Shewas，itseems，thewidowofBenington，whomIknewinSpain。ThismanwasanEnglishmerchantsettledatBarcelona，towhomIhadbeencommendedbyLudloe\'sletters，andthroughwhommypecuniarysupplieswerefurnished……Muchintercourseandsomedegreeofintimacyhadtakenplacebetweenus，andIhadgainedaprettyaccurateknowledgeofhischaracter。Ihadbeeninformed，throughdifferentchannels，thathiswifewasmuchhissuperiorinrank，thatshepossessedgreatwealthinherownright，andthatsomedisagreementoftemperorviewsoccasionedtheirseparation。Shehadmarriedhimforlove，andstilldoatedonhim:
theoccasionsforseparationhavingarisen，itseems，notonhersidebutonhis。Ashishabitsofreflectionwerenowisefriendlytoreligion，andashers，accordingtoLudloe，wereoftheoppositekind，itispossiblethatsomejarringhadarisenbetweenthemfromthissource。Indeed，fromsomecasualandbrokenhintsofBenington，especiallyinthelatterpartofhislife，Ihadlongsincegatheredthisconjecture……Something，thoughtI，maybederivedfrommyacquaintancewithherhusbandfavourabletomyviews。
IanxiouslywaitedforanopportunityofacquaintingLudloewithmyresolution。Onthedayofourlastconversation，hehadmadeashortexcursionfromtown，intendingtoreturnthesameevening，buthadcontinuedabsentforseveraldays。Assoonashecameback，Ihastenedtoacquainthimwithmywishes。
Haveyouwellconsideredthismatter，saidhe。Beassureditisofnotrivialimport。Themomentatwhichyouenterthepresenceofthiswomanwilldecideyourfuturedestiny。Evenputtingoutofviewthesubjectofourlateconversations，thelightinwhichyoushallappeartoherwillgreatlyinfluenceyourhappiness，since，thoughyoucannotfailtoloveher，itisquiteuncertainwhatreturnshemaythinkpropertomake。Much，doubtless，willdependonyourownperseveranceandaddress，butyouwillhavemany，perhapsinsuperableobstaclestoencounteronseveralaccounts，andespeciallyinherattachmenttothememoryofherlatehusband。Astoherdevouttemper，thisisnearlyalliedtoawarmimaginationinsomeotherrespects，andwilloperatemuchmoreinfavourofanardentandartfullover，thanagainsthim。
Istillexpressedmywillingnesstotrymyfortunewithher。
Well，saidhe，Ianticipatedyourconsenttomyproposal，andthevisitIhavejustmadewastoher。Ithoughtitbesttopavetheway，byinformingherthatIhadmetwithoneforwhomshehaddesiredmetolookout。Youmustknowthatherfatherwasoneofthesesingularmenwhosetavalueuponthingsexactlyinproportiontothedifficultyofobtainingorcomprehendingthem。
Hispassionwasforantiques，andhisfavouritepursuitduringalonglifewasmonumentsinbrass，marble，andparchment，oftheremotestantiquity。Hewaswhollyindifferenttothecharacterorconductofourpresentsovereignandhisministers，butwasextremelysolicitousaboutthenameandexploitsofakingofIrelandthatlivedtwoorthreecenturiesbeforetheflood。Hefeltnocuriositytoknowwhowasthefatherofhiswife\'schild，butwouldtravelathousandmiles，andconsumemonths，ininvestigatingwhichsonofNoahitwasthatfirstlandedonthecoastofMunster。Hewouldgiveahundredguineasfromthemintforapieceofolddecayedcoppernobiggerthanhisnail，providedithadaukwardcharactersuponit，toomuchdefacedtoberead。
Thewholestockofagreatbooksellerwas，inhiseyes，acheapexchangeforashredofparchment，containinghalfahomilywrittenbySt。Patrick。HewouldhavegratefullygivenallhispatrimonialdomainstoonewhoshouldinformhimwhatpendragonordruiditwaswhosetupthefirststoneonSalisburyplain。
Thisspirit，asyoumayreadilysuppose，beingsecondedbygreatwealthandlonglife，contributedtoformaverylargecollectionofvenerablelumber，which，thoughbeyondallpricetothecollectorhimself，isofnovaluetohisheiressbutsofarasitismarketable。Shedesignstobringthewholetoauction，butforthispurposeacatalogueanddescriptionarenecessary。Herfathertrustedtoafaithfulmemory，andtovagueandscarcelylegiblememorandums，andhasleftaveryarduoustasktoanyonewhoshallbenamedtotheoffice。Itoccurredtome，thatthebestmeansofpromotingyourviewswastorecommendyoutothisoffice。
