DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0114
94
SINGULAR HISTORY OR AN IMPOSTOR.
stowed upon him ; he appeared rather to receive them as
his due than as a kindness; and though abundance of
questions were asked, he eluded them by vague answers.
The mysterious conduct of Rhodez kept alive and in-
creased the curiosity thus excited, and it began to be di-
rected the more powerfully towards the young stranger, as
the captain, when questioned concerning him, absolutely
refused to answer any interrogatory. He only informed
the governor of the cul-de-sac Marin as a secret, that the
young man had been brought to him by a merchant, who
had privately recommended him, without giving any
farther explanation, to treat him with great attention, as,
he said, he was a person of distinction.
Every thing indeed, relating to this individual, ap-
peared mysterious and extraordinary. He had been seen
to arrive at Rochelle, as it was afterwards discovered,
some time before his embarkation. He was at this time
accompanied by an elderly, grey-headed man, who ap-
peared to perform the office of a Mentor. It was not
known by what conveyance they had come. Both were
dressed with the greatest simplicity. On their arrival at
Rochelle, instead of putting up at an inn, they hired a
small apartment at a private house, which they immedi-
ately furnished at their own expence, without luxury or
splendour, but in a very decent manner. During his re-
sidence at that town the young man had lived very re-
tired, never going abroad, seeing no person, and living
on scarcely any thing but shell-fish, and principally fresh
water crabs, which are extremely scarce and dear at
Rochelle.
The old man, on the contrary, often went abroad ; it
appeared as if his principal business was to find an op-
portunity of embarking his pupil, which, since the com-
mencement of the war with England, did not often occur.
At length an occasion offered ; and on the departure of the
youth
SINGULAR HISTORY OR AN IMPOSTOR.
stowed upon him ; he appeared rather to receive them as
his due than as a kindness; and though abundance of
questions were asked, he eluded them by vague answers.
The mysterious conduct of Rhodez kept alive and in-
creased the curiosity thus excited, and it began to be di-
rected the more powerfully towards the young stranger, as
the captain, when questioned concerning him, absolutely
refused to answer any interrogatory. He only informed
the governor of the cul-de-sac Marin as a secret, that the
young man had been brought to him by a merchant, who
had privately recommended him, without giving any
farther explanation, to treat him with great attention, as,
he said, he was a person of distinction.
Every thing indeed, relating to this individual, ap-
peared mysterious and extraordinary. He had been seen
to arrive at Rochelle, as it was afterwards discovered,
some time before his embarkation. He was at this time
accompanied by an elderly, grey-headed man, who ap-
peared to perform the office of a Mentor. It was not
known by what conveyance they had come. Both were
dressed with the greatest simplicity. On their arrival at
Rochelle, instead of putting up at an inn, they hired a
small apartment at a private house, which they immedi-
ately furnished at their own expence, without luxury or
splendour, but in a very decent manner. During his re-
sidence at that town the young man had lived very re-
tired, never going abroad, seeing no person, and living
on scarcely any thing but shell-fish, and principally fresh
water crabs, which are extremely scarce and dear at
Rochelle.
The old man, on the contrary, often went abroad ; it
appeared as if his principal business was to find an op-
portunity of embarking his pupil, which, since the com-
mencement of the war with England, did not often occur.
At length an occasion offered ; and on the departure of the
youth