, and
reflected not that abstinence had already undermined my strength.

I proceeded to knock at the door. That my signal was unnoticed produced
no surprise. The door was unlocked, and I opened. At this moment my
attention was attracted by the opening of another door near me. I
looked, and perceived a man issuing forth from a house at a small
distance.

It now occurred to me, that the information which I sought might
possibly be gained from one of Thetford's neighbours. This person was
aged, but seemed to have lost neither cheerfulness nor vigour. He had an
air of intrepidity and calmness. It soon appeared that I was the object
of his curiosity. He had, probably, marked my deportment through some
window of his dwelling, and had come forth to make inquiries into the
motives of my conduct.

He courteously saluted me. "You seem," said he, "to be in search of some
one. If I can afford you the information you want, you will be welcome
to it."

Encouraged by this address, I mentioned the name of Thetford; and added
my fears that he had not escaped the general calamity.

"It is true," said he. "Yesterday himself, his wife, and his child, were
in a hopeless condition. I saw them in the evening, and expected not to
find them alive this morning. As soon as it was light, however, I
visited the house again; but found it empty. I suppose they must have
died, and been removed in the night."

Though anxious to ascertain the destiny of Wallace, I was unwilling to
put direct questions. I shuddered, while I longed to know the truth.

"Why," said I, falteringly, "did he not seasonably withdraw from the
city? Surely he had the means of purchasing an asylum in the country."

"I can scarcely tell you," he answered. "Some infatuation appeared to
have seized him. No one was more timorous; but he seemed to think
himself safe as long as he avoided contact with infected persons. He was
likewise, I believe, detained by a regard to his interest. His flight
would not have been more injurious to his affairs than it was to those
of others; but gain was, in his eyes, the supreme good. He intended
ultimately to withdraw; but his escape to-day, gave him new courage to
encounter the perils of to-morrow. He deferred his departure from day to
day, till it ceased to be practicable."

"His family," said I, "was numerous. It consisted of more than his wife
and children. Perhaps these retired in sufficient season."

"Yes," said he; "his father left