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I was moved. I shuddered when I thought of the possible

consequences of my consent, but I felt that there was some

justice in his argument. His tale and the feelings he now

expressed proved him to be a creature of fine sensations, and did

I not as his maker owe him all the portion of happiness that it

was in my power to bestow? He saw my change of feeling and

continued,

"If you consent, neither you nor any other human being shall ever

see us again; I will go to the vast wilds of South America. My

food is not that of man; I do not destroy the lamb and the kid to

glut my appetite; acorns and berries afford me sufficient

nourishment. My companion will be of the same nature as myself

and will be content with the same fare. We shall make our bed of

dried leaves; the sun will shine on us as on man and will ripen

our food. The picture I present to you is peaceful and human, and

you must feel that you could deny it only in the wantonness of

power and cruelty. Pitiless as you have been towards me, I now

see compassion in your eyes; let me seize the favourable moment

and persuade you to promise what I so ardently desire."