Strona 336 z 483

I trembled and my heart failed within me, when, on looking up, I

saw by the light of the moon the daemon at the casement. A

ghastly grin wrinkled his lips as he gazed on me, where I sat

fulfilling the task which he had allotted to me. Yes, he had

followed me in my travels; he had loitered in forests, hid

himself in caves, or taken refuge in wide and desert heaths; and

he now came to mark my progress and claim the fulfilment of my

promise.

As I looked on him, his countenance expressed the utmost extent

of malice and treachery. I thought with a sensation of madness on

my promise of creating another like to him, and trembling with

passion, tore to pieces the thing on which I was engaged. The

wretch saw me destroy the creature on whose future existence he

depended for happiness, and with a howl of devilish despair and

revenge, withdrew.