However, he resolved
to leave no expedient untried, that might have any tendency to
surmount such destructive prejudice; and entering the jail, was
directed to the apartment of the wretched prisoner. He knocked
softly at the door, and, when it was opened, started back with
horror and astonishment. The figure that presented itself to his
view was the remains of his once happy friend; but so miserably
altered and disguised, that his features were scarce cognisable.
The florid, the sprightly, the gay, the elevated youth, was now
metamorphosed into a wan, dejected, meagre, squalid spectre; the
hollow-eyed representative of distemper, indigence, and despair.
Yet his eyes retained a certain ferocity, which threw a dismal gleam
athwart the cloudiness of his aspect, and he, in silence, viewed
his old companion with a look betokening confusion and disdain. As
for Gauntlet, he could not, without emotion, behold such a woeful
reverse of fate, in a person for whom he entertained the noblest
sentiments of friendship, gratitude, and esteem; his sorrow was at
first too big for utterance, and he shed a flood of tears before
he could pronounce one word.
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