Youarenotentirelywithouttheantiquarianfrenzyyourself。
Theemployment，therefore，willbesomewhatagreeabletoyouforitsownsake。Itwillentitleyoutobecomeaninmateofthesamehouse，andthusestablishanincessantintercoursebetweenyou，andthenatureofthebusinessissuch，thatyoumayperformitinwhattime，andwithwhatdegreeofdiligenceandaccuracyyouplease。
Iventuredtoinsinuatethat，toawomanofrankandfamily，thecharacterofahirelingwasbynomeansafavourablerecommendation。
Heanswered，thatheproposed，bytheaccountheshouldgiveofme，toobviateeveryscrupleofthatnature。Thoughmyfatherwasnobetterthanafarmer，itisnotabsolutelycertainbutthatmyremoterancestorshadprincelybloodintheirveins:butaslongasproofsofmylowextractiondidnotimpertinentlyintrudethemselves，mysilence，or，atmost，equivocalsurmises，seasonablymadeuseof，mightsecuremefromallinconveniencesonthescoreofbirth。Heshouldrepresentme，andIwassuch，ashisfriend，favourite，andequal，andmypassionforantiquitiesshouldbemyprincipalinducementtoundertakethisoffice，thoughmypovertywouldmakenoobjectiontoareasonablepecuniaryrecompense。
Havingexpressedmyacquiescenceinhismeasures，hethusproceeded:Myvisitwasmadetomykinswoman，forthepurpose，asIjustnowtoldyou，ofpavingyourwayintoherfamily；but，onmyarrivalatherhouse，Ifoundnothingbutdisorderandalarm。Mrs。
Benington，itseems，onreturningfromalongerridethancustomary，lastThursdayevening，wasattackedbyrobbers。Herattendantsrelatedanimperfecttaleofsomebodyadvancingatthecriticalmomenttoherrescue。Itseems，however，theydidmoreharmthangood；forthehorsestooktoflightandoverturnedthecarriage，inconsequenceofwhichMrs。Beningtonwasseverelybruised。Shehaskeptherbedeversince，andafeverwaslikelytoensue，whichhasonlyleftheroutofdangerto-day。
Astheadventurebeforerelated，inwhichIhadsomuchconcern，occurredatthetimementionedbyLudloe，andasallothercircumstanceswerealike，IcouldnotdoubtthatthepersonwhomtheexertionofmymysteriouspowershadrelievedwasMrs。
Benington:butwhatanill-omenedinterferencewasmine！Therobberswouldprobablyhavebeensatisfiedwiththefewguineasinherpurse，and，onreceivingthese，wouldhavelefthertoprosecuteherjourneyinpeaceandsecurity，but，byabsurdlyofferingasuccour，whichcouldonlyoperateuponthefearsofherassailants，Iendangeredherlife，firstbythedesperatedischargeofapistol，andnextbythefrightofthehorses……
Myanxiety，whichwouldhavebeenlessifIhadnotbeen，insomedegree，myselftheauthoroftheevil，wasnearlyremovedbyLudloe\'sproceedingtoassuremethatalldangerwasatanend，andthathelefttheladyintheroadtoperfecthealth。Hehadseizedtheearliestopportunityofacquaintingherwiththepurposeofhisvisit，andhadbroughtbackwithhimhercheerfulacceptanceofmyservices。Thenextweekwasappointedformyintroduction。
Withsuchanobjectinview，Ihadlittleleisuretoattendtoanyindifferentobject。Mythoughtswerecontinuallybentupontheexpectedintroduction，andmyimpatienceandcuriositydrewstrength，notmerelyfromthecharacterofMrs。Benington，butfromthenatureofmynewemployment。Ludloehadtrulyobserved，thatIwasinfectedwithsomewhatofthisantiquarianmaniamyself，andInowrememberedthatBeningtonhadfrequentlyalludedtothiscollectioninpossessionofhiswife。Mycuriosityhadthenbeenmorethanonceexcitedbyhisrepresentations，andIhadformedavagueresolutionofmakingmyselfacquaintedwiththisladyandherlearnedtreasure，shouldIeverreturntoIrelandOtherincidentshaddriventhismatterfrommymind。
Meanwhile，affairsbetweenLudloeandmyselfremainedstationary。Ourconferences，whichwereregularanddaily，relatedtogeneraltopics，andthoughhisinstructionswereadaptedtopromotemyimprovementinthemostusefulbranchesofknowledge，theyneveraffordedaglimpsetowardsthatquarterwheremycuriositywasmostactive。
