I now write to you. As I was walking up and down his room, my eye
fell upon his pistols. "Lend me those pistols," said I, "for my
journey." "By all means," he replied, "if you will take the
trouble to load them; for they only hang there for form." I
took down one of them; and he continued, "Ever since I was near
suffering for my extreme caution, I will have nothing to do with
such things." I was curious to hear the story. "I was staying,"
said he, "some three months ago, at a friend's house in the country.
I had a brace of pistols with me, unloaded; and I slept without
any anxiety. One rainy afternoon I was sitting by myself, doing
nothing, when it occurred to me I do not know how that the house
might be attacked, that we might require the pistols, that we might
in short, you know how we go on fancying, when we have nothing
better to do. I gave the pistols to the servant, to clean and
load. He was playing with the maid, and trying to frighten her,
when the pistol went off -- God knows how! -- the ramrod was in
the barrel; and it went straight through her right hand, and
shattered the thumb. I had to endure all the lamentation, and to
pay the surgeon's bill; so, since that time, I have kept all my
weapons unloaded. But, my dear friend, what is the use of prudence?
We can never be on our guard against all possible dangers. However,"
-- now, you must know I can tolerate all men till they come to
"however;" -- for it is self-evident that every universal rule
must have its exceptions. But he is so exceedingly accurate, that,
if he only fancies he has said a word too precipitate, or too
general, or only half true, he never ceases to qualify, to modify,
and extenuate, till at last he appears to have said nothing at
all. Upon this occasion, Albert was deeply immersed in his
subject: I ceased to listen to him, and became lost in reverie.
With a sudden motion, I pointed the mouth of the pistol to my