The Last Man, by the Author of Frankenstein

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1826 edition. Excerpt: ...herself; pale and trembling she stood, a lamp in her hand, on the threshold of the dungeon, looking at me with wistful countenance. But in a moment5 she re-assumed her self-possession; and her languid eyes recovered their brilliancy. She said, "I am come to save you, Verney.." "And yourself also," I cried, "dearest friend, can we indeed be saved?" "Not a word," she replied; "follow me!" I obeyed instantly. We threaded with light steps many corridors, ascended several flights of stairs, and passed through long galleries; at the end of one she unlocked a low portal; a rush of wind extinguished our l& but, in lieu of it, we had the blessed moon-beams and the open face of heaven. Then first Juliet spoke: --" You are safe," she said, "God bless you!--farewell!." I seized her reluctant hand--"Dear friend," I cried, " misguided victim, do you not intend to escape with me? Have you not risked all in facilitating my flight? and do you think, that I will permit you to return, and suffer alone the effects of that miscreant's rage? Never!" "Do not fear for me," replied the lovely girl mournfully, "and do not imagine that without the consent of our chief you could be without these walls. It is he that has saved you; he assigned to me the part of leading you hither, because I am best acquainted with your motives for coming here, and can best appreciate his mercy in permitting you to depart." "And are you," I cried, " the dupe of this man? He dreads me alive as an enemy, and dead he fears my avengers. By favouring this clandestine escape he preserves a show of consistency to his followers; but mercy is far from his heart. Do you forget his artifices, his cruelty and fraud? As I am free, so are you. Come, Juliet, the mother of our lost Idris will welcome you, ...