Thenextweeknowarrived，butLudloeinformedmethatthestateofMrs。Benington\'shealthrequiredashortexcursionintothecountry，andthathehimselfproposedtobearhercompany。Thejourneywastolastaboutafortnight，afterwhichImightpreparemyselfforanintroductiontoher。
Thiswasaveryunexpectedanddisagreeabletrialtomypatience。Theintervalofsolitudethatnowsucceededwouldhavepassedrapidlyandpleasantlyenough，ifaneventofsomuchmomentwerenotinsuspense。Books，ofwhichIwaspassionatelyfond，wouldhaveaffordedmedelightfulandincessantoccupation，andLudloe，bywayofreconcilingmetounavoidabledelays，hadgivenmeaccesstoalittlecloset，inwhichhisrarerandmorevaluablebookswerekept。
Allmyamusements，bothbyinclinationandnecessity，werecenteredinmyselfandathome。Ludloeappearedtohavenovisitants，andthoughfrequentlyabroad，oratleastsecludedfromme，hadneverproposedmyintroductiontoanyofhisfriends，exceptMrs。Benington。Myobligationstohimwerealreadytoogreattoallowmetolayclaimtonewfavoursandindulgences，nor，indeed，wasmydispositionsuchastomakesocietyneedfultomyhappiness。Mycharacterhadbeen，insomedegree，modelledbythefacultywhichIpossessed。Thisderivingallitssupposedvaluefromimpenetrablesecrecy，andLudloe\'sadmonitionstendingpowerfullytoimpressmewiththenecessityofwarinessandcircumspectioninmygeneralintercoursewithmankind，Ihadgraduallyfallenintosedate，reserved，mysterious，andunsociablehabits。Myheartwantednotafriend。
Inthistemperofmind，IsetmyselftoexaminethenoveltieswhichLudloe\'sprivatebook-casescontained。\'Twillbestrange，thoughtI，ifhisfavouritevolumedonotshowsomemarksofmyfriend\'scharacter。Toknowaman\'sfavouriteormostconstantstudiescannotfailoflettinginsomelittlelightuponhissecretthoughts，andthoughhewouldnothavegivenmethereadingofthesebooks，ifhehadthoughtthemcapableofunveilingmoreofhisconcernsthanhewished，yetpossiblymyingenuitymaygoonestepfartherthanhedreamsof。YoushalljudgewhetherIwasrightinmyconjectures。
ChapterIX。
Thebookswhichcomposedthislittlelibrarywerechieflythevoyagesandtravelsofthemissionariesofthesixteenthandseventeenthcenturies。Addedtotheseweresomeworksuponpoliticaleconomyandlegislation。Thosewriterswhohaveamusedthemselveswithreducingtheirideastopractice，anddrawingimaginarypicturesofnationsorrepublics，whosemannersorgovernmentcameuptotheirstandardofexcellence，were，allofwhomIhadeverheard，andsomeIhadneverheardofbefore，tobefoundinthiscollection。AtranslationofAristotle\'srepublic，thepoliticalromancesofsirThomasMoore，Harrington，andHume，appearedtohavebeenmuchread，andLudlowhadnotbeensparingofhismarginalcomments。Inthesewritersheappearedtofindnothingbuterrorandabsurdity；andhisnoteswereintroducedfornootherendthantopointoutgroundlessprinciplesandfalseconclusionsThestyleoftheseremarkswasalreadyfamiliartome。Isawnothingnewinthem，ordifferentfromthestrainofthosespeculationswithwhichLudlowwasaccustomedtoindulgehimselfinconversationwithme。
Afterhavingturnedovertheleavesoftheprintedvolumes，I
atlengthlightedonasmallbookofmaps，fromwhich，ofcourse，Icouldreasonablyexpectnoinformation，onthatpointaboutwhichIwasmostcurious。Itwasanatlas，inwhichthemapshadbeendrawnbythepen。Noneofthemcontainedanythingremarkable，sofarasI，whowasindeedasmattereringeography，wasabletoperceive，tillIcametotheend，whenInoticedamap，whoseprototypeIwaswhollyunacquaintedwith。Itwasdrawnonaprettylargescale，representingtwoislands，whichboresomefaintresemblance，intheirrelativeproportions，atleast，toGreatBritainandIreland。Inshapetheywerewidelydifferent，butastosizetherewasnoscalebywhichtomeasurethem。Fromthegreatnumberofsubdivisions，andfromsigns，whichapparentlyrepresentedtownsandcities，Iwasallowedtoinfer，thatthecountrywasatleastasextensiveastheBritishisles。Thismapwasapparentlyunfinished，forithadnonamesinscribeduponit。
