or in small, separates himself from his kind, seems to set every evil and envious feeling of our nature in array against him. Distinction is purchased at the expense of sympathy.
The following day the treasures of the mysterious tower came pouring in: pictures, statues, gems, shells, china, stuffed beasts and birds, tables, vases, petrifactions, arms, mandarins, &c. &c.; and among them the shagreen skin, with the injunction, "Sell it for any thing—nothing—give it away; only, get rid of it."
Who would buy it? or, indeed, who would take it, with the denunciation attached to its possession? The auctioneer became sincerely distressed; a cricket that had sung at his parlour-hearth for ten years suddenly departed; the black cat was missing; a strange dog howled at his steps for two successive nights; his wife had dreamt of gold and running water, the most unlucky things in the world; and then the times were so bad—the stocks were falling—the cholera coming—the sooner the shagreen skin was out of his house the better. Charles seemed, as he afterwards said, sent by Providence.
He forthwith mentioned the wonderful charm in his custody, dwelt upon its merits till he grew quite eloquent, and finally desired the youth to follow him to the inner room, where it hung. It was a small dark chamber, crowded with articles for sale; but, whether from accident or design, the curiosities were all of a wild and ghastly kind. In the middle
