Let me resume the thread of my own adventures.
As soon as my companions were gone, I tore the seal
from the packet. It contained a long and closely written
letter.
The two first words irresistibly excited my curiosity.
The letter began—“My son”—
Perhaps I ought to apologize for laying the whole
paper before my readers. Although it was natural that
I should devour its contents with impatient eagerness, yet
it is more than probable that they will be fatigued by its
great length, and its occasionally unnecessary details.
I ought perhaps to have curtailed and abridged the
document, since, although it is necessary that the reader
should be acquainted with its main substance, yet it must
be confessed that its most important parts might have
been compressed into a much smaller compass.
I have, however, felt myself incapable of altering or
epitomizing the manuscript, and must content myself
with thus removing the responsibility of its prolixity from
my father to myself.