Ihavejustsaid，mygeographicalknowledgewasimperfect。
ThoughIhadnotenoughtodrawtheoutlinesofanycountrybymemory，IhadstillsufficienttorecognizewhatIhadbeforeseen，andtodiscoverthatnoneofthelargerislandsinourgloberesembledtheonebeforeme。Havingsuchandsostrongmotivestocuriosity，youmayeasilyimaginemysensationsonsurveyingthismap。Suspecting，asIdid，thatmanyofLudlow\'sintimationsalludedtoacountrywellknowntohim，thoughunknowntoothers，Iwas，ofcourse，inclinedtosupposethatthiscountrywasnowbeforeme。
Insearchofsomecluetothismystery，Icarefullyinspectedtheothermapsinthiscollection。InamapoftheeasternhemisphereIsoonobservedtheoutlinesofislands，which，thoughonascalegreatlydiminished，wereplainlysimilartothatofthelandabovedescribed。
ItiswellknownthatthepeopleofEuropearestrangerstoverynearlyonehalfofthesurfaceoftheglobe。*Fromthesouthpoleuptotheequator，itisonlythesmallspaceoccupiedbysouthernAfricaandbySouthAmericawithwhichweareacquainted。
Thereisavastextent，sufficienttoreceiveacontinentaslargeasNorthAmerica，whichourignorancehasfilledonlywithwater。
InLudlow\'smapsnothingwasstilltobeseen，intheseregions，butwater，exceptinthatspotwherethetransverseparallelsofthesoutherntropicandthe150thdegreeeastlongitudeintersecteachother。OnthisspotwereLudlow\'sislandsplaced，thoughwithoutanynameorinscriptionwhatever。
IneedednottobetoldthatthisspothadneverbeenexploredbyanyEuropeanvoyager，whohadpublishedhisadventures。WhatauthorityhadLudlowforfixingahabitablelandinthisspot？andwhydidhegiveusnothingbutthecoursesofshoresandrivers，andthesciteoftownsandvillages，withoutaname？
AssoonasLudlowhadsetoutuponhisproposedjourneyofafortnight，Iunlockedhiscloset，andcontinuedrummagingamongthesebooksandmapstillnight。BythattimeIhadturnedovereverybookandalmosteveryleafinthissmallcollection，anddidnotopentheclosetagaintillneartheendofthatperiod。
MeanwhileIhadmanyreflectionsuponthisremarkablecircumstance。
CouldLudlowhaveintendedthatIshouldseethisatlas？Itwastheonlybookthatcouldbestyledamanuscriptontheseshelves，anditwasplacedbeneathseveralothers，inasituationfarfrombeingobviousandforwardtotheeyeorthehand。Wasitanoversightinhimtoleaveitinmyway，orcouldhehaveintendedtoleadmycuriosityandknowledgealittlefartheronwardbythisaccidentaldisclosure？IneithercasehowwasItoregulatemyfuturedeportmenttowardhim？WasItospeakandactasifthisatlashadescapedmyattentionornot？Ihadalready，aftermyfirstexaminationofit，placedthevolumeexactlywhereIfoundit。OneverysuppositionIthoughtthiswasthesafestway，andunlockedtheclosetasecondtime，toseethatallwaspreciselyintheoriginalorderHowwasIdismayedandconfoundedoninspectingtheshelvestoperceivethattheatlaswasgone。Thiswasatheft，which，fromtheclosetbeingunderlockandkey，andthekeyalwaysinmyownpocket，andwhich，fromtheverynatureofthethingstolen，couldnotbeimputedtoanyofthedomestics。
Afterafewmomentsasuspicionoccurred，whichwassoonchangedintOcertaintybyapplyingtothehousekeeper，whotoldmethatLudlowhadreturned，apparentlyinmuchhaste，theeveningofthedayonwhichhehadsetoutuponhisjourney，andjustafterIhadleftthehouse，thathehadgoneintotheroomwherethisclosetofbookswas，and，afterafewminutes\'stay，cameoutagainandwentaway。Shetoldmealso，thathehadmadegeneralenquiriesafterme，towhichshehadanswered，thatshehadnotseenmeduringtheday，andsupposedthatIhadspentthewholeofitabroad。Fromthisaccountitwasplain，thatLudlowhadreturnedfornootherpurposebuttoremovethisbookoutofmyreach。Butifhehadadoublekeytothisdoor，whatshouldhinderhishavingaccess，bythesamemeans，toeveryotherlockedupplaceinthehouse？
