arrival, which would only be deferred for a few days. Such was the tenor of

his public letters. Those privately delivered to me, detailed at length the

difficulties of his situation, and left the arrangement of my future plans

to my own discretion. His account of the state of affairs at Versailles was

brief, but the oral communications of his messenger filled up his

omissions, and shewed me that perils of the most frightful nature were

gathering around him. At first the re-awakening of the plague had been

concealed; but the number of deaths encreasing, the secret was divulged,

and the destruction already achieved, was exaggerated by the fears of the

survivors. Some emissaries of the enemy of mankind, the accursed Impostors.

were among them instilling their doctrine, that safety and life could only

be ensured by submission to their chief; and they succeeded so well, that

soon, instead of desiring to proceed to Switzerland, the major part of the

multitude, weak-minded women, and dastardly men, desired to return to

Paris, and, by ranging themselves under the banners of the so called

prophet, and by a cowardly worship of the principle of evil, to purchase

respite, as they hoped, from impending death. The discord and tumult

induced by these conflicting fears and passions, detained Adrian. It

required all his ardour in pursuit of an object, and his patience under

difficulties, to calm and animate such a number of his followers, as might

counterbalance the panic of the rest, and lead them back to the means from

which alone safety could be derived. He had hoped immediately to follow me;

but, being defeated in this intention, he sent his messenger urging me to

secure my own troop at such a distance from Versailles, as to prevent the

contagion of rebellion from reaching them; promising, at the same time, to

join me the moment a favourable occasion should occur, by means of which he

527

The Last Man