，coveredwithvinesandfoliage，andgleaminghereandtherewiththewhitewallsofsleepingcities，slopedtothescarceripplingwaves。