Thissuggestionmademestartwithterror。Ofsoobviousameansforpossessingaknowledgeofeverythingunderhisroof，I
hadneverbeentillthismomentaware。Suchistheinfatuationwhichlaysourmostsecretthoughtsopentotheworld\'sscrutiny。
Wearefrequentlyinmostdangerwhenwedeemourselvesmostsafe，andourfortressistakensometimesthroughapoint，whoseweaknessnothing，itshouldseem，buttheblindeststupiditycouldoverlook。
Myterrors，indeed，quicklysubsidedwhenIcametorecollectthattherewasnothinginanyclosetorcabinetofminewhichcouldpossiblythrowlightuponsubjectswhichIdesiredtokeepinthedark。ThemorecarefullyIinspectedmyowndrawers，andthemoreIreflectedonthecharacterofLudlow，asIhadknownit，thelessreasondidthereappearinmysuspicions；butIdrewalessonofcautionfromthiscircumstance，whichcontributedtomyfuturesafety。
FromthisincidentIcouldnotbutinferLudlow\'sunwillingnesstoletmesofarintohisgeographicalsecret，aswellasthecertaintyofthatsuspicion，whichhadveryearlybeensuggestedtomythoughts，thatLudlow\'splansofcivilizationhadbeencarriedintopracticeinsomeunvisitedcorneroftheworld。
Itwasstrange，however，thatheshouldbetrayhimselfbysuchaninadvertency。Onewhotalkedsoconfidentlyofhisownpowers，tounveilanysecretofmine，and，atthesametime，toconcealhisowntransactions，hadsurelycommittedanunpardonableerrorinleavingthisimportantdocumentinmyway。Myreverence，indeed，forLudlowwassuch，thatIsometimesentertainedthenotionthatthisseemingoversightwas，intruth，aregularcontrivancetosupplymewithaknowledge，ofwhich，whenIcamematurelytoreflect，itwasimpossibleformetomakeanyilluse。Thereisnouseinrelatingwhatwouldnotbebelieved；andshouldIpublishtotheworldtheexistenceofislandsinthespaceallottedbyLudlow\'smapstothese~incognitae~，whatwouldtheworldanswer？
Thatwhetherthespacedescribedwasseaorlandwasofnoimportance。Thatthemoralandpoliticalconditionofitsinhabitantswastheonlytopicworthyofrationalcuriosity。SinceIhadgainednoinformationuponthispoint；sinceIhadnothingtodisclosebutvainandfantasticsurmises；Imightaswellbeignorantofeverything。Thus，fromsecretlycondemningLudlow\'simprudence，Igraduallypassedtoadmirationofhispolicy。Thisdiscoveryhadnoothereffectthantostimulatemycuriosity；tokeepupmyzealtoprosecutethejourneyIhadcommencedunderhisauspices。
IhadhithertoformedaresolutiontostopwhereIwasinLudlow\'sconfidence:towaittillthesuccessshouldbeascertainedofmyprojectswithrespecttoMrs。Benington，beforeImadeanynewadvanceintheperilousandmysteriousroadintowhichhehadledmysteps。But，beforethistediousfortnighthadelapsed，Iwasgrownextremelyimpatientforaninterview，andhadnearlyresolvedtoundertakewhateverobligationheshouldlayuponme。
Thisobligationwasindeedaheavyone，sinceitincludedtheconfessionofmyvocalpowers。Initselftheconfessionwaslittle。Topossessthisfacultywasneitherlaudablenorculpable，norhaditbeenexercisedinawaywhichIshouldbeverymuchashamedtoacknowledge。Ithadledmeintomanyinsinceritiesandartifices，which，thoughnotjustifiablebyanycreed，wasentitledtosomeexcuse，onthescoreofyouthfulardourandtemerity。Thetruedifficultyinthewayoftheseconfessionswasthenothavingmadethemalready。Ludlowhadlongbeenentitledtothisconfidence，and，thoughtheexistenceofthispowerwasvenialorwhollyinnocent，theobstinateconcealmentofitwasadifferentmatter，andwouldcertainlyexposemetosuspicionandrebuke。Butwhatwasthealternative？Toconcealit。Toincurthosedreadfulpunishmentsawardedagainsttreasoninthisparticular。Ludlow\'smenacesstillrunginmyears，andappalledmyheart。HowshouldIbeabletoshunthem？ByconcealingfromeveryonewhatI
concealedfromhim？Howwasmyconcealmentofsuchafacultytobesuspectedorproved？UnlessIbetrayedmyself，whocouldbetrayme？