Pagina 624 di 1118

The darkness and silence of the night inspired him with other

apprehensions still; it appeared to him that he would not have

hesitated to perform the deed in open day, in the presence of

others. "And, after all, what was it? but a moment, and all would

be over." And now another thought rose to his mind: "If that

other life, of which they tell, is an invention of priests, is a

mere fabrication, why should I die? Of what consequence is all

that I have done? It is a trifle-but if there should be another

life!"