racity, in despite of the struggles of reason, being fully convinced of his honesty. My design of relating to him our adventures at the Haunted Castle began now to ripen, and I was determined to catch the first opportunity that should offer to impart to him my secret.
The other officers sat in dumb silence, seeming to ponder how to abide by their first opinion without opposing their reverend antagonist: "It is pity," one of them exclaimed at last, after a long solemn silence, "it is pity that Volkert is not present, for I am sure he would convince us also, by occular proofs, of a matter which bears such evident marks of impossibility, in the eye of the impartial friend of truth. I do not in the least suspect your veracity, being fully persuaded that you are convinced by your own experience of the reality of the strange incident you have related; yet you will not take it unkind if I assure you, that my reason will prevent me from becoming a convert to your opinions, until I"shall
