Danger in the Dark - ZseZse
Danger in the Dark - ZseZse
Danger in the Dark - ZseZse
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DANGER IN THE DARK.<br />
199<br />
of and impudent effrontery, an honorable receptiona<br />
tribute of national respect, and <strong>the</strong> meed of homage,<br />
because of his exalted rank <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Theocratic<br />
Hierarchy.<br />
Dup<strong>in</strong> and Bed<strong>in</strong>i be<strong>in</strong>g associated toge<strong>the</strong>r, as<br />
<strong>the</strong>y were, from boyhood, it is by no means strange<br />
that <strong>the</strong>re should appear, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> complexion of <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
moral characters, a strik<strong>in</strong>g similarity. If any difference<br />
existed between <strong>the</strong>m <strong>in</strong> this respect, Dup<strong>in</strong><br />
was perhaps less base, brutal and unfeel<strong>in</strong>g than <strong>the</strong><br />
o<strong>the</strong>r. As to <strong>in</strong>tellect, shrewdness and cunn<strong>in</strong>g, Dup<strong>in</strong><br />
was decidedly superior to his cous<strong>in</strong>. The latter<br />
as well as <strong>the</strong> former was sadly neglected <strong>in</strong> childhood<br />
and youth, and placed <strong>in</strong> a condition well calculated<br />
to mold a character utterly destitute of every amiable<br />
qnality, and work <strong>the</strong> deepest depravity of heart.<br />
Be<strong>in</strong>g of poor, obscure, and I might add of doubtful<br />
parentage, he was cast upon <strong>the</strong> world a ragged, filthy<br />
urch<strong>in</strong>, and went uneared for, lead<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>in</strong>dolent,<br />
vicious, and miserable life; and by consequence grew<br />
up to manhood, worthless, ignorant and dissipated,<br />
as did Dup<strong>in</strong>, his boon companion <strong>in</strong> vice and crime.<br />
One day, while <strong>the</strong>y were yet lads, be<strong>in</strong>g goaded<br />
by hunger, hav<strong>in</strong>g been unable for some days to procure,<br />
ei<strong>the</strong>r by begg<strong>in</strong>g or steal<strong>in</strong>g, a sufficientamount<br />
to satisfy <strong>the</strong> crav<strong>in</strong>gs of appetite, <strong>the</strong>y toge<strong>the</strong>r entered<br />
<strong>the</strong> house of a gentleman whose name was<br />
Foresti, a Catholic, but whose wife had no faith <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Romish religion. Dup<strong>in</strong>, lead<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> way, addieseed<br />
<strong>the</strong> lady thus: